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Having been following the MFC for a long, long time and wishing to make all the arguments raised so far into something concise...what I have seen for myself and have read about in the various histories of the Club, is that the common factor which has caused our demise is: Lack of Resources, and/or the willingness to apply resources to winning football matches. In "The Red Fox" there are multiple stories of the arguments that Smith had with the committee, long before his sacking in 1965. All of them were about resources. Other clubs were recruiting players and paying them good money, like Polly Farmer, Darryl Baldock etc, but the MCC committee refused to participate in this. Even before this we had the stories of Fanning and others who left at the height of their careers, simply because they could earn a living playing football in country leagues. In 1964 the days of the amateur player were as good as over. Even Barassi was offered 3,000 pounds and a 10,000 pound loan to join Carlton, which he said was something he would not have got at Melbourne. But the MCC committee still continued to stick its head in the sand, about what was happening. Until Barassi returned and made an ultimately futile attempt to turn the club into a professional operation, by removing it from the MCC, the Club was simply bled dry of talent or watched that talent disappear to other clubs. Zones that we had were not developed. Recruiting and more importantly, development was not done in those zones. They were just left to their own devices, while the MCC concentrated on what it was formed for...cricket. Contrast that with the work that Hawthorn and Richmond were doing in their zones. A friend of mine who worked as a teacher in the Eastern suburbs in the 80's said that any school that asked for a Hawthorn player to turn up to meet with the kids, kick a footy, were always obliged. Small wonder their supporter base grew over the subsequent periods. The MFC was banned from training at the MCG from 1985, so off to the Junction oval we were sent....to stay for the next 25 years! How much was spent by the MCC on facilities there....so little that the MFC Coterie group had to chip in to get a portable for the coaches to have a room to work in. Then the footballers were tossed out during cricket season in any case as it was still used to play games. It was a miracle that we had any success during this period! Other clubs were establishing proper facilities, were buying players from interstate, making offers to any talented players to join while Melbourne watched the likes of Healy, Spalding, Thompson and other disappear or players like Jarman not come. Why would they not?! It was not until the Stynes team convinced the MCC to kick in $1M per year that the club got any revenue from them for nearly 25 years. Even today 25,000 MCC members identify with the MFC, but as was pointed out at last years AGM, 4-5,000 of them come to more than 5 matches and don't take out a MCC/MFC membership. The MCC gets all the loot from football, yet gives little back. Same as in Norm Smith's day. It first really struck me about 30 years ago at at MFC AGM. The total assets of the club which had then been operating for nearly 150 years was less than the average house value in Melbourne! That was fine when you were running an amateur organisation, but this was supposed to be a professional operation. I can't remember who said it, but it was claimed that the MFC were "the most professional in the amateur era, and the most amateur in the professional era. Small wonder there has been so little success".

Why are there photos of homeless people on here?

Not sure why supporters want to wallow in the mire by constantly revisiting the past. Very depressing. It is what it is. The past gets revisited all the time and despite folks best and worst efforts there is never any clarity and indeed there will never be an answer. The reasons for our lack of success has been rehashed hundreds of times. It is just a game and for many during this pandemic it suddenly seems less important than life itself.

Anyone around his age who went out in Melbourne CBD when McLean was both at Melbourne and Carlton, could tell you that he wasn't an angel. I used to see him out quite often while I was out with my friends. He was always off his face, but friendly and happy to chat. You definitely wouldn't guess he was battling depression or an eating disorder behind closed doors, but I suppose this is why people use drugs and alcohol. It helps to mask the things we rather not talk about. The biggest tragedy here is that we got pick bloody 9 for him (a steal!) and then immediately proceeded to [censored] it up.

426 ?

Stupid article really as most of these players were going. It should be the trades the club willingly made and regret.

S Alves and G Wells

Scott Thompson

No.29 1994 Round 17 v Hawthorn at Princes Park 1994 what a year. It was a roller coaster ride. We’d won the first 5 games and were on top. The team was flying. Then a slump and by round 17, had 7 wins and 8 losses. We were outside the 8 (finals eligibility had extended from the final 6) and staring down some tough matches. Geelong has beaten us the prior round and confidence was down. As it happened, we had to play Hawthorn at their home ground as a Melbourne home game. Ouch! The Hawks were in 4th place and had started to dismantle teams. We got the tram up Royal parade and arrived as the “home ground” members. It was bizarre to be seated in the shade at Princes Park. !!! Allen Jakovich has returned for the clash and we were desperate. But Sean Charles was a late withdrawal. The game started well with accurate kicking getting us in front. It was a willing start and do recall enjoying the game from about row 5 or 6 from the fence. 8 goals to 4 goals gave us a 23 point half time lead. A young Neitz at CHB got reported early but had showed our intention. Jako had 3 goals to half time whilst Wight was beating Dunstall and getting the applause from the MFC members. This was a handy start. The Hawks had a very good midfield in Ratten, Pritchard, Allan and Shane Crawford. But on this day, Todd Viney, Kevin Dyson, Tingay and Glenn Lovett got on top and fed the forwards. The 3rd quarter starting with Jakovich adding 3 goals and we’d marched out to a 8 goal lead. But the umpiring was disgraceful and finally Jakovich let them know. The crowd roared in approval as the fired up Demon gave the ump his opinion. Schwarz was proving a handful for the Hawks as they shifted defenders between him and Jako. Maginness, Graham and Taylor all tried and failed. Finally Jakovich added goal 7 and then goal 8 (8.1) as the sealer and saluted to the crowd and gave his opinions to the Hawks defenders. Game over. We had taken a fabulous “away - home” victory and kept our season alive. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the last time we would see Jakovich for the Demons as a back injury ended his year and ultimately his career (his rehabilitation didn’t go well). Jakovich was a sensation and brought many a smile and excitement to all Demons fans. My late father always jumped and cheered when Jakovich excited the crowd. We certainly did on this day. Good times and memories. We especially always enjoyed beating the Hawks after the pain they’d inflicted in 87 and 88. And in 1994 this game propelled us back into the finals race and kept our slim premiership dreams alive. Melbourne 17. 10.112 defeated Hawthorn 11.8.74.

So good to see that photo of Hibberd. He's had a terrible couple of months - hopefully being able to get out there and just play footy might help a bit with what he's had to deal with (and most likely still dealing with).

The following photos are from last week.

That is what 39 is sarcastically inferring.

If it were "only a game" you wouldn't dedicate hours upon hours on here or at training or at the club etc It's more than a game, it's part of the fabric and history of this city/state/country. It's tribal. Supporters are emotionally invested and for many the football club is like a part of their extended family, it is part of their identity. That's not to say there shouldn't be perspective, but trying to downplay its importance is equally silly.

Because it is part of our clubs history and without addressing it and recognising the failure we won't be able to achieve success.

Barassi left and broke my heart and it was the start of our decline from there on . END OF STORY. It hurts.

Shane Woewodin.

That's a strange thing to say 'Nelo'... Drugs can be the cause of the mental issues and no doubt staying off them would be an enormous help. ...but quite often it is people with pre existing mental issues self medicating that go down this rabbit hole. Once in the cycle it's a difficult one to break, it's not as simple as just walking away.

Martin Pike

It still staggers me how these people with supposed mental health issues are continually into the drinking, drugs or hang around with the wrong crowds. Get rid of those 3 things to start with and I’d say it has to help your well being.

Gerard Healey. Scott Thompson Darren Jolly

Earl Spalding

Lol why does everyone think Collingwood invented him as a backline player, it’s infuriating I recall his reason to go to the pies was to play as a forward, and jack watts shouldn’t be on the list no regrets there

Watched some of the German Football on the weekend. I watch it regularly when in Asia. But without crowds, i could only handle 15-20 minutes I understand Clubs want to play. People need to get paid, but my interest will be cursory until crowds return

The South Korean attempt! Lol https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/south-korean-football-team-apologises-for-using-sex-dolls-to-fill-stands South Korean football team apologises for using sex dolls to fill stands Paging @Bitter but optimistic

Good bit of vision of the Chairman of Selectors, Ivor Warne-Smith sitting with Smith, confidant and foil (and occasionally sparring partner) I always heard that the match committee was described as the architects of the premierships, they were to a man, humble and worked as a team. This back office coordination I feel had something to do with how the team ran well. The same people who described this to me, moaned endlessly about how amateur the club became/stayed when the league went professional, and how much the end of the match committee affected stability of the back office.

I voted "no" but it's a moot point as I always watch with the sound muted so I don't have to suffer the egotistical boofhead callers.

I mean I get it, they’re trying to minimise things but really you’re playing a game where the players are tackling each other and getting into mails of groups when extracting the ball. Are they going to give everyone a disinfectant spray at each stoppage? Social distancing on the bench seems OTT, but perhaps it’s more about sending the right message.

I bet the payments were stepped. Anyway... my missus told me that sex is always better on holiday. That wasn't a very nice postcard to recieve.

The weakness in the Roos and PJ situation was neither were doing it for the love of the Club. We have not had a passionate, dynamic and capable leader like Eddie or Kennett.

I know how you feel .I just got back from an Egyptian business seminar. I took me a while to realise it was a pyramid scheme.

I can only take a stab in the dark.

Look isolation has been tough on everyone. I literally went from the glam of my wedding day, to trackies and regrowth in the space of 2 weeks. I assume track watchers aren't allowed? Or is someone game to try and hide behind a bush and send a report through?

Sorry HFF. Jakovich was drafted in via the 1990 draft. Pick 6. I do agree with your wrap on Clark and Jakovich. Such talent. But having watched Robbie through the mid-late 70s and early 80s, he was a champion that no opponent could beat. They might have rarely negated him but never beaten.

Pretty much where I sit with this club too. 2019 was easily the most disappointing season I have sat through in 34 years of membership. If the first six weeks of the new season don't show significant signs of improvement, I fear we are back to where we were in 2007 - 2008.

I agree with much of your assessment and focusing on the present and the future. I am hanging on in hope this could be a year to get on a run make a go of it. Really no one has excuses this year. Sure the losers will blame the virus and its disturbance but there is a Flag to be one. My big concern is the coach,, after a reasonable time at the top the jury is still out whether he has the all round attributes to compete with the top coaches.

With respect Ernest our financial position worsened last season ($1.5Million loss) despite being heavily invested in Pokies & NT money. And those 2 income streams are being scaled back moving forward. On top of that the virus is effecting the financial viability of all clubs so we'd be better placed if we were in a strong financial position. And we lost 17 games last season and lost our way (again) Our former captain (Nathan Jones) described the year as the toughest he'd been through. Even worse than 2012/13? I'd like to share your optimism but I'm circumspect about it all. Any sort of success this season would be viewed as a bonus (IMO)

Yes... it was unbelievable.

looks like Gus stepped in a doggy deposit.

Hopefully some of our players have been watching The Last Dance on Netflix to get an idea of the mentality required to succeed at the highest level.

Rubbish 39 Roos had already moved Howe into defence Howe was not keen really as he indicated and his manager Alex MacDonald that Buckley said he would play him on the wing because of his engine!!! Thats a furphy as we know and he had been a defender since But if he was at Melb Roos would no doubt have kept him in defence

chapel st, prahran is way more fun at 2am than main street, corio

It's just the feeling I got while watching an old Norm Smith doco from fox footy a couple of weeks back. It had an extended version of the interview of Smith on the Tony Charlton show after his sacking which led me to believe the bad blood between he and the board went beyond this incident and went to the heart of our fall from grace. He said in that interview in 1965 that he and others (like Barassi) could see the writing on the wall but the board were oblivious Interestingly another commentator (can't remember who it was) that was interviewed made the comment that yeah, what Norm Smith did was wrong and anyone else you could understand the board not backing them. But this guy WAS Melbourne, he played in 4 premierships, coached 6 more for a total involvement in 10 of the clubs 12 flags! He had just come off an unprecedented era of success. Guys like that you back to the hilt, even if they're wrong. It was an interesting half hour doco, I'll try and upload to YouTube and post here in the next couple of days.

Round 1 was a garbage performance by the club. The loss didn’t bother me as West Coast have an 80% winning record at Optus. It was the way we lost. Nothing changed from last year. 1) Dominating the opening minutes of the game, only to kick a bunch of behinds and letting the opposition off the hook. Then proceed to concede an avalanche of goals. 2) Horrid and inefficient inside 50 entires. Kicks beautifully targeted to Hurn, McGovern and Barrass from minute 1 to final siren. 3) Bush league type errors and playing players that aren’t up to it. Eg- Spargo continually kicking it to the opposition all day. 4) Innaccurate shots for goal because we insist on kicking it wide to the pockets. 5) We held up the ball when we should’ve gone fast, and we went fast when we should’ve played tempo footy. 6) Letting the other side kick Coast to Coast goals because of our pathetic lack of pressure. 7) Our so called gun players such as Brayshaw and Petracca who just can’t get the best out of themselves under Goodwin. Brayshaw since round 1 2019 and Petracca throughout Goodwin’s tenure. It was essentially round 24 2019. Hoping to see a far different and more efficient side for round 2.

It has indeed been a long road for those of us who stated supporting just as we went into decline in the mid sixties. Those years were really odd, we still had Premiership stars like Tassie, Barry Bourke and others but were in fact going backwards. The 70s saw other Clubs like Richmond hit the jackpot with a young Tommy Hafey, a hard nosed administration and some recruiting gems. Barass was working his magic at a reguvitated Carlton, who again had a hard nosed administration and a rich recruiting zone. meanwhile planning was underway at North with a great admisitration and recruiting department. Essendon and Collingwood remained strong while Hawthorn were still under John Keneddy with a strong admisitration and a following division of Scott, Tuck and Matthews. The 80s rolled on and it took our best coach in my time, John Northey to get things rolling. And thats what he did, he rolled the dice and created an attacking style of play which took one of the best sides ever in the Hawks to kill the dream. We would go on to make one more GF under Danahier but we never were a chance. I now hold my breath, as I am not close to the powers that be and am constantly bewildered why everyday supporters have had a better feel for the playing list than those running the show. Still, maybe this year we are as good a chance as anyone else.

Drinking, drugs and poor life choices are as much a symptom of mental health issues as they are a cause.

SEN still on air?

Wonderful pastimes dc …….

lot of naive posters on this thread booze and drugs (and other things) have been common across all clubs

Not sad at all.He was very much the author of his own misfortune and part of the problem at the club.Not even gracious enough to leave without embroiling the club in an unwarranted and debilitating enquiry