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Two tough nuts. Straight ahead and attacking players, both played their part. Wheels a dependable backman and Wight could play on either end of the ground and did it with success. I favour wight as he stood out in critical times of the game.

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This is probably the toughest matchup to split for me. Wight with perfect balance and athleticism, Wheels tough and uncompromising with his tackling a feature weekly. Both fantastic clubmen, watching some of the older clips on the site put up by various posters reminded me how good Wight was and Wheels looked like a seasoned pro from the day he made his debut against the Saints in 2000. Had to be reminded that Wheels actually played his first final in his 5th season due to some unlucky late season injuries in 2000-02.

I’m more sceptical about his sons brownlow.

Wight was so versatile and fought like there was no tomorrow every time I saw him play. Wrecker did his job and was great but the it is Wight for me. R.I.P.

Wheels was magnificent - tough, uncompromising and fearless and played as if his life depended on his form. A star. Sean Wight was all of the above plus he could play back, forward, short, tall and on the ball. Could outplay any short player and then outmark and outmuscle a big opponent. He was the ultimate versatile swingman. Sean for me. Wheels into repechage.

0/6 1/5 at best. Goody on jobseeker.

Rightly so, we were so bad in that round one game. I don't care if it was meaningless or any other excuses people have thrown around, it simply highlighted that we have not improved or worked on what made us so bad in 2018.

Sean Wight by a mile..... No disrespect to Whelan as he was a terrific backman, but Sean Wight was one of the most exciting & durable players I have ever seen & literally could play in any position. One of the most talented players to ever come to our club.

Absolutely... It would be immoral for them to take precedence in testing players above the community. If they can ensure the whole community can have the same testing regime then Ok, but I doubt that will be the case. Stick you hub up your a.... Gill Unless you can play without these silly so called solutions...then don't play. Simple.

Best Bets: Rosehill Race 3 No.10 Grand Piano (W) $3.80 Flemington Race 4 No.9 Good Idea (Place) $3.50 Flemington Race 8 No 17 Dadoozdart (W) $5.50 This weeks multi 73/1.....(not quite 126/1) but it will do ! Good luck team.

Best Bet: Saturday Flemington Race 8 No 17 Dadoozdart (W) $5.50

Best Bet Saturday Rosehill Race 3 No.10 Grand Piano (W) $3.80

Is there at least an employee assistance program where you can speak to somebody outside the business? If a club had that I'd agree they might not need a specialist psychologist on the payroll but the players have to have an option to take their problems to somebody independent and not an assistant coach (when they still existed). I understand what you're saying, but footy clubs are not normal businesses, the demands on the people involved are much higher, there's a massive element of public intrusion and the window to make your money is much smaller. It's not like a job where you could come in at 18 and stay there until you were 65 if you wanted, these guys are on a super-limited timeline and the club should provide adequate support for them while they're on the list.

You only speak of Potential Nothing has happened yet 50 years of barracking for MELBOURNE sunshine...

Stretch was a classy wingman who was not quite in theclass of a Robbie or Stinga. David Schwarz would have been the greatest CHF of his era if not for the knee problem. It would have been a case of Wayne who? Even after his return from three knee surgeries, he was forced to play as The Ox, he was exceptional as a creative, strong and skilled key forward and protector. Just couldn't run as fast. No better demon in this era. Schwarz for me.

The finals Round 1 match sees Sean Wight take on Matthew Whelan. You can either vote by going to our Facebook or Twitter pages or for convenience you can vote in the poll above. VOTE: Best/Favourite Player 1988-2020 Sean Wight: 150 Games 63 Goals MFC Hall of Fame Matthew Whelan: 150 Games 15 Goals Tournament Fixture:

What a Player. Defence or Attack Sean could do it all. He could play todays game easily

Goddam auto carrot.?

Well ok it's slightly better than the Kingswood but that left wheel drives a bugger

Yep. You know... I don't know about you, But imo, these two are clearly ahead of our current defenders, for the same positions. I look back at most of the '87 to '93 era players, and think, which of today's lot would get a look in to those teams, late 80's - early 90's.? ...and then, think of the so called stars we've recently let go. Bracket Watts against Wight. = slaughter in a colosseum. Bracket D.Hughes against Hogan, when playing deep. another slaughter for the old timer. Reverse those match-ups... Hughes on Watts deep, Jack would be hearing steps all game, he would get a break on Hughes, but would be shell-shocked anyway, & so far out. Wight on Hogan, when Hogan roams up-field. Wight, night and day ahead. Some others. Stretch V today's dee wingers AJohnson, again, same story. GLyon, DSchwartz, DNeitz, OK, the big One... Stynes v Gawn? an interesting thought. Ricky Jackson v Salem or who.?

Might wanna fix that thread title.

Yes correct Martian talented and tough and mostly smart players. There is no doubt in my mind that they would easily demand a game and would be permanent fixtures in the side. I will dream on. RIP Sean.

So at this stage we are 10k members down on this time last year. I know we couldnt have predicted it, but last year was the worst season possible to have a shocker. Lucky to be where we are tbh

Both would walk into my best Dee team. Of the demons players i've watched and remember well.

This time, I have to go for Sean Wight. Out of two much loved and highly respected warriors for this club. IMO Sean's dynamism wins this, and he was unique with his energy/intensity at the ball.

there was an article I saw a few weeks ago to the affect that athletes were being asked to self administer drug tests during lockdown. Enough said !!

Steven Stretch

Sean Wight. However, two of my all-time favourites; Whelan was superb.

I have great respect for PJ, and as far as the MFC is concerned, they should be erecting a statue outside the MCG in recognition of his saving the club financially. However, his view as shown by Moonshadow is way off the mark. Associating player retention to facilities may have some merit, but it completely ignores the results of having proper facilities. North Melbourne may have made 7 prelims in a row, but they didn't win any premierships in that period. Hawthorn, WCE, Sydney and Richmond did....all with excellent facilities. Melbourne may have made the GF in 2000 with only the Junction oval as a training ground, but Essendon and Brisbane were the power houses again with facilities ( at the time) simply light years ahead of what we had. Over both those periods, Melbourne and North had great lists, yet not being able to develop players properly and train them to the standards that the Premiership teams had only resulted in multiple years of failure.

So, today would have been big Jimmy Stynes' 54th Birthday! I was alerted to the fact early this morning, when our local Community Radio Station on the Gold Coast ran a little tribute to the great man -- and followed it up by playing the Club Theme Song! Was a great way to start the day! I was so impressed, I called the announcer, and told him so. Then followed it up with an email, which he proceeded to read on air. Here's the text: Hi again, Baz. Further to our conversation a little earlier, I meant to also thank you for the tribute to Jimmy Stynes. He holds a very special place in the history of the Melbourne Footy Club, and is fondly remembered by all Dees Fans (and the greater footy community as well). He, sadly, was taken way too young! So, was a nice touch for you to remember him on air on his Birthday! So, thanks again! Anyway, keep up the good work, and spinning those great discs (especially like the Grand Old Flag! LOL)!

Wasn't PJ all for the Yarra Park/Jolimont Rail proposal? That would've cost a mint. Perhaps his changed view now is simply being realistic in light of huge future budget restraints. What he says in the article certainly has merit: list quality, the right people and good culture are more important than having league best facilities.

“My personal view is the importance of facilities is overstated. Invariably club strength is more influenced by list management and having the right environment and culture," “I do not agree with the view (elite facilities were important to attract and retain the best players). It is an argument to justify facilities spending."

Great memory Tim. Paul had a lot going for him until his injury. He and Dallas were East Bentleigh boys from memory.

Meant to post this around Easter, but have been so flat out doing nothing in COVID-land that I overlooked it. Paul O'Brien. A blond-haired half-back type who showed a bit as a youngster coming through. On Easter Monday 1983 his brother Dallas won the Stawell Gift. On the Saturday afternoon in round 2 at the G as Dallas was winning his heat at Stawell, Paul was on show as we knocked off previous year's grand finalist, Richmond. Unfortunately he did his ACL, and it was his last game for us although he did go to North (0 games), and then to Essendon for 3 games in 1988. A quirky aspect of his career is that he only played 2 games in 1983, and the stats say he had 7 kicks in a loss to Collingwood, and 13 possessions against Richmond (carried off in third quarter?). However he received 3 Brownlow votes for the season. Go figure! Thanks to the AFL Stats website there's a whole subject on wacky Brownlow voting by umpires, including the 44 possession, no votes game from Diesel when he smashed us in 1993, and not forgetting the very generous 2 votes to Woewoedin for a quiet game in round 22 when we thrashed the Eagles at Subi - Scott West had pulled his Brownlow acceptance speech out of his pocket after the conclusion of round 21 votes, as no-one thought Woey was going to poll. How many medals would Diesel have won with blond hair?

There is a lot of help available these days, however, for the sufferer the biggest challenge is to find the right person. That person may be a coach, mentor, GP, friend, psychiatrist, psychologist etc. Anyone with the right skill set, personal and/or professional. That person needs to have personal attributes that include listening skills, empathy, life experience, care, patience and a genuine desire to help the sufferer that is not influenced by ego or money. The sufferer needs to feel that they gave a trusted person in their corner that will maintain privacy and discretion. It may be a combination of these people. Serious mental health problems may require medication and techniques used by a psychiatrist or psychologist assisted by an experienced GP or mentor. I would always be cautious about seeking help from someone within a club or organisation. In my experience, these people may not be the best available or best suit the sufferer. Often there is a conflict of interest. There are a lot of helpers out there, professional or otherwise The challenge is finding the right one.

I'm now thinking of white bread covered with butter and sprinkled with coloured, sugary dots.

I'll never forget the all time classic Neeld moment at one of those supporter 'information sessions' (e.g. crisis meetings) they had when we were getting massacred every week in early 2012. When it came to the Q&A I asked what the club was doing for the mental health of players who had been through so many terrible beatings, coach changes etc.. etc.. over recent years and he responded with (paraphrasing) "we don't need a psychologist, if players are upset they can talk to an assistant coach." I have regretted not arguing that bonkers point ever since.

Sometimes, you need to be brave enough to forget picking 6/4 shots out of the newspaper and listen to those who are actually connected to the industry. ?

I think he was talking about a return to training then, not games. Games still won't happen until June (at the earliest).

This is promising - Harley Bennell ‘a really good chance’ to be fit to play for Demons once AFL returns

I used to wear Paul Callery's no.35 on my jumper when I went to the footy as a kid. that's cos i was a short*rs-* as well.

It wasnt a disaster from a contested ball perspective , a fitness perspective or from a score perspective. Losing by 5 goals to the eagles in perth is no disaster. But the style they played with, the way they moved the ball forward and the fact that the game was over at qtr time was a disaster. I think we all felt let down because after the build up over the summer, precious little was different from the worst of 2019.

The rebound out of the fifty and easy chains of marks towards their goals was especially worrying too. There’s no accountability in defence. Many of their players were wombling free with no dees player within 50m of them. And it happened multiple times the same way.

Nothing about 2020 makes sense. Someone ate a bat in China and now I can’t watch football.

Very true Gonzo. The AFL finding new indirect ways of shafting us. They should foot the entire bill for our new training ground (if we are ever able to find one)!!!

The people who signed up in March and April are legends. Well done people. Every member is solid gold for the survival of the club. (appreciate that many are losing their jobs and can't afford to continue) Very proud of our supporters.

Jeff Chapman, a schoolboy star for Carey Grammar. He played first 2 games in 66 as full forward after starring in preseason. Kicked 8 goals in a club practice match on Tassie Johnson. Touted as our new Ron Barassi, due to his guts and determination. Alas he only played the 2 matches. Too slow, poor skills and lacked height and spring. Played on Bob Murray of St Kilda and was given a bath. Played out the season in the 2s and was cleared to Hawthorn but never played a game. Given the hype before the season he was one of the biggest flops of all time. His post footy life was the exact opposite. A highly successful investment manager, owned his own private family company, and a huge philanthropist. Five years ago his wealth was valued at 800 mill.