The Panglossian

A friend of mine met Alan Rowarth in Apollo Bay. My friend, an Esse’don fan in his seventies, didn’t remember him , but found out he played in 2 premierships for Melbourne. I remember him well, number 2, a shortish dark haired left footer, who played”decoy” full forward. He’d lead out, leaving the forward line open for Big Bob Johnson.It was a role Athol Webb played before him. But he got plenty of goals himself, being an accurate kick for goal. He was originally from Birregurra, but we picked him up from Castlemaine( where we got Barassi from, he informed my friend) .

I’d put Prince Charles’s son ahead of Colin Graham.

Sparkes and Ryan played well, yet I barely remember them. We ended up with quite a bit of talent out injured in the Prelim. eg Lyon and Connolly,( can’t remember the others). I notice Flower was missing from the Nat. Panasonic Cup. Danny Hughes made mention of Connolly in his victory speech, and made sure Robbie shared the glory. The fantastic team spirit of that group really shone through in that night final. It very nearly took us through to a proper Premiership. We had some tough players in Hughes, Grinter and Spalding.

Do you remember when I used the word "panegyric" in regard to Judd's retirement. Demonlanders liked that, too. ( I was saying how we should remember his eye gouging and chicken-winging, before praising him too much for his footy career)

I just found the 2nd half. Thanks!

That game was the beginning of our resurgence, which lasted, with vicissitudes, until the early 2000s. Northey could turn ordinary footballers into dedicated ,reliable members of the team. (eg Chiron, Duursma,Koop.) He made Yeats, Bailey and Campbell into good league footballers. Can you put up the second half?

David Williams,.......dammit...he should have been selected for the ‘87 prelim.

I reckon the. Players on less than $80000 shouldn’t have the same reductions as the others.

Darkie Rowarth Tiger Ridley

If Gawn, Oliver and Bradshaw can get back to their usual form, we’ll kill this mob!

If we’d kicked straight, and they kicked crookedly, we’d be well in front, despite Gawn losing hit outs to Nicnat.

I’d get Sarah to stay at full forward in the next game... she’s a much better bet than Tegan Cunningham. Tegan’s got the fumbles, and really is unlikely to kick a goal from any more than 5m out. Wasn’t it ridiculous when Sarah was called off the ground after her goal, ran 150m, then sent back.!? She recovered quickly from this. If I was a coach I would NEVER take a player off the ground straight after a goal. All clubs do it, and I think it could be worth 1-2 goals a game to a team gutsy enough to go against convention.

My only disappointment is that she isn’t no. 11 !

I'm worried we're a "tall short". However....their backline is as slow as treacle(bar Jetta). Perhaps we'll exploit that....I hope.

AND.....we were dead stiff not to beat them twice last season.

Optus Stadium could be empty of spectators if the virus situation doesn't improve. Margetts will be totally confused without the advice of his mates in the stands.

We beat the premiers(Carlton) three times in 1988, including in the Finals. We were rank outsiders in all the three finals we played in ‘87, and surprised each tome. We just might have surprised in the GF.

I see Steven Icke in WJ’s photo. j don’t think he played in the finals...did he? I really admired that guy as one of the most gutsy players I’ve ever seen.

It would have been handy to have Lyon and Connolly in the finals, if they weren’t Injured. Also, we should have played Dirty Dave Williams in the prelim. Might have been handy to have Gerard Healy if he hadn’t defected the year before.

But Bennett missed some crucial goals from 20m out ,directly in front.

But they're better on the left than rightfooters are on the right.

I didn't think Massey was much of a kick. Always drop punts, with no follow through, and short travel. Couldn't mark either. Good spoiler. I agree about Travis J. So creative with his kicks. Sometimes Melksham can emulate those radar-like passes. Tassie Bob was a legend for his drop kicks. Top class, versatile player, too. Remember when Darren Bennett kicked 4 in the last quarter from outside 50 (with the wind) at Windy Hill? What a win that was!

If only that was the case.

He was also heavily involved in both the scores we needed to win with 45 sec to go at Metricon.

Plan no. 1...... Wear boots with stops that minimise slipping over at Optus. Find out what WCE players wear on their feet, and do the same.