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Good news in an email from the MCC today: "Finally, I would like to announce and welcome to the MCC Committee Russel Howcroft who has been appointed to fill the casual vacancy created by the retirement of Mark Smith". Russell, of course, is one of the stalwarts on the ABC's Gruen show, but importantly is a former MFC Board member. We hope that this will continue to ensure our voice is heard over at the MCC, and that more can be done to sign up those 5,000 MCC members who go along to 4 or more Melbourne games each year, but do not sign up to the MFC/MCC membership.

Poor appointment...he was on our board at probably the worst time in our history. ...an empty suit.

I have seen and spoken to Paul as he still attends MFC games and at the golf club for grand final week pennant he is in melbourne colours.

I’m more sceptical about his sons brownlow.

Graeme Watson dead: Australian Cricket great remembered by Ian Chappell Graeme Donald Watson

Music by David Bridie

Terrific thread Picket ... Paul was one of my favourites as well because he kept getting the ball and his disposal was excellent considering his size. He kept burrowing in all day and averaged over 22 disposals for his entire career (according to AFL Tables) 85% were kicks to position though. Was upset when he went to St Kilda and never knew the reason why until now (Ian Ridley being removed being the catalyst reason)

A Dee through and through!

Nice one, a bit of broadening of culture. I like it. I am, of course, German. I love the sound of German words.

It seems wrong to "like" a post announcing such news, but thank you Dante for sharing the information.

Thanks for posting Dante. I was just preparing my next piece for the 1964 and all that series and I came across his name as making his debut in Round 3, 1964 against Carlton. Melbourne had some pretty decent cricketers back in those days. Neil Crompton was a very good state cricketer who was a trifle unlucky not to get a test cap. Watson himself ended up choosing cricket because of test duties and then we recruited Max Walker a couple of years later. Unfortunately, we missed out on another good cricketer in Peter Bedford who went to the Swans and won a Brownlow. Condolences to the Watson family.

I wasnt being negative, i just said post it before the race. It was a good selection. But hey whats the account balance? Or do you just take pictures of your computer or maybe somebody elses. Nobody is rude here, its just the way you interpret it. Your always welcome to post. . Nobody dreamed a trifecta. You do whatever floats your boat buddy, just put up your tips. Thats what the thread is about.

No pressure folks Good on you Macca, well done.

Got 14-1 on the early double lads (thanks to DZ) And if Daddoozart salutes it's party time (virtual)

I can't remember who said it: "Melbourne were the most professional club in the Amateur era, and the most amateur club in the professional era". It still pervades the club, because we took so long to get even the most fundamental facilities for a professional football side, something that we are still trying to catch up with. Paying players, checkbook recruiting, assistant coaches, professionals on the Board instead of ex-players were all things that other clubs were doing long before Melbourne caught up. And during that "catch up" period, we had zero success, and the support of members dwindled and continues to dwindle compared with others. Soft salary cap and real salary cap will drag others down to our level. But we are coming from a long way back.

I just have to say this. Watching the umpiring from tonight's game is really highlighting for me how much the standard of umpiring has dropped in the last 20 years. We're not seeing any of the ridiculously soft high contact frees, no ducking, shrugging or lifting arms to milk a cheap free. They are policing incorrect disposal properly. We're not seeing players dive head-first at the ball. It's just amazing how much damage the AFL have done to the game in such a short time with their over-emphasis on head-high contact and constant rule-changes.

Yes. Its a lack of momentum of winning. And more-so the momentum of loss for us with our past 50+Yrs. This effects the players and as they start to overcome the fear, it still remains entrenched in the fans minds. And at games when things are tight and opposition are pressing us hard, that anxiety re-emerges outwardly in the Voice tones of the supporters themselves. For a part of the 2018 season, we were able to be whipped up into a more aggressive mental mindset, and boy, did the players lap that up. Aggression overwhelms fear. It's an antidote to paralysis/anxiety of fear. Except for those who are fearful of aggression, they will remain stifled, without good help to overcome this phobia. The club needs US, to be more aggressive for the players, on match-days. Instead of prim and proper. Get dee-shevelled on game days, Melbourne supporters... Be Proud, and get Loud... with no inhibition. Be Free & be Proud.

Anzac Day, 1964 also fell on a Saturday. Sport could not be played before midday out of respect for the marchers. Ironically, today sport can’t be played at all because of another plague on humanity. Back then, the Demons bounced back in tentative fashion to win their first game and start their march up the ladder. Round 2, 1964 North Melbourne vs Melbourne Saturday 25 April Venue: Arden Street Attendance: 15,914 B Williams Massey L Mann HB Miller Roet Leahy C Townsend H Mann Adams HF Groom Lord Vagg F Kenneally Bourke Robbie Foll Tas Johnson Barassi Rov Emselle 19/20 Matthews Wise The Demons ventured to Arden Street on Anzac Day with skipper Ron Barassi back in charge although he almost missed out again, this time with a bout of flu. Also in doubt with the same ailment were Hassa Mann and Bernie Massey but they recovered to take part in the team’s first win for the season after a hard fought encounter. Melbourne had first use of the strong breeze but was held to four goals in the opening term. The home side returned fire with a six goal second quarter to take a 6 point lead into the half time break. The Demons hit back in the third stanza and held a four goal lead at three quarter time. The Kangaroos peppered the goals in the final term but squandered their chances by booting a wasteful 1.8 to the Demons’ solitary goal which saw them win by 16 points. North Melbourne 0.1.1 6.5.41 7.5.47 8.13.61 Melbourne 4.3.27 5.5.35 10.11.71 11.11.77 Goals Barassi 3 Bourke Robbie 2 Kenneally Lord Townsend Vagg Best H Mann Robbie Kenneally Barassi Leahy Lord Reserves North Melbourne 15.11.101 defeated Melbourne 10.18.78 Goals Carroll 4 Mounter 2 Bartlett Brewster Mitchell Watson Best Jacobs Watson McLean Under 19s Postponed until 20 June due to Anzac Day restrictions on morning sport.

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

On this day in 1964, the VFL season opened with a round of six matches. The Melbourne Football Club had taken part in the past ten finals series under the coaching of the legendary Norm Smith and had won five premierships in that time. However, it was now almost four years since their last flag. The Demons were drawn to take on 1963 premiers Geelong on the MCG in the opening match. Round 1, 1964 Melbourne vs Geelong Saturday 18 April Venue: MCG Attendance: 66,250 B Crompton Massey L Mann HB Anderson Roet Leahy C Dixon H Mann Adams HF Groom Lord Vagg F Williams Bourke Robbie Foll Tas Johnson Kenneally Rov Emselle 19/20 Miller Townsend Melbourne took on the reigning premier in the opening round and Geelong overcame their poor MCG record over the past decade to prevail over the home side by 13 points. Hassa Mann was acting captain for the game as regular skipper Ron Barassi sat the game out serving the last match of a four-week suspension for striking Richmond’s Roger Dean in Round 17, 1963. After an even first quarter, the Demons took the initiative to go to a 20 point lead during the second term before a Cat fight back cut their lead to three points at half time. Hassa Mann started on 1962 Brownlow Medal winner Alistair Lord, and comprehensively outplayed him in the first half while John Lord’s strong marking was decisive during this period. The Cats grabbed the lead in third term with three goals to their full forward Doug Wade in the third quarter but it was still anyone’s game at the last change. Geelong’s superior fitness stood out in the final quarter with three quick goals and despite a last ditch comeback Melbourne went down by 13 points. Melbourne 2.4.16 8.7.55 11.11.77 14.13.97 Geelong 2.2.14 8.4.52 12.7.79 17.8.110 Goals Lord 4 Emselle 3 Bourke Robbie 2 H Mann Vagg Williams Best H Mann Lord Kenneally Vagg Bourke Anderson Reserves Geelong 11.7.73 defeated Melbourne 10.9.69 Goals Carroll 4 Bourke 2 Bartlett Leitch Matthews Wood Best Zinko McLean Davis Under 19s Melbourne 8.18.66 defeated Geelong 7.11.53 Goals Stone Pritchard 2 Jones McNabb Osborne Reinholdt Best Stone Jones Pritchard

Membership Year 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 1st game 22/3 A 23/3 H 25/3 H 25/3 A 25/3 H 4/4 H 22/3 A 31/3 H 31/3 H 27/3 H Oct week 3 19,068 21 15,211 20 21,980 22 19,026 26 16,654 22 17,625 25 Nov week 3 20,215 21 25,028 22 26,064 18 23,037 26 20,509 26 20,223 25 - 16,287 11,922 Dec week 1 28,005 7 30,096 7 28,354 07 27,914 9 24,402 4 22,433 3 22,105 11 18,217 3 18,747 2 17,541 3 Dec week 3 28,441 21 31,759 21 29,053 22 29,426 23 26,217 22 24,097 23 23,542 25 20,623 20,166 Jan week 3 29,764 21 33,226 21 30,068 19 30,200 20 27,027 19 25,112 23 24,558 21 21,873 22,402 22,396 Feb week 1 31,519 7 34,327 7 30,577 2 31,141 3 28,013 3 25,647 1 25,416 4 22,962 8 23,422 23,457 Feb week 2 32,157 14 35,148 14 31,310 14 31,537 10 28,759 17 26,290 12 26,039 12 23,650 12 21,448 12 Feb week 3 32,735 21 36,070 21 32,075 21 32,137 17 29,217 24 26,639 18 26,641 17 23,650 18 24,195 16 25,253 17 Feb week 4 32,985 28 36,973 28 32,948 28 32,679 24 29,450 26 27,066 26 27,736 26 - 25,277 Mar week 1 35,726 7 37,979 7 34,034 7 33,520 3 30,524 7 27,619 4 28,582 4 24,801 5 26,023 27,806 Mar week 2 36,063 14 39,537 14 34,691 14 35,080 16 32,623 16 29,510 16 30,421 15 26,751 14 26,791 14 28,068 Mar week 3 37,571 21 41,513 21 36,513 21 35,756 21 33,146 21 30,257 21 - - Mar week 4 37,888 28 44,008 28 38,089 28 37,025 28 35,117 26 31,035 26 32,324 28 - 29,588 31,087 Apr week 1 38,115 7 45,537 7 39,402 7 38,554 7 35,535 1 32,001 1 - - 32,235 33,359 Apr week 2 38,246 14 46,133 14 40,160 14 39,005 14 36,157 8 33,301 9 33,175 14 - - 33,753 10 Apr week 3 38,286 21 47,174 21 40,557 21 39,281 21 36,731 20 - 34,548 20 Apr week 4 38,431 28 48,080 28 40,636 28 39,634 28 37,597 30 34,068 29 May week 1 38,521 7 49,837 7 41,640 7 40,083 7 37,766 6 34,352 7 35,205 5 - 34,489 35,205 May week 2 38,591 14 50,107 14 41,825 14 40,380 14 38,102 13 - - - 34,961 May week 3 38,673 21 50,422 21 42,057 21 40,549 21 38,327 23 34,871 20 May week 4 38,673 28 50,520 28 42,352 28 40,749 28 38,479 31 35,017 22 June week 1 38,766 7 51,770 7 43,593 7 40,934 7 38,547 6 Jun Week 2 38,985 14 51,770 14 43,791 14 41,022 14 38,653 14 - - 35,403 Final July 30 39,774 52,405 44,191 42,102 39,211 35,953 35,911 33,177 35,345 36,937 Post 31 July 40,531 52,446 45,178 42,233 2020 Progressive total in Red Actual dates in Blue Date of first game of season Home or Away

Paul "The Count" Callery turned 70 today. Great footballer and an even better bloke! Still very active. Congratulations! PF

The first match up of Round 2 sees Garry Lyon take on Brad Green. You can either vote by going to our Facebook or Twitter pages or for convenience you can vote in the poll above. Garry Lyon: 226 Games 426 Goals 2 x Keith Bluey Truscott Trophy 2 x MFC Leading Goalkicker 3 x All Australian 1994 Victorian Captain MFC Captain 1991-1997 MFC Team of the Century MFC Hall of Fame Brad Green: 254 Games 350 Goals 2010 MFC Leading Goalkicker 2010 Keith Bluey Truscott MFC Captain 2010 Australian International Rules Captain 2011 Tournament Fixture:

Another brief bit of footage of our 1940 premiership win over the Tigers https://www.britishpathe.com/video/australian-football-final-aka-australian-rugby-foo/query/melbourne+football

MAINTAIN SUCCESS MAINTAIN??? We haven't had any success since 64 A million years ago When we win multiple flags like Hawks, Richmond, Ess and the like then we can talk about Maintaining success Until then... we cannot talk about Maintaining because we have ultimately UNSUCCESSFUL!!

Although he often played injured, Barassi's '64 season catapulted us into the grandy, and ultimately the flag. He wasn't a top performer in the finals series, but was undoubtedly the no.1 legend of the vfl, and losing him cost us our weltanschauung. there has been no viable replacement

It’s not getting any easier !!

This is great news. I have good memories of watching the 2018 elimination final against Geelong next to Russel in a London bar... good bloke to have a chat with.

So that would have been Barassi's first game since August, 1963.

So courageous. I remember when Sean Wight stood in the "hole", knowing L,ockett was coming with the pack at full speed. He kept his head up, took the mark, then was made to "pay" by Lockett with his knee right in the middle of his back. Though it was a late, vicious assault, there was no 50m paid.

Dutch football league cancelled, ladder leader Ajax won’t be declared as champions. This comes after Dutch Prime Minister announced a ban on large gatherings including sports will be extended until September 1st. The other day I read the Germans set a possible date for resumption in late May yet neighbours Holland have gone screw this, it’s over. Trying to work out if everyone is on the same page here. Copy and paste is no longer working for me on here for some reason, any help would be appreciated. The article came from 9 Wide World of Sports.

An article in today’s “Rage” made note of police raiding a party in Romsey Well I wish to clear the air before any scandal mongers start pointing nasturtiums at your good old innocent Uncle Bitter Firstly, it wasn’t a party at all. I mean who calls a gathering of 50 or so like minded friends a”party “ ? Secondly. Everyone was being quite responsible and keeping a good whip length apart Clearly all just a minor misunderstanding PS If one of my good lawyer friends on this site could see their way to a little pro bono work please contact me ( metaphorically that is) at The Manor

Wight but like many others, there is a sliver of a bee's old fella in it... his ariel duel with Gary Snr which I saw was a thing to behold. Whelan was lethal and skilled and I loved his heart dearly. To me when Wheels dropped off that was when our defensive side of the game went to garbage. But Wight was a god, he could do magic, even when giving away weight and height to some real gorillas. On a side note I still get around on roller blades, like Wight did. Great work out, spares the knees.

oh ffs. just ban spittle and fine the bejeezus out of anyone attempting it it's just not that [censored] hard

I know we could never in a million years have predicted this happening but we quite literally couldn't afford last year happening the way it did. Make finals and we have 50k members before January. Some here treated last year as an aberration. It may have been. But good clubs just don't let it happen. And now we are feeling it.

Appreciate the link Dr. G! British Pathe footage, with an authentic Aussie voiceover. Well before our time, but has that distinctive style of going to flicks (Saturday nights?) and watching the Australian Movietone News. Rupert was still learning his trade at the Melbourne Herald. 80 odd seconds of the stuff of legends! A viewing of the brief highlights show how truly magnificent the Redlegs team of that era must have been. Surprisingly reminiscent of the contested ball, once possession was gained, move the ball quickly with creative handball and clean kicking skills to an open forward line, where will of the wisp small forwards kick accurately for goal. (Considered to be desirable in today's era of the 'game plan'). Norm Smith received an award for 'most unselfish'. Evidence of his team orientated play was clearly on display twice at 00:30 with a well directed handball that cleared the pack, followed at 01:00 by a 'creative' handball to Alby Rodda front and square for a six pointer. Both involvements would be described as goal assists now. Never going to complain about the look away, backwards over the head handball again!

Stop being clinical: I have cried ever since...

Tim Watson just stating the obvious.

waay back in 71 or 72 me and a friend went to see the dees train at the MCG ...and to try and get some autographs. From memory that day I got Greg Parkes and Max walkers (which was as swirly and colourful a signature as the man himself) Somehow we hung around for long enough so that, as we were walking back to the tram, Paul was also walking the same direction... training bag in hand. He was so open and friendly and we talked for maybe 10 mins, which for an 11 yr old was like a small meeting with God. I remember him asking us lots of questions and the memory of it still lingers. Despite the lack of success the team of that time had, the names from those days remain my absolute favourite.

Agree. Even if he plays 60% game time every second match. That would be a BIG bonus for us in this sad write off of a season.

HB would be a huge addition. He doesn’t need to play every game. He would be an impact player. Play him across half forward. Hard to match up for defenders.

Some great memories of Paul playing. I was a bit awe struck as a 17 year old Melbourne supporter going for tea and to a party once at the family home in Oakliegh ( I went out with his sister Cathy ). Great fella and easy to talk to. I was surprised that I was slightly taller than him at the time but he was an absolute ball of muscle.

He used to do the stats on a radio station that called the footy, so it might have started there (counting the kicks, marks etc.).

Paul was a wonderful guest speaker at our Gippsland Primary Schools Sports Camp in the 1990's, and I'll never forget how his personality was aptly refelected in his recorded phone answering message. "Hi, you've rung Paul Callery. I'm not in right now, but please leave a message, and remember, if you think terrific, by golly, YOU'LL BE TERRIFIC!"

I was at the Springvale ground in the mid 80s when he was coaching my beloved Oaks, at half time someone had locked the Oakleigh rooms so Paul picked up a length of pipe that was lying around and proceeded to threaten to smash the door down. IIRC the key was found pretty quickly. Legend.

Look at that centre line! Dixon, H. Mann, Adams.

Big Carl and Callery were the reasons I became a MIGHTY DEMONS supporter. Good on ya Calls!

I’ll let you all in on a secret. We went on to win the premiership that year. The interesting thing is that we lost the opening game of the season before finishing on top of the ladder.

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 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.