Demons3031

23 hours ago, Jontee said:

Chris Aitken

Remembering Chris-he was our great hope in the forward line in very lean times-shame about his knee injury. I believe he started in guernsey Number 46 then was given Number 5?(1967. 1969, 1977-thats a long time out of the game) 

According to Demonwiki, Chris Aitken 14 games for 15 goals.  He was in the era just after Maurie Bartlett - ..both played CHF for most of their games  of their limited number of games.

Maurie 7 games for 7 goals. Guernsey No 3.

My only match at Victoria Park, Maurie played a great game and almost got us a win. If Tassie Johnson hadn't been blatantly pushed in the back which the umpire missed resulting in a Collingwood goal, we. would have won that match. After  6 goals from 4 matches in 1966, Maurie was dropped to the Reserves-not sure why.

He got a two match suspension in a Reserves game in Round 9 and then was traded to Prahran-I'm still at a loss to know why when we desperately need a strong forward in those years. Possible a discipline thing and a fallout with the coach., Norm Smith? Does anyone have any more details on this?

Neil Crompton...wore Number 12 then crossed to SANFL 1961 and returned 1962 wearing Number 5.

2 hours ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Robert Elliot was a pretty good player.

Number 6 jumper number if I remember QB? Loved watching him play at the "G" with Dad.......not long after we got our memberships through. Dad put all our names down in the early 50's.:)

2 hours ago, defuture15 said:

Darcy Wilson is a chance to go in our range.

Our girls are in yr 12 with him

Son of a gun footballer and mum was champion netballer

Good skills and cross country runner.

Endurance ++ could be used in the high half forward role?

Mid sized midfielder from memory

Any intel Dazzle?

I spoke with Darcy several weeks ago and let him know I hope we pick him up. :). I have sent you a message defuture15:)

3 minutes ago, mo64 said:

Maybe old dee is colour blind and getting his Whites and Browns mixed up.

Could be worse-some sides have Blacks, Greens and Grey's playing for them.:)

27 minutes ago, 58er said:

After the last few sad days of RDB passing and the last week from Thursday back to now a real chance of a surprise flag to some had also moved on due to the Angus incident and our follow up self inflicted butchering to allow Carlton one more match in their dream run. 

As a kid in 1958 my best mate at Cheltenham State School (we lived round the corner in Cheltenham from each other) had lured my family through me who wore as a kid No 31 on my back. We lost the flag that year and listened on radio and had fun as kids with RDB's name.

Luckily in 1960 we were able to see the last quarter of the GF at my grandparents with the ground being a mud heap due to constant rain but we held the Pies to 2 goals and win by 28 points for our 11th Flag.

We had started in 1959 and Dad took me in Round2 to the G we beat the Pies in a replay snd after started as a family to go to home matches sitting in the Southern Stand ( mostly opposition fans) nearest the front row on the high level and saw the Demons ( never called Dees in those days). 

Of course we kept winning in 62 snd 63  and saw the 63 Semi win and Prelim failure all without RDB courtesy of Roger Dean and a dubious VFL Tribunal result. With another school mate ( Tiger fan) now at High School I saw that game at Punt Rd. Too far from scene to know if any evidence was truthful or not but as no TV allowed in decision it was a word vs another word. 

In 64 we saluted thankfully Froggy Crompton rescued us and we celebrated that night watching the replay at my Demon mates house after the game. Flag No 12. Very pleased with our Footy side 3 years and 2 Flags!! We had no idea of the next 59 years. !!!!!

We had at some stage ( Sorry my sister I believe!!) conned Dad with Mum to drive to Heathmont to see the champ RDB's home! No doubt hoping to get a glance of him. No such luck.

Then the killer blow when He went to Carlton but I still wore the 31 on my back!!  Tears etc but still loved the Demons. 

Wilderness followed for many years and 87 and 98 plus 2002 aside with the Reverend and Barass was still in the news at times with Coaching and still winning. Came back in 81-85 and helped set up Swooper ( John Northey) and that magical 87 Ginals series ending agsin in tears.Still no flag. Despite 88 and 2000 teases and more tears.

Until '21 and our immortals beat Covid lockdowns and as i had moved to Brisbane in 1993. Great decision making in hindsight saw the bang bang bang etc. after 2 weeks isolation in SA courtesy my SA cousins. RDB saw that Cup so did I snd pride snd emotion  followed. Was always grest on  the TV with RDB at Dees games in recent years. Sad he wasn't able to be at  MCG when we celebrated in Dec. 

Ironic he passed around the greatest Melb/ Carlton rivalry game since the 2000 Semi Final snd a recent best 20 runs fit the Club this century. 

Will no doubt meet up with the great  msn upstairs in the future hopefully after another 1/2 Flags and dynasty we still can achieve if the tight decisions are made in the upcoming off season. 

A long journey but RBD there all the way with the Demons.

During this I  have  just balled my eyes out with the  emotion snd sadness but thankful for the great footy journey he started me on. Highs snd Lows but let's look forward  to  2024 and a new year for the Dees. 

Go Dees 

Great post 58 er. Similar memories here as I was born in 1950.

Dad used to take us to the MCG to the old Bay 13 in those days-on the wing. Lolly boys, others selling "Here's your hot pies", other selling shelled peanuts. When I eventually got my first and only jumper I cut the sleeves off and Mum sewed 31 on the back- a shame I didn't have the muscular arms like Barassi to go with it! LOL

He sent me a signed photo a week before the big announcement to go to Carlton-I was, like you, shattered.

Always wanted to have a coffee witrh him before either of us passed on...I had better make sure I get through the pearly gates :)

Nice tribute to Ron on the Essendon Followers facebook group  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=808004974666726&set=a.130111685789395.

As a kid, RDB was my hero. Dad used to take us to matches at the MCG where we would sit on the wing in the old Bay 13.  After the '64 Grand Final I wrote to him asking if he had an old jumper I could have. I got a reply with a signed photo saying "Sorry Tim-no jumper. Maybe this will help." A week or two later he signed with Carlton. It must have been a franctic time in his life with that big decision to make yet he still found time to write to me.  Up the top of my bucket list was a wish to have a coffee with him before either of us passed on. I missed out on that but I am sure at the moment he is having a quiet ale with my Dad upstairs.

5 Gawn

4 Petracca

3 Neal Bullen

2 Oliver

1 ?

22 hours ago, DemonOX said:

Geez the dorks play like a bunch of arrogant [censored]. They are up there with my other most hated teams and haven’t even done any yet  

Very glad we beat them and have cemented our top 4 spot. 

Hopefully we beat the swans but given who port and Brisbane are playing it won’t change our position.  First final will be against the collywobbles. 

Hmmm... I thought they played like a team who is going through hard times but has the courage and determination to work through that and give of their best. I find it inspiring to see the self belief and confidence they are developing for such a young team.

This turned up on my FACEBOOK PAGE.  

36 minutes ago, DutchDemons said:

 

May as well watch it again.

How good was Hunt in the last few minutes.

23 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

He is, but we are also a tall forward short.

See how many intercept marks Richmond got today in our forward line.

Keep Tomlinson back, drop Harmes/Woewodin/Jordon and move Smith forward.

 

I agree with your thinking CB. Limiting Smith's contribution to so late in the game nearly every week leaves missed opportunities. Smith Petty and JVR makes a strong marking forward line and its where we have been weak all year. Smith is also good at ground level and competes solidly despite the odd mistake.

He can always be switched into emergency replacement roles when another sub comes on if we need it. He is too valuable a contributor to leave out. of so much game time.

He needs match time before the finals..but leave Tomlinson in the 22. He has a great first half week before last and was our best defender when Lever and May were struggling. I don't think he was responsible for much of what went on in Richmond's forward line yesterday- the way the ball came in he was not able to do much. Having said that, he played much better in previous weeks.

6 hours ago, Lord Travis said:

He dominated against other underage draft prospects sure, but he's also playing against men in the VFL now. Go back a page or two and watch the clip of him playing for the Carlton VFL team. He was bumping, tackling, fending off, and taking down mature men with little effort. He's clearly got the competitive nature, loves physicality, has power and pace etc. He's not just a man child bullying kids, he's already bullying men too despite not being 18 yet. He's a seriously exciting prospect, closest player we've seen to Dusty, but more competent inside and less miraculous with goal snaps. If he's developed properly, he's the next Dusty; a dominant mid-forward.

Draft order is based off position at the conclusion of the home and away season, not post finals. We're not finishing first on the ladder this season. We'd need Pies and Port to lose the next 4-5 games n a row and we'd need to win all 5. Chances of that happening are next to zero. We could still win the flag though!

The more I've thought about this, the more I've convinced myself we should be all in for Reid. Having him develop under Gawn, Viney, Oliver, Petracca would hopefully mean he maximises his potential. He could rotate forward and midfield with Petracca as Trac winds down. It's a seriously exciting and unique prospect.

To get him, we'd need to do a few trades. Ultimately we'd have turned Jackson into Reid at the end of it. 

1. Gold Coast have 3 top prospects they can bid on and need points to do so. They'll likely trade away pick 5 to get more points. We trade 15 and second rounders. That nets them approx 800 more points. Unless another club trumps us, Gold Coast do this without blinking. We then hold 4+5.

2. We then trade 4+5 for 1 + pocket change. We get Reid. West Coast get local boy Curtain and another young talent with pick 5. It's a win win.

3. Profit.

Get it done Dees!

Does this mean we lose not just 4&5, but 4, 5 , 15 and second rounders LT?

Joel Smith and Tomlinson have played crucial roles for us recently. We need to keep them both in 2024.

26 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

We should try Brown/Smith, JVR and Petty in the same forward line and keep Tommo down back.

I can see some potential there.

Yep.

8 hours ago, Demonland said:

Anyone else think Max is carrying a 

head cold?

49 minutes ago, old dee said:

That last one was a disaster Mr. Leg.

I was there that day-what a disaster-Quinlan was on fire and it was so unfair on Robbie Flower.

1 hour ago, Sydee said:

Hyperbole from these cretins as usual

He knew he wasn’t going to be #1 ruck at MFC and must have felt that a reasonable time as a forward was always how it was going to be required to stay in the team when Max was playing and fit 

The fact is both Max and Brodie need to get better as forwards if this arrangement is ever going to deliver what was promised / expected 

Both have the football IQ to make that happen 

Suggesting someone can’t be a capable forward if they have played ruck before is insulting - there are some pretty lazy dumb forwards floating around and I think these guys have what it takes to make it work with some good coaching Lloyd loves to think bring a forward is impossible because he never played elsewhere 

 

I would think too that it is not just a matter of Brodie going off on his own to "learn the craft". It would involve a lot of working at training and in planning with Stafford, BB, Fritsch, the smalls etc to learn how to work together-and part of that is them learning to work with Brodie too. As well, the mids and whoever else is delivering the ball need to become adept at learning Brodie's strengths, limitations and leading patterns and movements. Just remember how well that worked in the 2021 GF with Harmes and Fritsch and how that helped turn the game. If we continue to bomb it long and just expect magic to happen then that shouldn't be seen as Gawndy not working. Having said that, yes both Max and BG need to really work on the forward side of their game.

Hope things turn around.

10 hours ago, Demonland said:

How good are weekends when you win on a Friday night?

Amazing the impact it has. I might even get stuck into some of those jobs around the place I have been neglecting the last few weeks (Months)!! Feeling positive and inspired.:)

6 minutes ago, Min Xie said:

I wish May could say to Melksham: You're the best! 😂😂😂

May was next to Melksham with his arm around him when singing the team song. I think that says a lot.

22 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

My gut from hearing Richardson pre-game is that Oliver won’t be ready. 

I’d drop Petty and send him to Casey to find form. I disliked the decision to bring him in for Tomlinson when it was announced and the more I think about it the more I hate it. We’d seemingly settled on him as a forward, he then doesn’t play football at all for 6 weeks, and then we decide not only to insert him straight back in off no prep against Geelong in Geelong, but to do so in defence when we were coming off one of our best defensive games all year, forcing us to drop Tomlinson after his best game in years.

Never ever play Spargo as the sub again (nor any other small forward). Midfielders or utilities only. It shouldn’t even need to be said. Spargo was bad anyway, and shouldn’t come back into the 22.

Smith was good in the first half but a major problem in the second half when he routinely failed to stop Stewart from marking. Must lift, but I’m not at all confident he has the ability. 

I want Rivers in the middle permanently and Bowey into the backline. Rivers takes Jordon’s spot.

Interested in your perspective on this Titan. I too thought Smith was good in the first half- and he stood up when others were still playing poorly-to me he actually showed leadership. Most of his good work i felt did not come easily from pinpoint delivery-he worked hard, showed skill and made chances out of little.  Was it his poor play that let Stewart into the game second half-or just the horrible delivery to no-one coming from further up the field. I have a feeling a lot of Stewarts good work came as a result of other's poor play rather than Smith being the cause of Stewart's good play. What is your perspective on that?

Re Joel Smith-I wasn't sucked in AD. I saw the excellent work he did in the first half with his marks, contesting, knocking on, handballs when the rest of the. team was struggling. He actually showed leadership with his efforts. He was quieter in the second half but one of our better players overall who contested hard all night and was effective. In my view he is a very important player for us.

A great player-no 37.  I'll never forget a mark he completed whilst lying on his back in the goal square down the scoreboard end. He must have. got a hand on it in the air and the pack crashed down and he stuck out his hand whilst on his back and the ball landed in it. A really great second attempt slips catch during footy season! RIP Bernie-thanks for the great contribution and wonderful memories.

On 3/17/2023 at 1:05 AM, JimmyGadson said:

Chandler will be a revelation for us this year imo. 

He has mastered his VFL apprenticeship and is chomping at the bit to play and he'll play like a madman to keep his spot. 

Crafty, smart, tough and skilled. What he lacks in elite speed he makes up in all other facets. He has a desire to defend and pressure and what this will do to allow Pickett to get off the chain will materialise through the course of the season. 

I love him, always have. 

A  very prescient post JG. :)