Demonland

Eight hundred Demon fanatics, the players, coaches and families filled the Crown Palladium for the Annual MFC Keith "Bluey" Truscott award night. Given the simply horrendous season that the club had just witnessed both on and off the field, this was nothing short of astounding; perhaps it was a final hope that signalled the end of this black era and the supporters were determined to put their best foot forward. The Keith "Bluey" Truscott award night is all about recognising and rewarding the efforts of those players from the club, who have excelled above all others. In such a year as we have had, the recognition is even more important, as those same players have little else to show for their hard work although Im sure that each and every award recipient would pass on the trophies handed out for a chance of premiership success instead. The other moving aspect of this night is rubbing shoulders with the true greats of the club. It really makes one realise how long and important is our history, when you can walk through the doors with previous winners of the Bluey and the heroes of by-gone days. Noel McMahon, Ron Barassi, David Neitz, James McDonald, Matthew Whelan ... they were all there on the night, and you get to share the evening with them. A pretty good experience all round.. The club through new CEO, Peter Jackson introduced a new award - the James McDonald Award for best team man and it was awarded to Nathan Jones. Not only was Nathan a deserving and worthy recipient, but having it presented and named after James McDonald represented a healing and welcoming back to the fold for James. It is only right that such great servants of the club are around to foster and encourage the younger and new players. And this was another sign that Jackson is setting about righting the wrongs about the way the Club has conducted itself in the past. The Coaches award went to Jake Spencer., the Ian Ridley Memorial award for community activities to Colin Sylvia and the Harold Ball award for best first year player to Jack Viney. The Troy Broadbridge award for best VFL player went to Jesse Hogan. The support, cheers and whoops when both Viney and Hogan received their awards signaled the hope that the supporters have for these two in coming years, and is a real credit to those in the recruiting department who uncovered these gems of players. As the votes were tallied for each round for the main event and award, the Club took the time out to recognise those who were leaving at the end of 2013. Joel Macdonald and David Rodan were thanked for their small duration, but significant contributions to the club. But the greatest cheer and standing ovation was reserved for Aaron Davey who bid farewell in the most charming and poignant way. Video highlights were not long enough to show the skills and highlights that he brought throughout his career. And his heartfelt thanks to the many who had supported him along the way, particularly his wife brought a tear to many eyes in the audience. With five children it is hoped that another Davey may one day pull on the red and blue jumper. The evening finished with the final tally and the award of the Truscott trophy. The final results were: 2013 Melbourne best and fairest results Winner: Keith Bluey Truscott Memorial Trophy Nathan Jones (365 votes) Second: Sid Anderson Memorial Trophy Colin Garland (360) Third: Ron Barassi Senior Memorial Trophy Dean Terlich (306) Fourth: Ivor Warne-Smith Memorial Trophy Matt Jones (303) Fifth: Dick Taylor Memorial Trophy Colin Sylvia (288) Sixth: Lynden Dunn (270) Seventh: James Frawley (268) Eighth: Jack Trengove (257) Ninth: Jeremy Howe (256) Tenth: Tom McDonald (249) With his second consecutive Bluey, Nathan Jones showed the true champion that he is. In his acceptance speech he acknowledged all who had contributed to his year, in particular Neil Craig. It was interesting that Craig in his introduction, indicated that he was looking forward to continuing to mentor and guide Nathan (.so read into that what you may..). Each of the award recipients gave worthy thanks to all around them, particularly family, who take a great deal of the pain and commitment required for the players to be able to participate at AFL level football. Girlfriend and wives in particular, as players told of waking up in the night to ice and attend to injuries, and of the moods and pressures that were brought home. Col Garland spoke highly of his mother and how she worked two jobs to be able to bring him and his brothers up and give them the chances that otherwise would have been denied. As Matt Jones collected his award and similarly paid tribute to his girlfriend, the cameras focused on her at the table where a playful Mitch Clisby quietly slipped his arm around her shoulder in Matt's temporary absence. Overall, the award said a lot about the 2013 Season for the MFC. The first two placegetters were simply standouts, and now being senior players themselves were head and shoulders above the rest. That so many other senior and long standing players werent immediately behind them in the voting was a sad indictment of the lack of talent and capability among this group. It was further emphasized when two first year players finish 3rd and 4th respectively, and can come into the club and perform consistently and competently before others who have been around for much longer is equally damning. On the positive side, Matt Jones and Dean Terlich are credits to the recruiting department of last year headed by Todd Viney. The club was desperate, due to previous recruiting failures to find players capable of filling obvious holes, and they certainly achieved this with Dean and Matt. Coupled with the Jack Viney and Jesse Hogan outcomes, the report card for Todd and his crew should have resulted in an award on the night for themselves. A good night was had by all. We all hope that 2014 will see a more competitive outcome in the awards, because it will signify a more competitive team overall on the field.

Originally I had him in a Demon's jumper but it didn't look right.

Considering the timeframe it was put up I can be excused.

There's actually 888 on the site now. Most ever online at once was 1407 in November 2012. I suspect that will be broken today. The site might get a bit slow at times but it should hold up OK. In Nasher we trust.

Please stop trying to get around the banned word filters. You will be banned from using this site like another poster today who tried my patience one too many times. Last warning to everyone. This is an exciting time for the club so don't spoil your chances of discussing the exciting times ahead.

Means nothing but http://www.sportsbet...s-coach-betting Re: WCE coaching gig "After getting the boot from Brisbane, Michael Voss is also a real chance at $9.00, while despite the speculation around a possible move for Paul Roos to Melbourne (he is priced at just $1.01 to go to the Dees), he is also in the market at $13 to coach the Eagles. Worsfold may not be lost to the football world after firming from $11 to $9.00 to coach the Brisbane Lions, and he is also $10 to coach Melbourne. There has been big wraps on Scott Burns for a while and he is a Perth boy, so we have him as favourite. Peter Sumich is a favourite son so cant be counted out, while we havent discounted a move by Michael Voss or Paul Roos, said sportsbet.com.aus Shaun Anderson."

Means nothing but http://www.sportsbet.com.au/blog/home/next-west-coast-eagles-coach-betting Re: WCE coaching gig "After getting the boot from Brisbane, Michael Voss is also a real chance at $9.00, while despite the speculation around a possible move for Paul Roos to Melbourne (he is priced at just $1.01 to go to the Dees), he is also in the market at $13 to coach the Eagles. Worsfold may not be lost to the football world after firming from $11 to $9.00 to coach the Brisbane Lions, and he is also $10 to coach Melbourne. There has been big wraps on Scott Burns for a while and he is a Perth boy, so we have him as favourite. Peter Sumich is a favourite son so cant be counted out, while we havent discounted a move by Michael Voss or Paul Roos, said sportsbet.com.aus Shaun Anderson."

MFC tweeted that no announcements on coach will be announced at the Bluey.

This happened a long time ago.

According to http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-05/live-worsfold-resigns?utm_medium=RSS

That's not true according some posters here.

The end for Worsfold If Roos goes to WCE in the 11th hour then some of the posters with "inside info" might get a permanent banning out of pure frustration.

That could just mean that he is staying in his role in the media.

Who vouches for you guys?

This

It would be ironic and totally MFC if the deal didn't happen because of this.

Whilst we're posting about 80s footy music and production values, here's another classic:

Once you have seen and heard it, it cannot be unseen and unheard. From the late 80s

If you knew at the start of the season, that the Demons were bound for September action, then everyone would have been getting just a little excited. But when you then found out that: * we could only manage a lousy pair of wins for the season and * the September action involved playing the 4th worst team in the competition at 4.40 on a Sunday evening after every other game had finished, and * the off-field dramas continued to get even worse than 2012 then perhaps even more of us would have booked ski-holidays at the start of the year ( but the snow quality this year was about as good as the Demons!) Someone has got it in for us. Are we jinxed? Is the curse of the Red Fox real? It sure feels that way, but until players start performing and putting in the efforts that Norm Smith demanded from his protégés, then we will continue to put in sorry performances like the supporters witnessed again in the final match. Nine goals straight were recorded by the Dogs in the second quarter, and that was after we had scored the first. Familiar? We the fans have been watching that sort of performance all year. Players thinking that they have done enough in one quarter of football While some again might be excited by the fact that Jack Watts kicked four goals, it would really be something if he actually got the ball himself. He wont have Aaron Davey to drill it down his throat next year, and blind umpires wont hand out blatantly wrong free kicks to bolster his ego. Seven possessions for the day is simply not good enough! Col Sylvia has been promising to deliver and continuing to not do so, for ten seasons now. His lack of effort and willingness to do the team things was in sharp contrast to the gutsy performances from Luke Dalhouse, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy and Daniel Cross. They just keep on giving and Col keeps on promising. And four of those five have been around just as long ! What a sorry state we will see ourselves without Davey next year. His exquisite skills with the ball over many years has been an absolute delight to the Demon fans. And in his final match he gave us plenty of glimpses of those highlights again. It is a true indictment on the rest of the team that the veteran was probably our B.O.G for the day. He gave his all during his career and didnt stop until he could do no more. We will miss him ... thanks for the memories Flash! For the Demon fans, the relief that Season 2013 is over was palpable. What a sad state of affairs, that this once great Club is glad to see the season over! Another re-build coming, with another 8-10 players to dropped from the list. The Demonland scribes can easily put together a list of players who wont be around next year, and the final number is probably closer to the double digit number. We simply have too many players who are not of AFL standard, and an equal number of lazy, contented spectators. The Bulldogs lack a lot of things in their side, but G & D isnt one of them. They have given their supporters some hope for 2014, especially with their performances in the latter half of the Season. The Melbourne supporters in contrast, have got nothing from the players and are pinning their hopes on a new coach, president, board, CEO ... But can any of them kick a football? Melbourne4.5.29 6.5.41 9.7.61 13.9.87 Western Bulldogs 4.3.27 13.6.84 14.8.92 16.11.107 Goals Melbourne Watts 4 Kent 2 Dunn Garland Howe M Jones N Jones Sellar Viney Western BulldogsDickson 3 Cooney Giansiracusa Hunter 2 Campbell Cross Grant Jones Liberatore Minson Wallis Best Melbourne Grimes Garland Trengove Viney Frawley M Jones Western Bulldogs Liberatore Boyd Cooney Murphy Minson Cross Dickson Injuries Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Changes Melbourne Chris Dawes (calf) replaced by James Sellar Western Bulldogs Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Hosking Armstrong Fisher Official Crowd 22,176 at Etihad Stadium Goodbye 2013 ... hello future

And congratulations to Nathan Jones who makes it back to back - DEMONLAND PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2013 - FINAL STANDINGS 202. Nathan Jones 132. Colin Garland 111. Matt Jones 94. Jack Viney 86. James Frawley Colin Sylvia 78. Dean Terlich 57. Jeremy Howe 55. Jack Watts 44. Jack Grimes 37. Aaron Davey 33. Lynden Dunn Jack Trengove 30. Jimmy Toumpas 28. Tom McDonald 27. Max Gawn 26. Shannon Byrnes Jordie McKenzie 25. Mitch Clisby 23. Michael Evans Jack Fitzpatrick 21. Chris Dawes 16. Cam Pedersen Jake Spencer 13. Dean Kent James Magner Luke Tapscott 8. Mitch Clark 7. David Rodan 3. Mark Jamar 2. Rohan Bail Neville Jetta 1. Sam Blease

And that's it for Game Day until March next year. Thanks for your contributions folks!

SEPTEMBER ACTION ... OR ANOTHER SORRY EFFORT? by George on the Outer If you knew at the start of the season, that the Demons were bound for September action, then everyone would have been getting just a little excited. But when you then found out that: * we could only manage a lousy pair of wins for the season and * the September action involved playing the 4th worst team in the competition at 4.40 on a Sunday evening after every other game had finished, and * the off-field dramas continued to get even worse than 2012 then perhaps even more of us would have booked ski-holidays at the start of the year ( but the snow quality this year was about as good as the Demons!) Someone has got it in for us. Are we jinxed? Is the curse of the Red Fox real? It sure feels that way, but until players start performing and putting in the efforts that Norm Smith demanded from his protégés, then we will continue to put in sorry performances like the supporters witnessed again in the final match. Nine goals straight were recorded by the Dogs in the second quarter, and that was after we had scored the first. Familiar? We the fans have been watching that sort of performance all year. Players thinking that they have done enough in one quarter of football While some again might be excited by the fact that Jack Watts kicked four goals, it would really be something if he actually got the ball himself. He wont have Aaron Davey to drill it down his throat next year, and blind umpires wont hand out blatantly wrong free kicks to bolster his ego. Seven possessions for the day is simply not good enough! Col Sylvia has been promising to deliver and continuing to not do so, for ten seasons now. His lack of effort and willingness to do the team things was in sharp contrast to the gutsy performances from Luke Dalhouse, Adam Cooney, Matthew Boyd, Robert Murphy and Daniel Cross. They just keep on giving and Col keeps on promising. And four of those five have been around just as long ! What a sorry state we will see ourselves without Davey next year. His exquisite skills with the ball over many years has been an absolute delight to the Demon fans. And in his final match he gave us plenty of glimpses of those highlights again. It is a true indictment on the rest of the team that the veteran was probably our B.O.G for the day. He gave his all during his career and didnt stop until he could do no more. We will miss him ... thanks for the memories Flash! For the Demon fans, the relief that Season 2013 is over was palpable. What a sad state of affairs, that this once great Club is glad to see the season over! Another re-build coming, with another 8-10 players to dropped from the list. The Demonland scribes can easily put together a list of players who wont be around next year, and the final number is probably closer to the double digit number. We simply have too many players who are not of AFL standard, and an equal number of lazy, contented spectators. The Bulldogs lack a lot of things in their side, but G & D isnt one of them. They have given their supporters some hope for 2014, especially with their performances in the latter half of the Season. The Melbourne supporters in contrast, have got nothing from the players and are pinning their hopes on a new coach, president, board, CEO ... But can any of them kick a football? Melbourne4.5.29 6.5.41 9.7.61 13.9.87 Western Bulldogs 4.3.27 13.6.84 14.8.92 16.11.107 Goals Melbourne Watts 4 Kent 2 Dunn Garland Howe M Jones N Jones Sellar Viney Western BulldogsDickson 3 Cooney Giansiracusa Hunter 2 Campbell Cross Grant Jones Liberatore Minson Wallis Best Melbourne Grimes Garland Trengove Viney Frawley M Jones Western Bulldogs Liberatore Boyd Cooney Murphy Minson Cross Dickson Injuries Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Changes Melbourne Chris Dawes (calf) replaced by James Sellar Western Bulldogs Nil Reports Melbourne Nil Western Bulldogs Nil Umpires Hosking Armstrong Fisher Official Crowd 22,176 at Etihad Stadium Goodbye 2013 ... hello future

Last chance in 2013 to cast your votes ...