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Demon Full Forwards

Swampfox
Swampfox
in Melbourne Demons

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In all of its history Melbourne is the only victorian club to never have a player to kick 100 goals or more in a single season

Yet we have 2 demons that have unique goal kicking records

1. The most number of goals kicked in a single game was Fred Fanning who kicked 18 against StKilda in his last season 1947 (he had 97 at seasons end)

2. Allen Jackovich kicked his first 100 goals in the least number of games of any player in history

The most celebrated full forward in our history who was named in our team of the century was Norm Smith

Smith wasnt a natual full forward like Fanning or Johnson but thats the position he played with great affect

Our greatest could have made a huge difference in our history when we missed out getting Doug Wade from Horsham (who wore the demon guersney)

Wade was a great full forward during the 60,s and 70,s for both Geelong and North Melbourne

Melbourne won their last flag in 1964 and had a great start to the 1965 season before falling away into football oblivion and other than a few good seasons we have not won a flag ever since

One can only think of what Melbournes history would have been like if we had Doug Wade back then

When i say full forward i really mean the actual position and the ability to play that position as no other forward position can be compared to it

We have had some great forwards over the years and some have had to adapt to the full forward position but we really have had a problem fulfilling that position on the ground compared to the other clubs over the years

I think players like Lyon , Neitz and Co have been great players but not natural full forwards

I even remember Flower playing there

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    Doesn't the Wade story go that he came down for a run but was assessed as not up to it and told to go back home. Could it have been his heavier build which was held against him?

    You haven't mentioned Harry Harker or Vin Coutie.

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    Doesn't the Wade story go that he came down for a run but was assessed as not up to it and told to go back home. Could it have been his heavier build which was held against him?

    You haven't mentioned Harry Harker or Vin Coutie.

    Yes it went something like that and just proves how much of a mistake that was as i saw him play

    Could have mentioned quite a few full forwards but left the post open as intended

    I liked Greg Parke for example but no way was he a true and natural full foward

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    I liked Greg Parke for example but no way was he a true and natural full foward

    Probably because he played mainly CHF. Headline acts such as Ray Carr occupied the goalsquare when Parke was going round.

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    We even played Ray Biffen there

    Did reasonably well there. Strong, could lead, mark - not many overhead though. Even did the one percenters, tackling defenders. Rubbish kick for goal though. He could never settle on whether to use a drop-punt or torpedo as he had equally bad results with both. Gutsy player though - his groin was stuffed, he had a hernia & at times held his body together with a cut-down wetsuit under his jumper & shorts. Still went out every week & gave his all for some pretty terrible Melbourne teams.

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