dieter

Kudos, great observation. I have always been moved by his emotion at the end...

What nobody has mentioned is that Melbourne was the fittest side in the comp in 2021, they always ran games out. We should never underestimate the contribution Burgess made to this club.

Am listening to Doctor Anton Bruckner as I read this....Symphony #4, conducted by Celibidache.

Brown did the same when he marked Petracca's clearance when the slaughter began...It seems it's 'allowed' if a player takes the mark.

I really appreciate his point that post the 2018 season, 17 of 43 players had surgery. I recall the katzenjammer bitterness of certain posters who simply would not countenance that this impacted so drastically in their 2019 season. How could it not have??

Um, Gaff? There is a you-tube post of Greene's kicks and hits, boot studs into player's faces and bodies, repeat offender. So you'll nail Bugg for 1 indiscretion?

I added him belatedly - see above: he was great.

And Lynden Dunn, Mat Jones, Garland, Jurrah, Rivers, Jamar, Cross, Lewis, and many others...

I've been watching, care of You Tube,some famous victories since 2013. I'd like to pay tribute to those who missed out on being part of the 23 players who won the flag, and, probably more importantly, the players who were involved in the journey to get the MFC there. There are/were the coaches, the recruiters, the unsung staff who managed the players through thick and thin, but here's an attempt to acknowledge those who made contributions: First of all, lets not forget the players who were not stars, let alone superstars, the foot soldiers, the players who received few accolades. Among them I'd nominate: Tom Bugg whose career was ruined by one singular discretion. Toby Greene has done way worse than Bugg, many, may times. Bernie Vince who installed character and grunt plus enormous talent. Ben Kennedy: busted his guts for us. The Wagner brothers: ditto. Chris Dawes: a match winner in some games, always reliable for 100% effort. Dom Tyson: played many superb games for the MFC. Oscar and Frost: busted their guts and more, never gave up, though maybe limited in comparison to Lever and May. Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes: sacrificed their careers and bodies. Dean Kent: Highly talented, talent diminished by injuries. Jesse Hogan: Prodigious talent ruined by injuries and inability to overcome bad umpires. Viv Mitchie: so talented, so prone to being the first mid to be dropped. One of the best: Jeffie Garlett. He was great for the MFC. And, how can I forget Cam Pederson. He was great. Then, the likes of Tim Smith, Declan Keilty, the fringe players who gave their heart and soul to the MFC. And, the best of 'The forgotten', our very own Jack Watts. Maligned on this site by many philistines, appreciated by those who appreciate the concept of individuality and natural ability. He busted his guts for the MFC. Apologies to those I've forgotten. The real hard luck stories: This list includes such stalwarts as Nathan Jones, Neville Jetta, Mister Hunt, Vandenberg, Smith. Enough has been written about the very great Nathan Jones, a true and genuine hero. I take off all of my hats to him - I've worn a few, 93 jobs in my life, most of which I hated. Ditto the great Neville man. I'll always love him to death, in the same way I love Eddie, Whelan, Davey, Sid Jackson, the Krakauer boys - named as of Jewish origin because a WA convict with the same name, a name descended from Crackow in Poland, was a cockney Jew who ran afoul of British Law - and all the other brethren, dudes like Goodes and Winmar, heroes in my eyes. And, most of all, apologies to those I've forgotten. In the meantime, thanks so much to the team who celebrated their kinship and dedication to being the best they could be in 2021.

Many got Keating wrong...

Yes, Kennett knows a lot about 'footy' - witness his move to demote Clarkson to Box Hill the year after they won the flag. Jeffie was also good at selling off infrastructure, which very surprisingly, got snapped up by his mates. Then again, that's what mates are for.

THis comes up as blank...

Is that worse than an Oedipus Complex?

I don't understand where you are coming from. The 'What about' argument is sophistry and totally irrelevant. It's like saying that a repeat murderer or child molester should not have their reputation tarnished because they could cook a great lasagna.

I've watched the Brisbane game and am watching the Geelong game. Here are some observations: When the talk was about OMENS, most people forgot about the 2 most apt: That Hassa secured top spot with a goal at Glenferrie Oval, from a pocket in a mudheap. Siren goes. Result, we finish on top. Big Max scores after the siren against Geelong. Result, we finish on top. End result, 2 Flags. - All of the players at some stage in the finals earned their places. Sparrow and Neale Bullen were great against the Lions, Fritsch kicked 4, Rivers was great, Spargo and Pickett and Jackson and Langdon were superb. . - Against Geelong, Spargo, Jackson and Pickett were wundebahr. - During all three games, Oliver, Gawn, Petracca and Viney and Brayshaw and Salem were stupendous. - Brown was a god-send in all 3 games. - Melbourne were without doubt the best team for 95% of the year.

I recall a similar feeling of desolation after the 1964 flag. In those days, it was the Age, the Sun and the Herald and World of Sport. I think there was a photo of John Lord in the following Tuesday's Herald, and not much else.

Pure Demon magic. Long may it continue. Kudos to the 23 players involved.

I loved what he did for the MFC. One of my all time favorite players. So strong, so passionate about his culture and his history, and so articulate. And, yes, the man could play. His highlight package on You Tube is simply not long enough.

Yep. I really don't get the 'people' who claim Max did a Hollywood. I guess it typifies the human species: you can see or read into any photo, text, or scenario or situation what your proclivities and prejudices have cornered you into. In this case, Gawn's head bounced off the floor. WTF???? It was more than a dangerous tackle. Then the pathetic gobbing off by the dwarf Daniels. Talk about the Erinyes striking back.

DR.D is one of my favorite knuckleheads. I once used the word Knuckf..kle to describe his like. ( Oh, god, I hope Grapeviney isn't listening...)

A Jewish friend who moved to Footscray in the 80's, sent a text, Where was God?

Surely for this medal to be taken seriously, it ought to be weighted. This year's winner played 4 Finals, our boys played 3. The winner had a very dud Grand Final. The epitome of a Pyrrhic Victory, I would have thought.

Wow: interesting observation.

Let's reflect on the history of how the Demons got here. 2013: Nadir land. Rock Bottom. Afl intervention. Enter Roos and Jackson. Roos appoints Goodwin as his second in command. 2014: Finish 17th. Four wins. Enter Christian Salem. 2015: Finish 13th. 7 wins. Enter Brayshaw, Petracca looming, due to ACL. 2016:Finish 11th. 10 Wins. Enter Oliver. 2017: Finish 9th. 12 wins. 2018: Finish 5th. 14 wins, win 2 finals. Enter Petty, Spargo. 2019: Finish 17th. 5 wins. Back to Square One. many injuries. May enters, Lever has recovered. 2020: Finish 9th, a bee's bick separating them from 8th. Win 9 out of 17. Enter Jackson and Rivers. 2021: There you have it. Finish 1st. Lose 4 games in a 26 game season, draw one. Apparently 8 players under 21, according to AFL's Nat Edwards. During the process, core players in the Resurrection came and went: Cross, Vince, Dawes, Lewis, Tyson, Bugg, Frost, Garlett - he was fantastic - and once bit players like Jetta and Pederson, injured cogs like Vandenburg, made important contributions. As did Kennedy Harris, Wiedemann, the MacDonald brothers, Matt Jones, and all the players too many to mention, players like Melksham, the big gutsy improvers like Neale Bullen, and the very new additions like Pickett. Then there are the recruiters, the genius selections of the crew led by Angus Taylor. Then there are the coaches, too many to mention, all of them who have made serious contributions, especially Choco, Richardson, Yze, McCartney and all the others... Most importantly, the Fitness genius, Daren Burgess, ex Soccer, ex Adelaide, the guy who kept May in the dark about the seriousness of his injury, the man who made Melbourne the fittest and most resilient side in the competition. And, most importantly, to the captains Gawn, Viney and Jones, who worked out that you don't win nothin if you don't walk the walk. And, even more importantly, to Simon Goodwin, whose life has been a journey of hiccups, discovery and the search for wisdom. I take my hat off in total gratitude to these people who yesterday made me so proud to be a Melbourne supporter since the age of eight when I watched them lose the grand final on my grandmother's Television in North Sunshine in 1958.

I could only watch the first 5 minutes; I checked the half time score, noted we'd stuffed up by kicking so many points and went to Demonland to catch some observations. I noted that yours was full of optimism. Dunno if you was takin the pee, but when I watched the replay today, I also felt that at half time the lads had stemmed the flow and were on the way back. Your prediction was spot on: kudos.