hemingway

Makes sense for both parties to defer contract talks. Many variables that can impact the outcome. In another world this approach makes sense but in the footy world it becomes gossip in the the footy media cesspit with all its distractions.

Many of you need medical attention with specialist psychiatric treatment for OCD.

From all accounts Laurie was a bit Clarryesque. Played in the centre and generated a lot of play. He was tough and was a target for the opposition. Not overly fast but read the play well. An instinctive player good on both sides of his body but had his fair share of injuries as his career continued. I was unaware of his post Melbourne days at Port Melbourne and in WA. At 87 he had a good innings. I hope he got to watch the Granny and celebrate the win. One of the greats. Like others of that era , he was loyal, self-effacing and modest.

I had a selection of quality wines that never failed to induce romance. In addition to Mateus Rose, favourites included Ben Ean Moselle, Cold Duck and Blue Nun. All within the budget too. Suited all locations including confined spaces and spillage was not a problem. Although, I was surprised when one beautiful young student was less than impressed and opted for Stones Ginger Wine.

Fair enough. He seems a terrific kid and someone who you would love to see playing consistently in the ones. Weeds problem irrespective of form is that we have our premiership players then a list of guys queuing for a spot. Speed, agility, running hard both ways and hardness at the footy and opponent are now ingrained in our way of playing. We have a team of guys who play for one another and do the one percenters. We have a group who based on 2021 form have maximised their talents and gone beyond, including players who used to be seen as not quite good enough or fringe players. For Weed to get a game he will have to rely on injuries and outstanding and consistent form for Casey. Even then he may get an occasional game but unless there is dramatic change I just can’t see him cementing a place in the 22.

Brilliant Tarax, you have the gift.

Old Dee, I can see that you have travelled along the road to Damascus. Things will never be the same. Can we ever be that pessimistic again as we were prior to the flag. Fancy looking beyond pre-season to the full season ahead without that veil of negativity. We no longer remain sad about whether we will see a flag before our last hurrah. Before the strains of the GOF waft into the ether.

Our team this year was phenomenal. Awesome. Not hard to please, just reflecting on the differences, the grounds, the fans, the players and the behaviour. Still love the game.

I had the good fortune to attend all the suburban grounds. Its was footy in the raw. Honest, gritty and hard. For fans the conditions could be cold, wet, muddy and damn well inhospitable. But on a dry day, you were up close and personal to both the play and the spectators. You could see and hear the whacks and the intensity of play. As a kid, it was an education. The first time I heard men swearing, the first time I witnessed punch ups in the crowd, , got showered with beer, taken to the game. A kid with grown men. Treated as an equal. A ritual and an initiation. Watching the footy gods stride the turf. And don’t ever say that the Demons of the 64 era were soft. They were tough and ruthless. Of course, we would not stand for the playing and spectator conditions today. However it was exciting then and memorable now. Favourite ground was probably the Lakeside. Swans fans were not too bad. The outer at other grounds could be frightening. But it was an education, an exercise in growing up. Of becoming a man. The game has become professional but has lost so much character.

Not many remaining Uncle. My preference would be to have my resurrection followed by something analogous to a resurrection, sorry ladies. Pleasures are few and far these days. Discussing bananas does not help although it probably works for OD.

Nothing has changed.

Agreed. The consensus within the club was that living at Joondalup suited the team. It was an ideal way to prepare for games and importantly took them away from the pressure cooker environment of Melbourne. The feeling was that the pressure would have been much worse for the team in Melbourne particularly for the young players and those without finals experience. In particular, a comment from one of the coaches went along the lines that Petracca would have been fine in Melbourne but Oliver would have struggled.

Isaac moved to Geelong for lifestyle reasons. He rejected MFC offer for this reason. I’m sure he would reflect on this decision but I’m told he loves playing and living in Geelong. He is not a guy to live with regrets.

Agreed, it is an odd thing to bring up.

Such a divisive person. Hard to imagine anyone being sorry to see him go.

You were not alone.

It’s called compassionate leave.

Love his aggression and the “don’t mess with me or my teammates” attitude. The good thing is that he is not alone.

Nice comments thanks. I am just grateful for the win and for being able to enjoy and bathe in the after glow. It has brought joy to our hearts. Not just the elderly, but supporters of all ages particularly the kids and the younger brigade. All those who have lived with the disappointments of the past 20 to 30 years. A sense of pride has been restored in a way that has never happened before. The great sides of the 50s and early 60s were built on the success of earlier years going back to the 30s and 40s. Melbourne was simply the biggest and the best. We had nothing to prove. Everyone regarded the Club as the biggest and the best. Period. This time the club had to pull itself out of hole of 50 years of suffering. And many years of being regarded as perennial losers. Now we have seen the transition from loser to winner and a club that has regained its pride. It’s an amazing feeling and an amazing time to be a Demons supporter. That dull feeling of defeat and negativity has lifted to unveil bright sunshine and a red and blue sky.

Has there been better at MFC ? Petracca an equal perhaps, however, Oliver adds to the Petracca glamour. Both do things that other footballers can’t.

Seeing the joy on players faces, that an impossible dream has been realised. And seeing their love for the club. To see their mateship. Their bond. That our champions don’t want to go elsewhere to have the premiership winning experience. To have a club that players want to play for rather than leave. To have young guns like Tommy Sparrow and Kade Chandler re-sign overnight. For Sam Weideman to state that he loves the club and wants to be part of its future. For Luke Dunstan to want to accept the challenge of trying to break into a champion team. To have only good things being said about our once down trodden club. To enjoy all the positive comments and feelings. To not have to put up with negativity. To look back with pride and look forward to the future. Gee it feels good. It feels so good.

Twenty years ago I thought I had plenty of time to see a Premiership. However, in recent years I was beginning to think that it would not happen in my lifetime and that I would not have the joy of sharing the experience with my adult boys. And the thought that their loyalty and enjoyment may be extinguished. At the start of the game I remember thinking, if not this year, when ? It is ridiculous to place so much importance on footy. It defies logic because it is so emotional. However, what a difference the win has made to my mood. It has reinforced in my mind that we should always maintain faith and hope, and, even expectation. To think that miracles do happen (but not the kind that our PM believes in). To never again to have to put up with hearing and reading all the derogatory comments about something you love. To not have to suffer the looks of pity and the words “long suffering Demon supporters”. To watch and read of the joy of the players, the coach, club officials and all the other Demon supporters. Can it be that important? You betcha! The win and post match celebrations are to be savoured and never forgotten. A dream come true for all of us. A feeling that all that agony, heartache and disappointment has been for a reason. It has made the joy of winning that much more significant and meaningful. Thank you Melbourne Football Club.

Great way to finish a very good career. There won’t be a better time.

This thread is so old hat, but years down the Trac it is still revisited.

Uncle, Demon Shop do not sell the type of items you are after unless Demon Shop is now called Sexyland.