Deemania since 56

You would not believe how much cynicism I have for this photo...

Physically more possible, too. Haha

Quicker than usual. Must have been the GT model.

Outstanding consideration on your behalf, ET. So apt ... betcha he tries to use it, too.

Like all things MFC, stuff will happen and get better. This IS 2018 and I'd reckon that Burgan is just brushing up on his superlatives prior to our best season since '64, for journalistic accuracy.

Saty does a terrific job and his comments are first rate.

Thanks for the update. You are correct with these 'memories'. Parke, Bourke and Dillon. Yep, Barry Bourke the decoy was just before Parke and Dillon. He did hurt it and not long after, I think it was Townsend who had to limp off.

Sure, I have a sore knee.

Dillon went on to resume his SA footy career as it was at a lower level than the Vics at that time. Ross Dillon, now he was a champion at CHF. I thought that the Ox in his pre-injury days was his reincarnation, and yet, Dillon had just that little bit more with timing, skills, mobility and goal power. Both were actually entirely different players. Royce Hart got the accolades every week but Dillon was better and more reliable. Hey 'Chook', how did you know about Laurie Fowler's knickname? It was older than his football career - stemmed from the good old Chadstone High School.

Poorly worded, sorry. I meant no-one from my circle of friends from that era.

He was a freak with marking, Greg Parke. He took more marks than anyone and most of these were heavily contested. Lousy kick but a good handball feeder at the same time, just as long as a kick. I can remember him - a policeman - directing traffic every morning and often in the evening at the centre of the road at Camberwell Junction prior to traffic lights being installed at that 6-way intersection. We'd lean out of a tram and attempt to knock his hat off his head as the tram rattled passed. He, in return, smiled broadly and shook his finger at us allegedly disapprovingly. It was fun.

Don't get me going - Tassie, Hassa, Townsend, Parke, Dillon, Hardeman, Alves, and all the others. Geez it was fun.

They nick-named me 'Cass' based upon part of my surname, and every party I went to in my uni days it was always: 'Jumpin Jack Flash it's a Cass!' Never lived it down. Thank heavens no-one who can remember the 1960s lives nearby...

Laurie Fowler, tremendous footballer for Melb after his stint with the Tigers. Best friend of John Nichols, I heard. And Tassie Johnston. Those great drop kicks from the Richmond goalsquare past the centre of the MCG. He just knew where the ball was going. Few ever got in his way. Two greats. Hardeman, not a tall, killing all opposition forwards, the greatest.

Well put. Indicates a lack of attention to detail, doesn't it?

Lovely name. Why not keep it?

Thanks.

What is the condition of T Smith? Is he ready or capable at this stage of playing in the firsts?

It was even less than that, it was laughable as a decision. Pure prejudice.

Great players.

A great backman moved on to the forward line, elite at both ends of the ground. Memory is a big issue for me, at times.

Really strong DA. Great players, all. Yep, Brett Lovett was intended. Sean Wight and Alan J were in my original list and accidentally overlooked around 4-6. I overlooked Yze only because of his frequent forward work. Frawley was good but to me, not as great. Jetta is definitely the best interceptor we have over the past two 'revival' years. Thanks for the comparisons. Always fun...

Really difficult to compare those great backmen of the recent past and to rank them as well; but, it is good to remember them and others who gave the MFC some respect in a difficult 20 years, or so. Here is my ranking, just for interest: 1. Hardeman 2. Steven Icke 3. Danny Hughes 4. Frank Davis 5. Brett Bailey 6. Graeme Yeats 7. Peter Rhode 8. Glenn Lovett 9. Matthew Whelan 10. Jared Rivers 11. Peter Giles There are, incidentally, many more that I really enjoyed watching their skills and efforts for a team that was regularly thumped.

Tom McD is an uncertain starter at this point, as well.

The dilemma continues and many of us will nearly always feel a loss. It is difficult to dismiss Jack now that he has left the Club and many of us wish him well in the greater football world. Now it is time for us sympathisers to heal; Jack has. We must move on with focus on the current bank balance and its possibilities. The problem with being a MFC supporter is that we are loyal as hell, forced to be reminiscent, living histories of neglect and poor decision-making, and consequently unsuccessful at the level of which we dream. Let's do it this time.