hemingway

The Pies game really gave me the shakes. They looked so impressive with a bunch of promising kids and a good game plan. Their intensity was through the roof. Remember feeling very depressed and thinking that the media should be talking up the Pies not the Dees. I thought that we had made no progress. How wrong could I have been.

As mentioned a great pair of hands and contested mark. He would have kicked a bag of goals if not let down by his inaccuracy. Think he did his knee at some stage thereby restricting his mobility. However with his mop of fair hair he lit up some gloomy afternoons with his aerial strength. If the ball went forward there was a fair chance that Greg would take a strong overhead mark. Not great but a very good player in a bleak period characterised by defeat.

Sure it’s about improving our list. That’s how we won the flag. However, I just want to enjoy the moment. Where we have come from and what we have just done. We have GF highlights that will probably never be surpassed both from a team and individual end. How you can think about the draft , a week after our greatest triumph has me beat. For me, this has been a week of enjoyment and reflection. When you been waiting as long as I have and beginning to think you will never see another flag, this past week has been momentous. I guess it’s just an age thing! Lets enjoy the moment without looking to move on immediately seeking new stories and information that take away from the significance of what we have just witnessed.

True Demon tragics. It only occurred to me after a few minutes that the posters are serious! I can personally recommend an excellent doco on Hemingway on SBS on demand. Ernie had too much of a good thing and came to a sticky ending. Beware tragics.

For God sake we have just won the Flag after a lifetime. Enjoy the moment, it may never come again. Try and calm the mind.

Very good move Biff at least for 2022. They have value. Pleased they are on board. But we need to have the twos playing a full season.

And the 2022 season starts from scratch. Irrespective of 2021, it all starts a fresh with all clubs equal. And yep, the Dees will be a scalp that the enemy will be seeking.

The MFC. In 2022, there will be changes. Players come and go. Our 2021 team are part of history. Despite our individual champions, what we learnt in 2021 is that it is all about the club. The players and coaches showed the way. We will be pleased and disappointed with contracts and trades. However, after 2021, I will be loathed to criticise players or the club for decisions made. How wrong so many of us have been regarding these issues. From player selection to coaches. Decisions have been made that have benefited the club and led to a flag. We can’t ask for me. It has meant that rather than dwell in the mire of negativity, we can look at our better side and feel better about our club and ourselves.

Frankly, I don’t need the media or anyone else pumping up our club. As mentioned in the article, other club supporters et al are not interested. Just as we were not interested in the Tigers and all the other GF winners. It pisses you off, and is best avoided. Be satisfied that our victory and the journey to it, is etched in our memory, psyche and every bone and tissue of our fabric. We will not forget it. No one can take it away or the imposing manner that we won. In 2021, we crushed our opponents in the most remarkable way. It is etched now in the history of the club and AFL footy. Whatever happens in the future, 2021 is there, rock solid in our being. Lets move forward to the next goal, renaming positive, joyful and humble. But for 2021, we will forever remain The Champions. And Demon tragics are no longer long suffering but now forever joyful and full of love for our club.

Big loss. You cant just copy a training manual. Or an understudy or replacement copy his methods. All top coaches have experience, knowledge and wisdom. They are unique. They have instinct, and know instinctively when an athlete is cherry ripe, undertrained or overtrained. You can’t find it in a manual. His replacement may be good but he is not Burgo.

Pretty close but completion would be to attend the G and celebrate with the tribe. But this one is a dream or fantasy come true. There will be nothing like the fairytale of this one, with all the elation and emotion of a breakthrough flag. And not just a win but a thrashing, totally dismantling all 3 finals opponents. And sheer unadulterated pride. So much pride that my chest feels like bursting. And admiration, tons of it, for the players, coaches and staff. Truly momentous.

The moment is significant to us all for many reasons. But it is emotional and we have to remember all who have passed on to the other side. Celebrate but remember. All had hope and faith and belief. What a remarkable and memorable night. Never forgotten. And to all of you on Demonland, thanks to all of you and to a connection that binds is all.

Wow. Heartfelt love. Emotional stuff.

It means that I can die.

Agreed. Geelong came later in the piece and he was influenced by the opportunity to get out of the Melbourne rat race. His dealings with the Demons were above board and honourable. He had a high opinion of Goody and this almost got him over the line. Yes, he changed his mind but this decision should not reflect badly on him. We all change our minds on all manner of things, in particular job offers, but that does not make us dishonest. I am told that before leaving the Hawks, he spoke openly and honestly to Clarko, Kennett and others about the Hawks direction and his own position vis a vis the club. When the Dees beat the Hawks this year, the first bloke he congratulated was Goody. Isaac is one of the good guys. As it is, it worked out for both Isaac and the Dees. He loves Geelong and we were able to focus on our own list.

I love you Uncle

There’s a lot to be said (particularly as one faces ones own mortality) to live in the moment. Don’t look back and don’t look forward, well not too far. Otherwise, we spoil the moment. We have a great team, existing stars and upcoming ones, we have a club that has regained its pride and credibility, and we are looking forward to finals footy. Personally, I’m not thinking of the Granny only this Friday. I certainly can’t think of trades at this moment. We have a game of footy to play. There is nothing else.

Agree to a point. The only problem is that there will be some old players and supporters who may not be around in 2022.

I remember going to Docklands earlier in Levers first season, the day he did his knee. What interested me was watching Lever organising the troops on the ground before the game. I remember thinking two things. First, it was a thoroughly professional warm-up such that I had not seen before with the team. Second, that this guy Lever was either a cocky prat that may get up the nose of others or that he was simply a complete pro who had the self confidence to take over this (for him) new team. . Basically, it was impressive stuff and also noticeable how the other guys were happy to comply with Levers instructions. Above all it communicated professionalism and leadership.

Exactly Trying to remain detached and reflective but anxiety keeps emerging through the cracks. And we have not even got to the GF. its so much easier watching a game as a neutral supporter. Winning has its pleasure but also it’s pain. If we knock off the Cats we still have another 2 weeks to endure this emotional turmoil.

Thanks WJ. Similar feelings. Shattered is the word that best describes my feelings when Ron left us. It’s like our little world had caved in. As a kid I had written a letter to Ron a year or two before he defected. I asked him for an autograph and from memory told him that he was my hero. I looked up his name in the phone book and there he was, R. Barassi, The Boulevard, Heathmont. Unbelievable. He was in the White Pages like his name was Smith or Jones. Just another citizen but he was not just another citizen. He was Mr Football (forget Teddy Whitten). For a Melbourne supporter, Ron was Mr Football. I hoped for a reply but did not expect it. I enclosed a stamped self addressed envelope. Imagine my surprise and delight when a few weeks letter, I received a short hand written letter from Ron thanking me for supporting the Dees and suggesting that I practice my skills. With the letter, he enclosed a black and white Kodak photo (not a copy or print) signed with best wishes “Ron”. I can tell you there were not enough family and friends to share it with. I hate boasters but for weeks I was the worlds best or worst boaster. I read sometime later that he received hundreds of letters from kids like me and replied to them all. But at that time, it felt like I was Ron’s friend. That I was the only kid in the world to receive a letter and photo from Ron. And I had not even asked for it. I had only asked for an autograph. Years later, I sat next to Ron in a barbers shop in Hawthorn and chatted about footy. It was after Neeld had been sacked and I suggested with a grin that we were looking for a coach. He laughed and said that he realised he was past it when he was coaching the Swans and he was giving a famous Barassi “roast” to his players and he looked around the group and noticed that most of the players were not listening. In Rons words, things had changed and his coaching style had been consigned to the broom cupboard. He felt that it was a good thing. What struck me about that conversation was Rons humility. As Eddie McGuire once said, “Ron Barassi is the only person in Melbourne who doesn’t realise he is Ron Barassi!” The other thing was that Ron was still after all those years, a Melbourne person and had returned to his old love. That night, I excitedly told my wife about my conversation with Ron. My wife despite being Collingwood, told me that Ron was the only non Collingwood player that she liked because she had watched Rons kids segment on TV. However, she did comment that I was behaving like an excited kid in telling her about my conversation with Ron. For that fleeting moment at the barbers, I was that 10 year kid again. And Ron was my hero. And thats why along with all the other reasons, I would love to see Ron holding that premiership cup. That would bring tears of joy and a sense that the MFCs long journey was now complete.

Speechless.

Disappointed at the time, but thankful Isaac Smith chose Cats over us. He has slowed up so significantly that the benefit of his outside run has evaporated and his poise and delivery with it.

Like many others, I hate the Bombers with an intensity that is disturbing. There must be a stronger word than hate. Send then to Manus Island and throw away the key.

Yep I am with you Mono, last couple of games watched, I turned off the sound. Could not bear to listen to the commentary. It’s hard to believe that it has got worse, but I think it has or my tolerance level has waned. Whatever, it does not matter, I just can’t take it any more!