Bring-Back-Powell

As much as I'd love for it to happen due to us stinking it up in round 1, on what grounds should round 1 results be cancelled? They were official games as far as I'm concerned.

I fear this one could be a very lop-sided quarter final in favour of Stynes who is an MFC legend. The Neitz V Schwarz QF on the other hand....

We almost got Travis Colyer and David Myers over the line for pick 2. Adrian Dordoro wanted more.

I'd take a flag but it would be bitterly disappointing if it were the only flag we win in our lifetime. Would be such a shame for the loyal MFC fans to not be there to celebrate. Does anyone honestly think we're capable this year?

I actually really like that idea as we'd still host Collingwood and Richmond next year. However I hate the idea of copping WC again next year in round 1. Hopefully the AFL would have enough sense to schedule that game at night, as it was 32 degrees in round 1 this year - too hot. Richmond were the home team against Carlton in rd 1 this year.

^^^ Interesting theory. Was Waverley a bit of a bogey ground for us in the late 80's and early 90's? Did we not play as well there as we did at the G?

Collingwood were going nowhere around round 8 of that season. They lost key tests to Essendon and Hawthorn in consecutive weeks to go 4-3. The following week they were trailing lowly Fitzroy at 3 qtr time only run them over in the last qtr. They then went on a long run of wins mostly beating poor to mediocre side before again failing last season tests to Essendon and Hawthorn. I subscribe to the theory that Collingwood and us were at about the same level and we could've beaten them in week 1 of the finals had Geelong hung to WC in rd 22. Collingwood lost plenty of games to the top sides while we couldn't get the job done consistently against the poor to average sides.

Geez O'Dwyer had a bit to answer for during that era. First he snots a Carlton bloke in the 1988 prelim and we lose our number 1 ruck for the grand final. Secondly he knocks out our best player 2 days before a semi final that we should've won.

2004 Jeff White beats a regulation Stynes year.

Molloy paid 20 games for the Dees between 1993-1996, and kicked 4 goals. Don't remember much about him other than he was small defender and I think he was a bit maligned with the fans.

North actually went on a 9-2 run from round 10 that year and unfortunately we copped them right in the middle of that run, and Longmire and Carey would've been at the top of their game. But yes, to concede 200 point is unacceptable in anyone's language.

Very disappointing that Geelong blew that lead against West Coast in rd 22 as we would've got the double chance. But as others have mentioned, we only had ourselves to blame as we lost to a bunch of ordinary (Geelong, St Kilda,) or downright horrible (Sydney) sides that year. We also only beat woeful sides by 2-3 goals at home against Brisbane and Fitzroy when we would've gone in as raging favorites. Sounds like we had a problem with complacency that year which was summed up perfectly by blowing it all against West Coast in the semi final in front of our fans.

We also lost to Sydney in round 6 who were worse than woeful in the early 90’s.

Does anyone have any re-collections of the Geelong V West Coast game rd 22 game that year? Geelong lead for most of the day by about 4 goals at 3 qtr time but couldn't hold on in the finish. Had Geelong hung on, we would've finished third, and played Collingwood at Waverley in week 1, whom we had a great recent finals record over. The last quarter of the Geelong V WCE game was a bit of a sliding doors moment for us, in terms of how far we could've gone in 1990.

Haven’t watched this game in years but I’ll take your word for it. In that case I guess Powell could’ve kicked 6 in a prelim.

Farmer was the more enjoyable player to watch of the two but his voluntary departure at the end of 2001 really hurt - considering it was’t long after his amazing 75 odd goal season in 2000. Yze was an absolute class act, had one of the best left foots in the league and polled 17 Brownlow votes in 2002. He gave us 14 seasons of excellence from the wing and half forward flank and thus gets my vote.

I’m guessing some of our recent wins over GC won’t be featuring heavily in this thread?

Hard to believe we let a midfielder that kicked 4 goals in a prelim (And 3 goals the following weeks GF ) go to St Kilda 2 years later- for no return.

2-4. Wins against the usual suspects in GC and Freo. Losses to the rest including a fast St Kilda at Marvel. Nothing about our round 1 performance indicated we would’ve been taking a quantum leap in 2020. Very much same old same old.

NRL confirmed to return 28 May. Surely AFL to return not long after unless the AFL is happy for the NRL to take the limelight for 6-8 weeks.

And just as sad watching him in a GWS jumper when he played against us in 2012.

Did Lovett come close to winning the 1990 Brownlow?

Tough but fair call and analysis of Gawn. However I would’ve thought 3 All Australian awards in the last 4 years is purely elite. I think we’ve seen the best of Gawn and he won’t be getting any better. I also concede that Grundy will take over Gawn as the number 1 ruck this year, if he didn’t already last year.

I note Brayshaw’s not there and absolutely agree. A bit of a fall from grace from a player that came third in the Brownlow. Viney’s round 1 performance was elite, and not for the first time when playing WC over there. During the Foxtel telecast of that game, Gerard Healy thought Viney was a genuine chance of an All Australian gig this year.

If there’s one year I don’t want to win a flag it’s this year. Pure and simple. It’s a personal dream and footballing supporting ambition of mine to see a premiership live at the MCG. Watching the Dees on TV winning a flag in front of an empty MCG or Optus Stadium would be good and satisfying, but nowhere near the enjoyment, elation and sense of achievement of watching the mighty Dees win the big one at the G. With that all being said, we’re nowhere near a flag with this current playing list, coach and game style.