2025 SEASON LAUNCH

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

Fred Fanning was just inducted into our Hall of Fame ❤️💙

[Deeoldfart 8,199]

3 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Fred Fanning was just inducted into our Hall of Fame ❤️💙

Justice at long last!

[Supreme_Demon 4,125]

Wonderful to hear that Fred Fanning has been given this prestigious honour!

[Deeoldfart 8,199]

18 goals.  Unbelievable!

I doubt (and hope!) that it will never be beaten.

Edited February 25 by Deeoldfart

[brendan 3,453]

Jim Stynes legend 

[gs77 4,609]

Still holds that record. 18 goals.  Seemed a humble guy too from interviews i recall back in the 90s. Hard to see that record getting overhauled with the modern game too.

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

Hall of Fame Legend Status Elevation: 

JIMMY STYNES

Presented by Garry Lyon

Accepted by Matisse Stynes and Jim’s nephew Sam Stynes. 

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

I’m having a ball with my new fam, just call me Ghosty Mentha. They are the most awesome people ever. Nina, Ricky’s mum, is moving to Melb next month. She’s gonna share a house with Ricky. Hashtag too cute. Ricky Snr lives in Gippsland already as does his daughter (Ricky’s sister) Lily. Then there’s Nan. She’s not here tonight but Ricky Snr told me she’s gonna be “transient between Alice and Melbourne.”

 

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

Hall of Fame Legend Status Elevation:

JACK MUELLER

Presented by Mike Sheehan

Accepted by Jack Mueller’s nephew

[picket fence 18,153]

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

Fred Fanning was just inducted into our Hall of Fame ❤️💙

Met Fred years ago at Apollo Bay( I am there now) years before, he owned the pub! Lovely fellow, he was walking his mutt a beautiful Bulldog I think iI was, sheeeit I thought I could talk myself up, but  he could remember every one of his 18 goals and boy did I know about it, but shared a glug glug or many and had a great night!!

Edited February 25 by picket fence

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

Will Verrall does have a nickname. It’s “Fish” and it comes from when he was rehabbing not long after he joined the club and the first thing he did every session was to jump in the pool. And stay there. 😁

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

Hall of Fame inductee:

JAMES McDONALD

[Matt Demon 1,597]

10 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

Will Verrall does have a nickname. It’s “Fish” and it comes from when he was rehabbing not long after he joined the club and the first thing he did every session was to jump in the pool. And stay there. 😁

I that's the family friendly version of why he's called "Fish". 

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

Point form:

Jai’s nickname is Culls.

Knuckles McVee is actually KNUCKLE not Knuckles (plural)

Disco doesn’t know why he doesn’t have his #10 training jumper except that they told him they’ve ordered it but it hasn’t yet arrived. He does have his game-day #10 jumper though.

Sesto is an awesome person. Always so friendly and was happy to hear there’s been some really positive things being said about him.

Salo’s brother Ralph is the only person I’ve had a pic with. It’s a thing at these events. It amuses Salo that he’s chopped liver when Ralph’s around 😂

Jed Adams considered coming outside with me for a cigarette. Jokes. But Leb and Howesy told me to ask him. Sch!ttt stirrers

Dessert’s here!!! 👋 

[Yze_13 310]

I’m not sure if it’s streaming, but for everyone who loves this club, if you can - watch Garry’s induction speech for Jim. One of the great speeches I’ve ever heard.

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

19 minutes ago, Matt Demon said:

I that's the family friendly version of why he's called "Fish". 

Spill !!!!!

[dees189227 12,507]

9 hours ago, Yze_13 said:

I’m not sure if it’s streaming, but for everyone who loves this club, if you can - watch Garry’s induction speech for Jim. One of the great speeches I’ve ever heard.

Garry is very good at public speaking. Especially when he does it off the cuff.  His tribute to Jim on the footy show & as well as spud are 2 of the best speeches you'll hear

[Whispering_Jack 31,359]

I was there last night and noticed a difference between this year’s season opener and the same event twelve months ago. At that time, the club was reeling after a torrid and well documented off season  that ended with Angus Brayshaw’s early forced retirement. I noted “an undercurrent from players and officials that they are quietly seething at the poor rap, some of it insulting, they’ve received from sections of the media of late.” 

That mood seemed appropriate and got us through the first couple of months of the season (at one stage we were 6 wins, 2 defeats) but on reflection, this was might not have been the best approach, given that it was allowed to fester and return with distractions on every occasion when the club hit even the slightest hurdle along the road. The end was a dramatic slip out of finals contention and a massive drop into the bottom six.

Last night was different with the focus both on tales of past glory through Hall of Fame and Club Legend presentations and on the leadership’s vision of a much improved season ahead. I think the mood and the narrative was focused and very positive. I’m confident that we will produce a better showing in 2025. 

[Go Ds 301]

12 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Hall of Fame inductee:

JAMES McDONALD

Was this a surprise? He was a heart-and-soul role-model kind of player. But wasn't he always at least a rung below the most talented players?

[poita 3,941]

1 hour ago, Go Ds said:

Was this a surprise? He was a heart-and-soul role-model kind of player. But wasn't he always at least a rung below the most talented players?

250 games, 2 x B&F, All Australian & Club Captain. That's a pretty solid resume, particularly for a guy who fought his way off the rookie list.

[Deestar9 1,854]

1 hour ago, Go Ds said:

Was this a surprise? He was a heart-and-soul role-model kind of player. But wasn't he always at least a rung below the most talented players?

His treatment and delisting ripped the heart out of our club for a long time …

[Ghostwriter 5,320]

8 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

I was there last night and noticed a difference between this year’s season opener and the same event twelve months ago. At that time, the club was reeling after a torrid and well documented off season  that ended with Angus Brayshaw’s early forced retirement. I noted “an undercurrent from players and officials that they are quietly seething at the poor rap, some of it insulting, they’ve received from sections of the media of late.” 

That mood seemed appropriate and got us through the first couple of months of the season (at one stage we were 6 wins, 2 defeats) but on reflection, this was might not have been the best approach, given that it was allowed to fester and return with distractions on every occasion when the club hit even the slightest hurdle along the road. The end was a dramatic slip out of finals contention and a massive drop into the bottom six.

Last night was different with the focus both on tales of past glory through Hall of Fame and Club Legend presentations and on the leadership’s vision of a much improved season ahead. I think the mood and the narrative was focused and very positive. I’m confident that we will produce a better showing in 2025. 

Fully agree WJ, except that last year’s Season Launch was actually in the evening of the same day as Gussy’s forced retirement announcement, merely hours between the two. This meant folks were in shock having only just heard the devastating news. You could almost feel everyone’s attempts at processing it. It was so difficult to take in the proceedings while trying to get your head around it. 

[Go Ds 301]

57 minutes ago, poita said:

250 games, 2 x B&F, All Australian & Club Captain. That's a pretty solid resume, particularly for a guy who fought his way off the rookie list.

It is. But I just looked at the team of the century thread. Not everyone had him in their best 18 or even 22/23.

[Gator 18,053]

2 hours ago, Go Ds said:

It is. But I just looked at the team of the century thread. Not everyone had him in their best 18 or even 22/23.

You're basing his career on Demonland posters ?  

Edited February 26 by Gator

[Go Ds 301]

6 minutes ago, Gator said:

Your basing his career on Demonland posters ?  

Hell no. But usually wouldn't Hall Of Famers be first-mentioned when asked about best players?