tiers

First game - late 50s loss to sainters at Junction Oval. I was so young and knew so little about the game that I got upset because they were kicking goals above the reach of the dees. Best game - 1964 grand final. Has sustained me for 57 years so far. Worst game - Queen's Birthday 1965 huge loss to sainters (again) that started our long and tragic decline. Before that loss we were 8-0 and on top of the ladder.

There are possibly too many permutations and combinations but the following players, who do not appear in all selections, IMO must be included in any team that claims to represent the best: Travis Johnstone; Brett Lovett; Alan Jackovich (before injury); Liam Jurrah (before injury) IMO questionable selections included in the above teams include Ingerson, J Viney, Jones, J McDonald, Jetta, Hibbert; Langdon; Fritsch; Salem. With a goal to goal line of May, Neitz, Oliver, Schwarz and Jackovich we could take on and beat the world.

In 1988, during the finals, it was always Rod Grinter, and Rod alone with chest out, who led the team in a final circuit of the Junction Oval at the end of training to the cheers and delight of the adoring supporters. It was so moving that I sometimes still believe that most of us spent our emotion there on the eve of the Grand Final. The actual match against the dominant dorks was almost an anti climax. When coaching an amateur club, Mark Williams invited past players to join in the club song with the team after a stirring victory on the day of the past players president's lunch. Similar sentiment. It was the best experience that I had had (apart from premierships) since I hung up my boots. Builds a club. No surprise at the at the efforts of the current club. Good people bring good results.

Selwood came into a team that had Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Scarlett, Chapman and others who had had years to develop and mature. He added the cherry on top but did not change the team. Lever came into a team that was underperforming (or perhaps performing as well as it could) and changed the style to improve the game plan. Oliver, Petracca, Brayshaw, Viney were still developing themselves and so Lever changed the game plan on his own (of course with the coaches' help). Great pick up and even greater player.

One week at a time, please.

Should get weeks (min 4). It was a deliberate, provocative and gratuitous act of a seemingly spoilt brat but just as likely to be an out of control dimwit. Either way he must pay. The reversed free kick should also attract attention. A deliberate elbow/forearm in the neck should cost weeks too.

Daisy's incisive, intelligent, interesting, innovative observations. Agree.

Leave him alone for now. He does his job with aplomb and carries out the role he is given to the letter. One week at a time. Go dees.

It is fair to assume that our outrageous success in the 50s and 60s led to many years of drought as each new generation assumed the good times would come back especially if we called upon those who had had success. I think back to when John Beckwith, Dennis Jones and Ron Barassi were installed as coach as much for their nostalgic connection and (except Barassi) less for their demonstrated success. This held us back for years until Northey broke the mould. Even recruiting Hassa Mann to the club was in the hope that some of his success would rub off. In the end it is the team in each era that can bring success, not memories.

Let Maxie deliver first. Then we can all rejoice in the next Maxie/Maxine.

Kicked the goal from the boundary against the dorks to secure top spot at the end of r.17 in 1964. Deserving of praise.

One week at a time.

One week at a time.

Luke Jackson is only 19 in his second season. He could be anything but for the time being he plays in the ruck to free up Maxie and runs his opponents ragged. He shows quick and good decision making (handballs to advantage) and has a knack of anticipating and running hard to receive for easy goals. What a pleasure to watch. It would not surprise me if he even ended up as a midfielder.

I was 15 and stood in the open grandstand under the old scoreboard so I watched Neil Crompton's kick sailing directly towards me. What a joy. Who would have thought that I would still be waiting for a repeat performance after 57 years. At least I have my whole family (kids, grandkids) to support me. For them it would all be new. Go de4es.

Robbie was incomparable. He was that far ahead of all others. Clarrie will one day be ranked second, if not already. But never equal or better.

I have posted several times over the years that Clarrie plays his own game his own way. He racked up contested possessions in packs, clearances in the centre and, to top it off, he was right behind Spargs for the goal of the ground and then kicked his own. And he is as good at the end of the game as at the beginning. Others may do some of these but none of the others combine all his talents in one package. In the 60+years that I have been watching the dees, only the incomparable Robbie has a higher ranking. Garry, Ox and Jimmy rank next.

Still works well on its own as a derisive expression. A dropkick can be described as out dated, unreliable, erratic, unpredictable, difficult to execute and should not be attempted except by those who have exceptional skills eg. Tassie Johnson, Bernie Massey and Phil Rhoden. Neatly sums up most commentators.

Remember before the centre diamond or square? Just three circles. Worked for nearly 100 years until Kennedy ruined the game.

The Lakeside Oval (aka South Melbourne ground) was the only ground with lights but they were only good enough for a match so long as there was no tv telecast. Used only for the post season competition for teams that were not playing real finals footy. I believe (although not sure) that the lights were installed for the 56 Olympics.

The McLelland trophy used to be awarded to the team with the best results overall for seniors, reserves and thirds. We actually won a few times in my memory. Dates me, doesn't it. Who else remembers reserves (or seconds) and thirds? And the pink coloured "Sporting Globe" when it was a mandatory read and not a bar. No legal; betting on footy, footy special trams to the games, suburban grounds, no creature comforts but the footy was at least as good. And no pretentious, pompous, pratty, pseudo personalities to cheapen our great game with their dumb comments. At least we no longer have 3LO, 3UZ and 3DB who would fit the footy commentary in between the races at lesser places than Manangatang just when your team was about to score.

And it was the fisherman, not the fisher, who caught the fish to go into the batter before cooking.

Pivot was an earlier term for centreman before we had "midfielders". At least the change in terminology was not, so far as I am aware, an introduced term from another continent. It was home grown Similarly with mark. It is the pompous commentators who grate the most. Norman Banks, Doug Heywood, Tony Charlton, Harry Beitzel or Mike Williamson never needed to show off. As for non-officiating. If he/she pays a free kick, and it counts, then he/she was definitely officiating.

Why, oh why, does the media insist on using the ugly terminology to describe our position. We are "top of the ladder" as it has been since the dawn of the footy era. We are not "top of the table", an ugly term purloined from overseas soccer. If we finish top of the ladder that is enough to define our success. Again that's how it has been since the dawn of footy. That ugly expression "minor premiership" has crept in from rugby and has no place in our great game. Curse those journos and commentators who use these terms in the hope of sounding fancy and "sophisticated". They don't, they sound like presumptuous prats and bores. Call me an old fuddy duddy but some things we should hold sacred. Our great game and its traditional terminology are sacred and must be preserved. Go dees.

Brayshaw plays his role to fill gaps on his wing so that the oppo cannot walk through his side. He supports the defence and has a knack of intercepting kicks when it counts. The number of possessions he gains is irrelevant to his role. His value to the team as an on field voice is immense. He knows when to wave his arms about to fill gaps. Both he and Langdon patrol their side of the ground to provide support for the inside mids.