20 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Agreed. The Collingwood 2023 final was one that DIDN'T get away.

Collingwood were comprehensively the better team for 3 quarters and deserved the win IMO (putting aside the Maynard circus), as much as I hate saying that.

I think people gloss over the fact that De Goey kicked a goal to put them up by 27 points at the 23 minute mark of the third quarter. No team was coming back from that margin against Collingwood in a final that year, particularly given the heavy rain fall that preceded the game.

Within a catalogue of failures and missed opportunities, the Collingwood final was not high on that list IMO. And I reckon May was completely out of line to imply that we were the better team.

Yes they were up for the entire game, but we dominated all facets of the game except conversion.

Their scoring from back half was the only way they could have any sort of impact - we knew this coming and in the end if you told me we would limit Collingwood to 60 points in that game - i and the whole of MFC would have taken it without question.

69-37 i50
+ 1 Uncontested
+14 Contested
+4 clearances
+6 Frees
+6 Contested marks (+1 Marks i50)
-32 Rebound 50s. We knew this coming into the game

in the end the one that matters was scoring / conversion accuracy:

9.6 - 7.11 (2.5 vs 4.1 in the 3rd)... was where the game was ultimately lost.

So respectfully disagree. This was the game that got away.

Edited June 19Jun 19 by GS_1905

Talking about games that killed momentum... and I bring it up with some trepidation. A certain final in 87 at the wastelands' That could have been a Flag. Those who were around might agree.

If there's but one common theme to all of these.... essentially we Lost, the opposition didn't have to beat us.

Theme still our mantra

20 hours ago, GS_1905 said:

Yes they were up for the entire game, but we dominated all facets of the game except conversion.

Their scoring from back half was the only way they could have any sort of impact - we knew this coming and in the end if you told me we would limit Collingwood to 60 points in that game - i and the whole of MFC would have taken it without question.

69-37 i50
+ 1 Uncontested
+14 Contested
+4 clearances
+6 Frees
+6 Contested marks (+1 Marks i50)
-32 Rebound 50s. We knew this coming into the game

in the end the one that matters was scoring / conversion accuracy:

9.6 - 7.11 (2.5 vs 4.1 in the 3rd)... was where the game was ultimately lost.

So respectfully disagree. This was the game that got away.

Missed opportunity for sure, but this was a game where the weather should have dampened Collingwood's running and slingshot style. They played the game mostly on our terms and won, makes me sick to say it.

2023 was definitely the season that got away, but while this game was a major miss it gets a little overblown in my view in comparison to the Swans one.

Edited June 19Jun 19 by layzie

Urgh I had to give up on this article, too painful and just makes me angry seeing other teams being crazy accurate while we miss standard chances.

It's been such a frustrating theme for way too long.

On 19/06/2025 at 03:10, GS_1905 said:

Yes they were up for the entire game, but we dominated all facets of the game except conversion.

Their scoring from back half was the only way they could have any sort of impact - we knew this coming and in the end if you told me we would limit Collingwood to 60 points in that game - i and the whole of MFC would have taken it without question.

69-37 i50
+ 1 Uncontested
+14 Contested
+4 clearances
+6 Frees
+6 Contested marks (+1 Marks i50)
-32 Rebound 50s. We knew this coming into the game

in the end the one that matters was scoring / conversion accuracy:

9.6 - 7.11 (2.5 vs 4.1 in the 3rd)... was where the game was ultimately lost.

So respectfully disagree. This was the game that got away.

Yeah my memory (although biased I would admit) was that they blitzed us early but from quarter time onwards we beat them in most areas. They just kept being able to snag that "against momentum" goal to slow us down and ultimately our inability to convert that bit us in the bum.

I will also always maintain that Gus getting taken out was the biggest difference. He plays out the game then Trac goes forward more, where he was in excellent form, and our scoring ability is greatly improved.

Following on the next week I reckon we lost it at selection by not playing Grundy. Baffling and shocking decision by Goody and Co for which I will never understand.

On 19/06/2025 at 08:21, beelzebub said:

Talking about games that killed momentum... and I bring it up with some trepidation. A certain final in 87 at the wastelands' That could have been a Flag. Those who were around might agree.

If there's but one common theme to all of these.... essentially we Lost, the opposition didn't have to beat us.

Theme still our mantra

On 19/06/2025 at 08:21, beelzebub said:

Talking about games that killed momentum... and I bring it up with some trepidation. A certain final in 87 at the wastelands' That could have been a Flag. Those who were around might agree.

If there's but one common theme to all of these.... essentially we Lost, the opposition didn't have to beat us.

Theme still our mantra

Just now, waverleyheartbreak said:

  On 19/06/2025 at 08:21, beelzebub said:

Talking about games that killed momentum... and I bring it up with some trepidation. A certain final in 87 at the wastelands' That could have been a Flag. Those who were around might agree.

  On 19/06/2025 at 08:21, beelzebub said:

Talking about games that killed momentum... and I bring it up with some trepidation. A certain final in 87 at the wastelands' That could have been a Flag. Those who were around might agree.

Was there, embarrassing. Still not over it.

On 19/06/2025 at 05:39, Wrecker45 said:

I can name two where opposition should have been sent to MRO and suspended but no free kick was paid to us so they were overlooked to save the AFL embaressment

Reuben Ginbey taking out Melksham and the Gov

On 19/06/2025 at 16:21, beelzebub said:

Talking about games that killed momentum... and I bring it up with some trepidation. A certain final in 87 at the wastelands' That could have been a Flag. Those who were around might agree.

If there's but one common theme to all of these.... essentially we Lost, the opposition didn't have to beat us.

Theme still our mantra

We wouldn't have win the 87 final. 1990 is the one that got away. Poor fixturing plus bad luck killed us

Writhing was on the wall after 10-0 when we starting losing, playing injured players, not evolving the game plan for 2023, poor trading to address our holes in the fwd line, it’s on all of the coaching staff & list mgt , the ongoing off field issues didn’t help

On 19/06/2025 at 11:12, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Agreed. The Collingwood 2023 final was one that DIDN'T get away.

Collingwood were comprehensively the better team for 3 quarters and deserved the win IMO (putting aside the Maynard circus), as much as I hate saying that.

I think people gloss over the fact that De Goey kicked a goal to put them up by 27 points at the 23 minute mark of the third quarter. No team was coming back from that margin against Collingwood in a final that year, particularly given the heavy rain fall that preceded the game.

Within a catalogue of failures and missed opportunities, the Collingwood final was not high on that list IMO. And I reckon May was completely out of line to imply that we were the better team.

If we had any sort of composure not withstanding the availability of BBB, Melk and Petty we win that game by 2-3 goals.

They were shot defending for their lives we had the ball camped in our fwd line all qtr.

9 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

We wouldn't have win the 87 final. 1990 is the one that got away. Poor fixturing plus bad luck killed us

I'd argue we would have gone ok. 🤷‍♂️

We'll never know of course.🙄

Meanwhile FF 2025

And we still play a similar style

Melb v Melb+other = D'oh !! 🥴

7 hours ago, Pates said:

Following on the next week I reckon we lost it at selection by not playing Grundy. Baffling and shocking decision by Goody and Co for which I will never understand.

I could be wrong but I believe Grundy asked not to be not selected. Checked out already with all his baggage.

3 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

I could be wrong but I believe Grundy asked not to be not selected. Checked out already with all his baggage.

You’re not wrong. Grundy didn’t want to be selected because he didn’t want to play, and Max had no objection to him not playing.

IN MY OH SO HUMBLE OPINION.

Oops, wrong thread. But that’s ok, it’s laughing at Geelong and that’s never a bad thing 😁

Edited June 21Jun 21 by Ghostwriter

“OUR Dynasty”

Such entitlement. Premierships are extremely hard to win, and winning one doesn’t mean it’s a given that there are more to immediately follow. “Oh, but with that 2021 list we should’ve won another flag… or two.” I’m sure supporters of every premiership-winning club say the same; more often than not it doesn’t happen.

When do we start saying Geelong’s “dynasty” has been “stopped”? If they don’t win the flag this year (which they won’t coz Collingwood), that’s three “failed” seasons. “Oh, but Geelong are consistently in the mix for finals.” Well, so were we in 2022-23 yet folks on here were already bemoaning having only one premiership.

End of rant. Have at me, anyone who thinks I’m talking a load of 💩. But beware…. I’ve not yet had a coffee. Consider yourself warned. 😁

30 minutes ago, Ghostwriter said:

“OUR Dynasty”

Such entitlement. Premierships are extremely hard to win, and winning one doesn’t mean it’s a given that there are more to immediately follow. “Oh, but with that 2021 list we should’ve won another flag… or two.” I’m sure supporters of every premiership-winning club say the same; more often than not it doesn’t happen.

When do we start saying Geelong’s “dynasty” has been “stopped”? If they don’t win the flag this year (which they won’t coz Collingwood), that’s three “failed” seasons. “Oh, but Geelong are consistently in the mix for finals.” Well, so were we in 2022-23 yet folks on here were already bemoaning having only one premiership.

End of rant. Have at me, anyone who thinks I’m talking a load of 💩. But beware…. I’ve not yet had a coffee. Consider yourself warned. 😁

Had a coffee yet ?

Asking for a friend...

It is an absolute joke, saying that sans 2021 we were deprived of a Dynasty! A Dynasty is at least 2/3 premierships stopped by a dud year or so then continuing to win premierships again. One premiership does not make a dynasty!

Edited June 21Jun 21 by picket fence

29 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

Had a coffee yet ?

Asking for a friend...

Yes, I just had one but I’m still not approachable because I just discovered today is my gorgeous Colombian barista Alejandro’s last day 😭 💔 🙁

1 hour ago, Ghostwriter said:

“OUR Dynasty”

Such entitlement. Premierships are extremely hard to win, and winning one doesn’t mean it’s a given that there are more to immediately follow. “Oh, but with that 2021 list we should’ve won another flag… or two.” I’m sure supporters of every premiership-winning club say the same; more often than not it doesn’t happen.

That last statement is factually incorrect. More than often it does happen. The AFL era is now 38 years and in 21 of those years the flags are part of a repeat or 3 peat. 10 of the one off premiers played in a GF the year before or after as well.

But it could be that everything went right in 2021 for us. If you just looked at our first halves or into 3rd quarters that year we were not looking like a premiership team. We were either behind or even in 11 home and away games at half time or after that we came back and won. Think about what 2021 would have looked like if we finished games like we have in 22 or after.

6 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

“OUR Dynasty”

Such entitlement. Premierships are extremely hard to win, and winning one doesn’t mean it’s a given that there are more to immediately follow. “Oh, but with that 2021 list we should’ve won another flag… or two.” I’m sure supporters of every premiership-winning club say the same; more often than not it doesn’t happen.

When do we start saying Geelong’s “dynasty” has been “stopped”? If they don’t win the flag this year (which they won’t coz Collingwood), that’s three “failed” seasons. “Oh, but Geelong are consistently in the mix for finals.” Well, so were we in 2022-23 yet folks on here were already bemoaning having only one premiership.

End of rant. Have at me, anyone who thinks I’m talking a load of 💩. But beware…. I’ve not yet had a coffee. Consider yourself warned. 😁

I do actually agree with this statement in that the way things are covered with this list and this period at Melbourne, that's it's been a failure. It's absolutely glass half empty.

But we hadn't won a premiership since 1964, we'd had a few decent chances (87 probably is the one that sticks out even if I wasn't a fan at the time) but we'd never made it to the top of the mountain. The fact the we HAVE won a premiership needs to be celebrated more rather than the years following that we didn't. Now does that mean I give them passes for the mistakes we made over 2022/23? No, but I do come at it with a recognition that we bloody well did it!

I think the only thing that irks me is that the previous periods we have been in the mix we've either had some bad luck fall our way, or we've come up against teams that were clearly better than us. For me I look at 2022 as a failure of player management, and arrogance leading into the finals. 2023 I saw as a missed opportunity on our end through poor execution, that said we had some bad luck as well with Petty and Melk's late season injuries, and Gus getting taken out by that thug.