Previously known as LITD.

On 16/12/2025 at 10:51, The Taciturn Demon said:

If Collingwood were mediocre, what were Carlton?

You can give me every single excuse in the world and I'll never believe we did well to get 'so close' against THAT Carlton team.

I think Carlton were a much lesser team

We were terrible on conversion and our I 50 count was huge.

Injuries again as well.

Also blues were playing on confidence and one of those strange rolls teams sometimes get on.

On 16/12/2025 at 13:40, dazzledavey36 said:

You say the players were shellshocked? Well that to me sums us up the psychological issue of the players if they couldn't put that aside for two hours and focus on the game on hand.

On the contrary. It demonstrates how close knit they all were then. Gus was well loved and the camaraderie between players was at an all time high in 2021 and 22.

I know a few Melbourne player family members and they all say Gus was one of the most liked players in the club. Quite possibly the Mfcs cohesion imploding was no coincidence since losing Gus.

Of course the players were shell shocked. They saw their mate absolutely flattened and not moving for several minutes.

A mate they all knew had a history of concussion events and deep down they all were probably worried he could have some permanent damage.

I don't think that can be referred to as the team having " psychological errors" or whatever else your professional opinion would deem them to have.

No..... it shows to me a high spirit de corps that played it's part in finally breaking such a long voodoo.

Fair shake of the old sauce bottle Dd

14 minutes ago, Temporarily Hopeful Demon said:

I totally understand the loss of Brayshaw on a cultural level but I still don't really see how his injury was the main reason why we didn't beat Collingwood. We lost that game largely on the back of poor entries inside 50 and inaccurate kicking. That doesn’t have much to do with Brayshaw.

And it's also worth remembering that Collingwood were missing Nick Daicos that night. It's not as if they were without their setbacks as well.

We only just lost and the replacement for Gus was a four gamer kid. Make no mistake Gus was in great form and we effectively with pies villiolence

17 minutes ago, Temporarily Hopeful Demon said:

I totally understand the loss of Brayshaw on a cultural level but I still don't really see how his injury was the main reason why we didn't beat Collingwood. We lost that game largely on the back of poor entries inside 50 and inaccurate kicking. That doesn’t have much to do with Brayshaw.

And it's also worth remembering that Collingwood were missing Nick Daicos that night. It's not as if they were without their setbacks as well.

My argument was Gus not going down holds water because we only lost by around a goal.

Unfortunately Laurie was the sub and had only barely played five games at the tender age of 18/19.

Hardly like for like.

So yea I think on probability we would have won without poor Gus going down in the first few minutes.

Also dd says it wasn't close

After the pies game we lost by two points from really poor kicking at goal.

My point was Milkshake and Gus out made an impact.

Surely.

54 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

have zero care factor on the players played their little hearts out. This game is based off results.

True red and blue supporter you are not.

Some of those blokes showed more guts and effort in a year than you may do in a few decades.

There is a lot of luck involved in footy.

Yes great teams override the bad luck.

But our 22 and 23 teams is when our fwd line started to implode. And as mentioned with Gus and Jake there is a high chance we could have had at least one more cup.

Many punters would agree we were a better team than the pies one that just scraped in to win their gf.

Just because we lost both finals two years in a row doesn't mean we were not close.

We certainly were not smashed by the pies or Carlton.

You can't say injuries and the loss of Gus didn't contribute. Of course they did.

And you don't get two years of two chances by being an ordinary team.

So yea we came close.

Whats all this delusional referencing? It projects back onto your good self.

You can't deny Jake was in great form before going down or Gus knocked out didn't tip the closely balanced scales against us.

Both out of the teams hands.

In the 21 gf BBB kicked 3 and didn't dominate the scoreboard and Tmac struggled big time. Both these fwds were on their way out . So if they hadn't lost their form or we replaced them we would have probably had won. So yea we came very close indeed.

And I'll remember the teams because most of them were members of the 2021 side.

Players that played their hearts out.

While one can lament on not winning more, I prefer to focus on breaking a very long drought and the effort involved in getting into finals the years after despite the bad luck and pies violence.

Thankyou team of 21, 22 and 23.

You did a lot, lot, lot more than this year's mob.

16 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

To be fair we lost 4 close finals, any one of which we might have won. Yes we lost them ALL and I get it… that’s all that counts. But I do think we were close in 22 and 23.

Pies were lucky to win that Gf.

If Gus wasn't ko by Maynard that would have been ours.

Also Milkshake went down when in career best form.

Huge factors despite BBB and Tmac no show in their respective finals.

Gus and Jake were big factors.

16 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Came incredibly close to winning 3 in a row!?

Haha what planet were you on at the time mate? we were not even close, at all. Couldn't even win another final let alone winning 2 finals in a row just to get to another grand final.

Talk about massive overreaction.

We came close by finishing top four.

Closer than.most clubs.

Yes as mentioned we fluffed the finals through the things I mentioned.

But you have to acknowledge the many wins we had to make those finals.

Big picture aside from the finals we had good seasons.

Settle down Dd. Quite a few of the players in 22 and 23 played their hearts out. Your bitterness and whinging can't take that way from them.

As if you could ever dream of playing as well as the ones who let's us down.

Plus as mentioned we wouldn't have beaten the pies if Gus wasn't knocked out. And more than likely one the gfs instead of a mediocre Cwood team.

If you can't see that we were incredibly close that year, then I suggest you follow a sport you can understand.

On 28/11/2025 at 18:22, jnrmac said:

Yeah sorry, that was in 2021. Like Clarrie and Tracc you're living off past glories. The footy world has moved on. Since Clarrie was '2 way running' Brisbane have won 2 flags How are we travelling?

Well to be fair we came incredibly close to winning three on a row but injuries ( Milkshake) and BBB and Tmac having nightmare finals seasons and then Gus been almost killed.....we cold have made it imho.

The midfield really only started to implode i 24 and last year. Maybe in late 23 there were a few signs but nothing drastic.

Oliver from his last two years efforts won't be missed although in another environment he may reinvent himself as he's still young.

Tracca will do better in another club as I feel he has an attitude rightly or wrongly towards the MFC. So he will be missed.

Anb has moved on as well so it will be interesting to see how our MF goes.

But let's be honest, this last season it was in significant trouble.

On 10/12/2025 at 13:20, thirty-one said:

Uh, a bunch of pagans might say the same thing about Christmas....

Umm, I don't subscribe any religions , (I guess footy counts ) especially paganism or Tom Cruise, but I have no understanding what your post means. In the immortal words our orange equivalent to Trump, " please explain".

On 10/12/2025 at 13:08, Demonstone said:

And an understanding of irony for yourself .

If you don't find that remotely amusing you should ask Santa for one for you.

Saw it on a bumper sticker the other day and had a good guffaw. I mean come on...... how often to you see a picture of Jesus giving people the finger? I wasn't giving it to you just posting something similar to what I saw.

I really think you could use a good chuckle and Im genuinely not having a crack at you. People do get stressed this time of year.

It wasn't posted in hostility and neither is this.

Merry Festivus.

On 08/12/2025 at 10:40, Demonstone said:

Let's not forget the true meaning of Christmas, which of course is to celebrate the birth of Santa.

Then call it Clausmass and......

Get your own f#$@&n holiday.

Sorry guys I just checked and this has been mentioned on the main injury list.

He hasn't done both feet.

I was hoping to see him play in the midfield or the fwd line now and then.

As a mid, he would get a few head, high tackle frees.

Sorry to be the bearer of this very bad news but poor Bowser has another injury.

This one more dramatic than his shoulder.

It's a worry.

Melbourne young gun Jake Bowey ruled out for six months in shattering blow | 7NEWS https://share.google/uHPJXZk2Fl8eIL9z0

23 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

Spoiler warning: Santa’s NOT real

Saturday 13th December

8:30am - 11:30am

Gosch’s Paddock

This isn’t a training session. The players will be there for autographs and photos.

Once the players have left, folks can go on the oval and play kick-to-kick 🏉

There’ll be partner giveaways and other freebies.

Food and coffee vans will be there but you won’t need them because the…

DEMON ARMY SAUSAGE SIZZLE

… is where it’s at! Delicious snags in bread with or without onion and a can of soft drink… the breakfast of champions!(apologies to Mr. Vonnegut).

And it wouldn’t be a Christmas do without the portly guy in a Santa suit, now would it. You and yours can get photos taken with him.

See y’all there!

Santa is not real.

Bah and Humbug to you.

He is too . It's just unfortunate he supports the Swans.

No soup for you.

On 21/11/2025 at 05:28, dazzledavey36 said:

JVR, Jefferson, Mihocek, Johnson, Kentfield, White, Heath, Melksham, Fritsch.

How many more tall forwards do you want?

Fritta is really a tall but probably out best.

Jvr has deteriorated.

Jeffo has proven himself.

Melksham is hot and cold and getting on but still a decent payer

Mihocheck isn't prolific.

Hopefully the others you mentioned will step up.

I still have hope for Jeffo.

Probably no flag in 21 without him but things unfortunately changed quickly.

Too many distractions.

The club has done the right thing and it's nice to see most wish him the best.

On 27/11/2025 at 22:27, Where Demons Dare said:

Petty was with the forwards today. Most likely we'll have Mihocek, Petty and JVR as the tall bananas in the forward line. Mixing with Fritsch and Melksham as medium forwards and Chandler/ Laurie/ Sharp as the smalls but watch out for Latrelle... he'll be in that forward line in no time with his crafty skills, goal sense and elite pressure.

With no May, lever injured often, ai feel Petty needs to return to the backline

After two years in the role he has proven he is not a goal kicker.

King will be smarter.

Happy to see Petty in the backline.

There is a team of quite a few older players.

On 23/11/2025 at 16:11, The end is nigh said:

Looking forward to seeing a team coached to use its advantages. Hoping this results in a spread of goalkickers, but also when a player is identified as having a good mismatch we put the foot down and exploit it before the oppo has a chance to get a plan in place.

On Matthews himself, Im really looking forward to his contribution at the top level but if it takes a full year to get him to his best, so be it.

I don't want to have a dig at Goody. He's moved on and we must respect him for what he did.

But I don't think making changes on the fly so to speak was one of his strengths. Sometimes he was painfully slow or did nothing at all.

Of course he should have checked in here on game day every 2 or 3 hours to sharpen his skills and make the 1000 recommended moves.

But in all fairness, he did make changes but often the game was done and dusted when he did. That and things like always playing Petty out of position were his only real negatives.

But sometimes his stubborness or persistence paid off.

He achieved the ultimate in shaking off entrenched attitudes and an almost real voodoo and bought home the bacon.

He's made a distinct place for himself in the annals ( careful) of AFL history.

Thanks Simon.

On 22/11/2025 at 12:01, The end is nigh said:

15 and 18.. 33 far from 50

Both valuable but this is misrepresentation

(Sorry, I prefer accurate stats)

2018 was 41 combined.

Tx TEIN. Your absolutely correct.

My apologies and yep accuracy is important.( Look at our goal kicking). In my weak defence, I think in my mind I had a figure of quite a few players contributing that year. With quite a few around the 20 odd goals or more. It seemed that way for a few years.

So I just picked randomly 25 a piece and hence 50. Not far off as you mentioned 2018.

But for 2021, yea it was lazy and sloppy so sorry.

But aside from KP who has been our real only live wire small fwd ( Anb dropped off before he left) we have desperately missed these two as contributing in this area the last few years. Though not a small, even Harmes used to chip in and slot a few

In a team that has lost its ability to kick winning scores via lack of successful tall forwards ...Fritta a medium in and out of form ....Petty, just not a fwd......Tmac previously incredibly accurate and prolific pre 21 ( although his first half of 21 set us up nicely)....the departure of Smith, Bbb , Grundy and Jackson.....we miss those 20 something contributors.

So I'm very happy about this draft.

But thanks for the correction

it's important. ( No sarcasm here). I was a decent way off. Cheers TEIN.

I'm starting to believe that we may go much better next year. I think with a new coach and a decent amount of new blood, we are looking more promising with the continuation of some of the younger blokes . This includes and I know peeps will howl me down .....even Jefferson who needs to get over his big league anxiety. He has all the tricks and body.

Not sure about Roo but he definitely needs to stop being used as a centre ruck if he's ever going to make it. It's not fair. And for the love of all things holy play Petty where he belongs. Hopefully King will see reason as opposed to our prior premiership coach.

There is still some pruning that's was sadly missed and it's baffling May went before some blatantly obvious others but I won't go there.

Also without being too negative, I think we have at least cleared out the players that may have been a decent distraction and deflating influence on morale and motivation.

So in a final very positive note, it's onwards and upwards for the MFC next year to finish seventh by %.

And then of course get knocked out by the new wildcard system. Id bet my house on it .....except then we would of course , win.

Oh the horror.

Back to the Ashes......

Edit....did 2021 really happen?

One day there will be a cure for Mfcss.

Three aspirin and three cups in a row.

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

Without Spargo and Anb who in 21 managed around 50 goals together , we certainly could use another small fwd capable of kicking a few.

Good work.

Promising pick.

Look forward to seeing him play.

Good stuff MFC.

14 hours ago, Wodja said:

My bad, thought you left out Essendon!

Na....could never forget them and their dirty play in 2000. Plus a few other things I won't mention for legal reasons.

It's hard to pinpoint why you hate some teams. Sometimes it's their fans but usually because they have Muppets like Maynard playing for them.

3 hours ago, Deestar9 said:

GC just gave us 3 first rounders for a 30yr old Trac. Granted his playing abilities are better than Steele but we have still seen the best of him. What Steele offers in bucketloads (& that doesn’t decrease with age) is leadership which is paramount with a developing midfield & you can be sure he will have a burning ambition to “shove it” right up Lyon

I think with an aging Viney we are definitely going to need someone in the middle apart from Max to show some passion and courage. So I definitely agree with you here. But sometimes the best leadership is just getting the ball from a contested battle in the middle, spinning out of trouble ...taking a few bounces and driving in deep into the fwd line for someone to mark and goal. J S is a fighter and a lot of his disposals have been fought for but he's definitely slowing down.

Mids to it tough. There shelf life isn't so long.

Playing time and hits take their toll and a 30 y.o. mid is probably the same footy age as a 24 y.o half back.

Before someone points out Dangers stellar effort in a final this year......look how he played the week after.

At 30 Jack S will struggle but he will certainly give his all. He's like the other Jack mentioned in this post ......one tough cookie.

So we will see. He hasn't had too many injuries at least

Just now, Previously known as LITD. said:

I have a soft spot for North so yup

And I liked the dogs when they were under.

Other than that it's hard to like any interstate teams other than the giants and GCS.

And pretty much the rest of the Vic clubs suck.

In order of Vic clubs hatred.....

Cwood..

A few million miles...

Cats....

Hawks..

Dons..

Carlton...

Richmond. ( Actually don't mind em,,).

We should do a vote but I know the pies win.

I think there's a fair bit of tall poppy in there but that's the way it goes in AFL.

4 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

You're a glutton for punishment! One flag between them (ie, your first and second teams) since 1966!

I have a soft spot for North so yup

And I liked the dogs when they were under.

Other than that it's hard to like any interstate teams other than the giants and GCS.

And pretty much the rest of the Vic clubs suck.

In order of Vic clubs hatred.....

Cwood..

A few million miles...

Cats....

Hawks..

Dons..

Carlton...

Richmond. ( Actually don't mind em,,).

We should do a vote but I know the pies win.