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In the second part of his series on his top 100 players of past 50 years, regular Demonlander Deespicable ranks 61-80 So now we are getting down to the guys who were damn fine players on their day but were just a tackle, smother or a matchwinning goal away from being regarded as outright stars. The three hardest to rank were the three ruckman from 63-65 on my list. It’s amazing as bad as we were at times throughout the past five decades, we have always been able to produce high-quality ruckmen. In fact we are the only club with five All-Australian tappers – O’Dwyer, Stynes, White, Jamar and Gawn. On top of that Peter Moore won the Brownlow for us in 1984 – albeit being overlooked for All-Australian selection to Simon Madden and Andrew Purser that year. Of course just as some old-timers like me argue about whether Woey or Graham Teasdale or Tony Liberatore were worthy Charlie recipients, a case could be made about how Strawb and the Russian actually got an All-Aussie gong. That’s not me being denigrating, it just that Madden and Aaron Sandilands were the clear No.1 in the years that our boys saluted and you wonder why they bothered to choose a back-up. But they did and as a result I am left wondering whether I have the duo high enough on my list. Feedback please. 61 Jack Watts 09-17 153 games, 143 goals So is he a great? Or a great waste of talent. It’s hard not be cruel about our infamous No.1 pick of 2008 who is clearly one of our most skilled players ever – right up there with Robbie and Dollars and Trapper. Sure we’d have rather have had NicNat, but if we did, we wouldn’t have taken Max Gawn the following year. Maybe it was the way we gifted him the Queen’s Birthday game to bump up our home crowd, but he always seemed more happy in his role as our No.1 promotions officer than he did nailing tackles. And as a result he became synonymous with what’s wrong with Melbourne, rather than someone who should have been properly developed from day one – the Dogs have a similar problem with Ugle-Hagan right now. After Roosy tried to restore his confidence, Goody, some might say to his credit, seemed to realise that he was a bit of a trainwreck and sent him packing to Port. But here’s the thing. Hands up if you got out of your seat to cheer the loudest you ever have when he converted after Alex Rance manhandled him on Anzac Eve in 2016? Or when he waltzed down the wing and kicked the sealer against the Pies in 2017. And which player would you like to have a beer with most of all. A great man I reckon. 62 Peter Giles 79-87 124 games, 32 goals Like Watts, another player given Norm Smith's No.4. He was recruited from Sandringham as a forward, but he had this awkward kicking style and at 187cm was hardly going to split packs, so we turned him into a defender. He played tight at full-back and used his body well like Hibbo does, but we were so bad back then that he copped a few batterings. He played on Michael Roach in 1980 when he kicked nine goals to bring up the ton. But the one that everyone remembers was when he was KO’d in the second quarter by Leigh Matthews at the MCG in 1982 - the second of four Dees the lethal champ sent to La La Land over the years. Once he woke up, Gilesy came back on as a forward and kicked three goals to inspire a comeback, including I think a go-ahead goal from the boundary, but Lethal then stepped up to spoil the story. But Gilesy got some redemption with a super game in a memorable win over the Hawks in 1984 at Princes Park. 63 Garry Baker 74-81 127 games, 112 goals Recruited from Footscray who had Gary Dempsey marking everything, he wasn’t quite as tall (just 193cm) but did a pretty good Garry 2.0 impersonation with similar sticky fingers – he took 17 marks one day against the Cats’ Jeff Fehring, which was probably more than the number of hitouts he ever won given his size. He was good for a goal in the resting ruck role most games as well and had a beard that Maxy would be proud of today. He even won our B&F in 1978 before a knee injury in 1980 curtailed his movement and he wasn’t that quick beforehand, so Barass sent him packing. 64 Mark Jamar 02-15 155 games, 56 goals I had a lot of trouble deciding where to rank the Russian. I mean before this year he was one of only a handful of Dees to make an All-Australian line up and he did kick five goals against Carlton one day. But you’d be hard-pressed to view him as a great, although he was clearly a handy, humble servant, putting his body on the line for more than a decade, often down at Casey. Only once in his 14 seasons did he play every game – in 2010 when he had an impressive 643 tap-outs and finished third in the Bluey Truscott and sat on the AA bench as back-up for Aaron Sandilands. And unlike Woey and the Brownlow, he hasn’t copped it for being one of the least qualified AA selections of all time. For us though, as a ruckman, he’s in a battle with Strawbs and Bakes for our fifth best tapman of the past 50 years – such has been the quality we have produced in the rucking area. He started off playing third fiddle to Jeff White and Darren Jolly and finished up as our third wheel behind Gawny and Pencil. 65 Steven O’Dwyer 87-91 84 games, 45 goals Big Strawb will long be remembered for missing the 1988 GF when suspended but the feisty redhead was also unlucky to miss our breakthrough night premiership in 1987. He’d just made his debut against St Kilda and impressed against Alan Sidebottom but copped a two-week suspension that ruled him out of the night granny. By 1988 he was a huge presence and a John Northey favourite, so much so that he won our B&F that year. His absence against the Hawks proved telling with it forcing some major positional tinkering that proved catastrophic. With Jim Stynes developing rapidly, the club seemed to lose a little faith in Strawbs after 1990 and the umps weren’t fans of his style either - he gave away seven free kicks against Geelong in a 1989 final. But at the time he was very good at winning the hitout, even if his groundwork was a long way short of Gawny or Jimmy. 66 Jared Rivers 03-12 150 games After an inaugural season spent primarily developing at our then VFL affiliate Sandringham, the Adelaide defender was outstanding in his first full season and with his intercept marking skills on show and he quickly became Rising Star favourite, pipping teammate Aaron Davey in a year that frankly was a bit light on – no Sam Walsh’s on the horizon with Adam Cooney a slowish starter that season. After winning it he lost his way a bit in 2005, but was back taking aerial risks in 2006, helping us to the finals. Injury took its toll for the next two years and I reckon ultimately he just didn’t have the body strength to manage the power forwards. Certainly he frustrated Mark Neeld (but who didn’t) and with T-Mac being developed as a defender, Rivers was sacrificed and sent forward. He even snagged four goals against GWS that year. But having endured the club at its worst, he knew his time was up and headed to Geelong where he played three more years and quite a few finals. 67 Matthew Whelan 00-09 150 games A Darwin lad who had impressed in the SANFL, Wheels burst on the scene in 2000 where he showed amazing courage to often fly back into approaching packs for intercept marks and his pace made him a weapon at Marvel Stadium of all places. He wasn’t a thumping kick (he was a small after all), but he was clever and disciplined in the Nev Jetta style and his absence through injury during finals campaigns in 00 and 02 proved costly. When he eventually got to play a final in 2004, it was memorable, shirtfronting James Hird. He also inadvertently injured Nathan Brown in a tackle and in 2008 got suspended for striking Brendan Fevola – so the big names didn’t worry him and he kept wearing his No.45 even when low numbers were available for an upgrade. 68 Earl Spalding 87-91 109 games, 63 goals One of my favourites, the Duke arrived at Melbourne from the west as part of the “give Robbie a taste of the finals” recruiting spree that landed Todd Viney and Warren Dean. He started as a lanky CHB and he always looked a tad unco-ordinated, particularly when kicking for goal. But he could mark it like Greg Parke and as a result we sent him forward and alongside Lyon, Stynes and eventually Allen Jakovich, we had aerial superiority over most teams. He actually only played with us for five seasons before Swooper felt his errant kicking and apparently, lack of toughness, was too much and shipped him off to Carlton. Four years later he was a key member of their almost invincible 1995 flag side, so he was definitely one that got away. 69 Andy Lovell 88-95 121 games, 146 goals Dad Greg was a world wood-chopping champion, so he arrived from Glenorchy as a teenager in 1988 with the nickname Chopper. He was a thick-set but classy small forward who also played as a mid and was still attending Melbourne High when he made our 1988 GF side and with Steven Febey was one of two Tassie teenagers in our line up that day. He had plenty of good days, snagging eight against a lame Tigers in 1993, but I reckon his five-goal game against the Roos at the MCG in 1994 was probably his best. Not sure why we sent him to West Coast at the end of 1995, but he was a lot more handy for them than exchangee Craig Turley was for us. 70 James Harmes 14- 122 games One of those lifeblood of the club type players. He’s been criticised heavily by almost every regular Demonlander for his at times errant disposal, yet it was his pin-point pass to Fritter that got us going in the grand final. He was third in our breakout 2018 B&F and his antics when he stood up to Joel Selwood in the elimination final make every Dee fans must-watch list. He didn’t quite cope with the switch to defence in 2020, but he was back to his best when he returned as a close-checking midfielder against the Swans in 2021. 71 Michael Hibberd 17- 89 games Good old Hibbo came across to us after the Bombers’ supplements saga and made an immediate impact with a huge game in our unlucky Anzac Eve loss to Richmond. Despite missing the first four weeks with a hammy, he ended up making the All-Australian team as a dashing, tough left-footer. The best thing about Hibbo is that he uses his body so well. Go back and watch a replay of the first quarter of the granny and you will see just how valuable he is, just ask JJ who came off second best. 72 Jack Grimes 08-16 100 games As with Trenners, how do you assess our former captain who almost didn’t make the 100-game club. Regarded as a draft steal at pick No.14 in 2007 (aren’t they all), a back-related stress injury delayed his rise and he played in eight losing sides before the club downed West Coast by 20 points. He took 16 marks and had 29 disposals off half-back at the MCG that day along with three Brownlow votes and a star was born. The following year the tide seemed to be turning our way and he became a fan favourite until round 14 when he hobbled off with back stress recurrence. The next year it was a navicular foot stress injury, but despite all that, he was promoted to the captaincy for 2012 under Mark Neeld having played just 32 games. To his credit, he managed 21 games the next year and he was always honest and humble – hard not to be some might say given he ended with a token 100-gamer and retired to the suburban leagues with just 22 wins to his name. I like to remember him for that fist on a Patrick Dangerfield lead during our upset win in Adelaide in 2014. I suspect if he was 5cm taller and at the right club, he would have been just like his three-time premiership winning brother. 73 Anthony Ingerson 96-01 121 games Some Demonlanders will tell you that Ingo was our best full-back (period) but having seen Sean Wight in his prime that just isn’t correct. But after being let go by Adelaide, he gave us six good seasons until knee injury. A bit of an ugly left-footer, his main strength was diligent and courageous manning of his opponents that included the master of the flop Matthew Lloyd, whom he kept relatively quiet in the 2000GF (four goals). 74 Andrew Leoncelli 96-03 146 games Another slow-burner who tried out at Carlton but it wasn’t until a super season at Old Xavs in 1995 that Melbourne came calling and his AFL debut came soon after his 22 nd birthday. A bit like Trac with the media, the No.36 was a regular by 1998 playing mainly as a high half-forward with occasional stints on the ball. He was a clever ball user and his 2000 season (fifth in B&F) was impressive although like many mates, he didn’t see much of it in the granny. 75 Peter Rohde 88-95 163 games Another Carlton discard who found his way to Melbourne and became a lock off half-back during the Swooper Northey period when we were pretty competitive. From memory he had quite a few hamstring issues, but when fit he was a nice long kick. He had a memorable Queen’s Birthday game in 1993 being sent forward and snagging three in our win against the Filth. 76 Brad Miller 02-10 133 games, 89 goals Drafted from Mt Gravatt in Qld, he always looked the part, but never really took the game by the scruff of the neck. He stats in 2004 when we won six straight to briefly top the table, were hardly flattering but as a CHF, he made good position and took a big out to allow Neiter more room. Arguably his best game was against Freo in the second week of the 2006 finals where he took 14 marks. He topped our goalkicking in 2008, but by then we needed him to be Wayne Carey for us to win games. 77 Matthew Febey 87, 90-00 143 games The draft was only just getting started when the Dees punted on the Tasmanian Febey twins from Devonport. While Steven enjoyed instant success, Matthew had to do it the hard way, even being delisted and re-rookied along the way before getting a gig on the left-side wing in 1990. As with his brother, he was extremely fit and that’s why he was a regular under Balmey and the Reverend until injuries in 2000 brought on his retirement. 78 Daniel Ward 97-07 136 games Another of the Reverend’s hard workers, he began as a rookie half-back from Fitzroy reserves and ended up having a go in our midfield where he provided a bit of dash and courage, although he probably wasn’t a natural in the give-and-go, in and under caper. Got into strife with gambling late in his career, but he was a reliable No.10 for 10 seasons, even if he sprayed the odd kick. 79 Paul Wheatley 00-09 135 games He burst on the scene in 2000 when Dustin Fletcher and Ben Graham were the kings of the long ball and wasn’t that far off getting a gig in the granny that year. He often took the kick-ins and anyone who marked a ball around the 50m mark looked to dish it off to him as he could kick it 60m off one step. And if the NAB Cup nine-pointer had made its way into the AFL, then he probably would have played 200 games. But to be honest, he was just a tad slow to be a star and not quite tall enough to be a key defender in those days. 80 Clint Bizzell 02-07 88 games Kicked 77 goals as a flamboyant forward at the Cats before crossing to the Dees in 2002 and becoming a regular under Daniher. Blessed with a nice leap and looks for TV, he was the first of our breed of intercept defenders, invariably drifting across to make life hard in the air for the opposition’s focal point. A back injury and broken leg ruined his last two years, but he quickly found his post-football niche as a travel show host. Link to 81-100

Remember this…..

Weideman trapped by falling debris after training the house down.

Strongly disagree. Only May, Lever, Gawn, Petracca and Oliver would be certainties for our best 22 since 1976. The 8 players from the 2021 Premiership team that were 21 and under, are still unproven in real terms. Aside from the players you mentioned, surely Jeff Farmer gets in ahead of either Spargo or Pickett. Brett Lovett ahead of either Rivers or Salem. Laurie Fowler or Alan Johnson ahead of Bowey. Alan Jakovich ahead of Fritsch. Greg Wells ahead of Viney. Todd Viney ahead of Harmes. I could go on because Hibberd, Petty, Langdon, ANB, Sparrow and Jackson are not close to making best 22. The 2021 team is easily the best Melbourne team we've seen, but it's not made up of 22 stars.

It’s taken me a while to work up the courage demonstone, but I’m sure the sentence below needs a comma! 😬

Cannot believe we got her from Carlton.....She is only 24! Still North gave up BBB and that worked out rather well.....

Yes. If it had of been Hunter he would have ducked.

Pffft! Miriam Webster? How many games did she play? Can't wait for the hone and away season to start.

Great work Deespic. No real surprises in the rankings. My only comment is that too much is made of the timing of Jack Watts' debut, and how it ruined his career. Not sure how many weeks it was prior to his debut, but he had an outstanding game for Casey against the Coburg Tigers (aligned with Richmond at the time). He deserved to be selected. At the end of the day, I just saw Jack Watts as a player with talents who didn't have the desire or natural competitiveness to get the best out of himself. The QB narrative is overplayed.

Maybe he's getting them sharp.

Dunstall is widely credited as being the guy behind the scenes who set up the Hawks most recent dynasty, he knows his footy dislike him or not.

So many great images from our season. Max at the Cattery Langdon’s smile Trac’s stare Fritta’s jumper tug Kossie after a snap Goodie and Max centre stage at Optus Team celebration I rate this most iconic - I recall the instant 57 years despair morphed into spine tingling disbelief

I cant see Melksham getting there, Hibberd perhaps.... Of the others Jake Lever obviously but May is going to need close to 3 seasons. Probably depends on how many times he accidently gets injured playing on Hawkins.

I got a copy of both from my son and that's why I didn't get it for myself, I sort of knew he would. He also gave me a little football with the club theme song on it. My house is looking like the MFC clubrooms.

i think Harris will be very very handy up forward for us. We know the talent she has and I think playing with Daisy and having her as her captain will make a massive difference and help her a lot.

KC, TITANS, COLTS. Dibs on this combo! Go get your own 😂🤣😂🤣😂

Hope we play freed from desire before the first bounce on round 1 :) To get the party started woooo

Silly me. Not the grammar mistake, but to believe I could respond to one of your posts without ridicule :-)

Really excited to see what Tayla can do in 2022. She is an amazingly strong and determined young lady.

Ahoy there Tim! I’m most definitely a stowaway on the good ship HMAS NT$NBS. I’m actually lucky I wasn’t keelhauled for mentioning the unmentionable. I was, however, thrown in the brig for 24 hours. I have learned the error of my ways and am suitably repentant. Captain Redleg need not ever worry about a mutiny or anything of the sort.

Red, I am deeply wounded. After all my years of valuable and profound intellectual contributions to this thread you still misrepresent my tastes in vino. I hereby declare and caste aside all doubts, Chateau Cardboard has no place in The Manor's fine collection of plonk. ( excepting of course, those occasions when The Manor's budget is a tad strained)

isn't she still playing for hiilsong?

Isn’t it strange how a lot of coaches have been on the chopping block then gone on to win the premiership. You look at Hardwick, Clarkson, Thompson. Their fans wanted them gone, their boards stuck with them and they all had dynasties. Hopefully we’re at the beginning of ours.

I don't think it's wine either. Looks like a liqueur to me, possibly chartroos.

I'll remember that bump until the day I cark it. Absolutely glorious.

I thought Goody wouldn't be around in 22. I'm a fickle fan but I'm glad he is still coach. Gone from his job on the line to the club's most successful coach in close to six decades.

The prelim moment where Viney hugs and lifts up Max is also pretty darn iconic, but I'm with you on the Clarry photo, it's the moment where we ripped the heart out of Bulldogs supporters and the look in Clarry's eyes and on his face says this is our premiership from here on.

Well said. Tmac's career highlight - delivering the coup de Grace in a highly intelligent peice of shepherding.

His debut was a financial / pr exercise that failed in a football sense and set him back years ( and constant rubbishing by collingwood mates for years). We never got full value as no 1 recruit (. Yes we would never picked gawn had we chosen nic nat. And every draft decision is a sliding door moment) His off field activities led to a stint in Casey Drunken Hi jink Overseas with a cigarette led to an external burn on rump led to a , mega dose of a particular medicine , not telling club officials and a fixed stint in Casey ( even if in good form)

I cannot believe some people think otherwise

Controversial with Watts....

Great work again, but gee is Watts rated too high? I think every player there is better than him except Grimes who is also too high should be in the 90's. Walsh not in the top 100? Thought he was better than both Trengove and Grimes. Mind you every player who played before '88 I never saw play so I'm just taking your word for it with those players.

“That bloke.” The Dees guy in the crowd. He epitomised pretty much every Demons fan at that moment in time.

Same here, Deeves. Even though it’s won and done, the Ashes has been very entertaining. And the AO will no doubt be great to watch/go to. But this year is different. This year the footy season can’t come quick enough. This winning feeling is addictive!

my wife does in this house

Having read Captains Diary since Christmas, I am certain when Gawn's great classic book is properly and understandably made a compulsary text for VCE English students this next year, WJ's treatise will undoubtedly prove a great student resourse.

And there you have it! Words are superfluous.

Yes, yes we can.

Clarrie - almost mythical can imagine Da Vinci or Michaelangelo Caesar Arrival Queen of Sheeba

the video of the players a few days after the game describing when they thought we had in the bag 35000 PLUS JOYOUS dees supporters at the G seeing Neale at the G the photo neale with scarf in front of the tv after the final siren my phones going off after the final sirens with texts piling up the image of seeing the Australia post man at the gate with another package

I have been enjoying the Ashes but nothing now compares to winning a flag. Footy 22 cant come quick enough.

I like Brayshaw and I think his bang thing was awesome and is now iconic. But I think my favourite call of Clarry's goal was on ABC radio. I don't know who the caller was but he said "the demons...they're seeing what paradise must look like." Which just felt completely accurate because in that moment we all left this mortal realm.

Clarry's goal for me. My head said 24 points was still game on, but in my heart I knew.

It won't even compare to the booing he will get in round 1 at the MCG.

Viney is severely underrated on here which is suprising considering his finals series.

I've watched a couple of Dunstan's games and he's not in the same street as Viney. If he gets a game it won't be at the expense of Jack, he will have to improve many aspects of his game to get in to the side.

Utter rubbish look at our last 6 Finals !!!

Agree. Go back 12 months and everyone was saying T Mac is finished and Weid is da man. I think there's a lesson in that. I'm not totally confident that he'll do it (I don't think anyone can be), but I do think it's important for the medium term depth of the side that Weid makes it in some capasity. Our team ethos and game style means he doesn't nessacerilly have to be the superstar, but if he can be a solid contributor in the years between BBB and T Mac dropping off and/or retiring, while we develop other young KPFs, then I think that is important. Sure we could try to aquire a ready made mature KPF from elsewhere, but there are no gaurentees there either. I think BBB would be a great player for Weid to be an understudy to. Lead up forward that can also crumb and do smart stuff and kick goals once the ball hits the deck. The general demeanor of BBB is also such that I think he'll also be a great mentor and developer of our next batch of forwards.

Well said old chap, well said.....i never thought wed see it either. What a year in so many ways. HNY and best wishes to all on DL.