The Panglossian

I nearly choked when the commentator ? Ian Robertson accused Melbourne of trying to rough Carlton up. RhysJones was running around hitting guys behind play, and Da Rui was trying to make up for his lack of skill by punching guys. Kernahan had a swing or two, too. Gary Lyon did a good hip and shoulder on Silvagni, and none of our guys were distracted by Carlton's tactics. Strawbs lost it when DaRui thumped (?Lovell from memory,it wasn't on the replay). He rushed in and swung an inaccurate haymaker, was reported, and missed the GF

Straw said was just back from a previous suspension!

Da Rui deserved a thump for what he'd just done. Strawbs barely connected with his wild swing.As usual, the retaliator suffered. Losing O'Dwyer unbalanced us badly. I think Hughes had to play back-up ruck in the GF. Stynes was only a 2nd yr ruck at that stage. What a great job Duursma does on Kernahan. We had some tough players then, in Grinter, Hughes, Spalding, and the "string bag full of set-squares"... Steve O'Dwyer.

Watch for Ricky Jackson's lucky 5th goal....free for ??? then hit the post! Important goal!

Have another look

That’s wrong about Eishold. I think all his critics are like my mates who say they never watch replays of losses. Eishold marked the ball on the sideline of the square about 4 meters out. Umpire David Howlett, who had been influenced in his decisions all day by the experienced Hawthorn players, ran in from 60 m away , and decided he marked it about half a metre out, so put him on an acute angle. It should have been an absolute “gimme”,but Howlett made it a very difficult shot. No wonder Eishold was nervous , when he had about a 1 metre target to thread it through. Eishold had an excellent kicking technique, and had shown himself previously to be an accurate shot for goal. t

How was the free to Ricky Jackson in the last quarter!! For absolutely nothing!! He kicked his 5th, but it actually hit the post! Very important goal in our comeback. The opposite happened in the Melb/Haw prelim the year before. Kennedy hit the post in Q4, and it was called a goal. Ultimately cost us the game. ( and, in my opinion, the 87 Premiership, based on the fact we beat Carlton 3 times in '88, including in the Prelim., and we entered every final as gross underdogs, surprising our critics every time)

I think you’re right, Mr Lord. I was a real fan of Scot’s. Exquisite talent, I thought, but he seemed to disappear. ? Injury? Tasmanian, I think.

I used to love Bob Miller. No. 33, crew cut , reliable defender. Became a state labour politician. I wonder if he used to have tete-a-tetes with Ray Groom!?

Jason Dunstall?

Those players on the MFC site weren't very obscure. I thought of one....Hayden Robbins. Remember him? Tough half back flanker from ?Gippsland somewhere.

Bate came good after half time, and played a significant role in our comeback. I'm not sure how much time Morton was on the ground,,but he only had a couple of useful touches. There you have the OMac and ANB of their era....any excuse to rubbish them was gleefully accepted JW was in between. .

I think you’re right, but there’s another player I had in mind.

Which player wanted to be a fireman when he retired?

Too quick! Well done!

Became a policeman, I think. I can recall another policeman who played for us... no-one’s mentioned him as an obscure player. Initials... P. P. Anyone know who I’m talking about?

Stuck at home like everyone else yesterday,I watched the first(terrible) half while on the exercise bike. Today 'I'm looking forward to a pleasant hour on the bike again, knowing it's going to be much more fun to watch! Go Ozzie! Are many past matches available on Demonland? '

One recurring problem is that our guys are kicking it OVER THE HEADS of our forwards. Compared to the WCE guys, esp. Gaff and Hurn , who calmly kick controlled passes to their targets, who have to run forward to take the ball on their chest. It is particularly ineffective to kick it high to the forwards who are outnumbered by tall backs. Surely it would be better to kick grass cutter passes, if there are fast crumbers( like Pickett, Bedford and Spargo), buzzing around the legs of tall, comparatively slow, backs like Barass,McGov, and Hurn. Tumble punts (“up-country mongrel finger breakers”) are also more likely to be effective,causing chaos in the forward line, if there are no promising options ahead. We make sure Hurn etc have easy marks, kicking them neat little drop punts,to their zone, well away from any Demon forwards. I think our guys forget they’re “pumped-up “ ,in the pressure of competition, and kick it too hard and fast. In practice conditions, they can pass accurately. Somehow we’ve got to play the way we practise. Also, would it be practicable to introduce a rule....”NEVER kick short to a 50:50 situation.? Surely it’s better to kick LONG to 50:50, if no good option is on offer.

One of the gutsiest players I’ve ever seen. Same with Clint Bizzell.

I thought Tunbridge could have been paid the mark. Frank Schwabb didn't!

Does anyone else remember Gary Byers? Also, we had a Minton- Connell on the list in '64. He didn't play firsts, but would he be Simon's father, and ? Peter Hudson's uncle.....oh no....perhaps we could have secured Huddo, if he'd become a regular at the Dees. We used to have quite an association with Tassie. Remember Jungwirth? (can't recall his first name.)

Of course you’re right, thanks Demonstone! l mixed up Neil Roberts and Brian Gleeson. ( but Terry was pretty unco considering his brother won the Medal!)

Terry didn't have "CoCo's ability,but he was tall enough to ruck. I remember once when he picked up the ball a metre from goal,directly in front, rushed the kick needlessly , and missed the ball with his foot. It dribbled through for a point.

Jimmy Jenkinson, Frankie Giampolo, Lou Salvana, Hugh Brommell,John Clennett(!),Ray Nilson, Frank and Joe Rugolo.

Remember Matthew Mahoney? A contemporary of these guys, I think.