old55

We had a very tough fixture into the finals and I think plan A was "play our best players even if injured, finish top 4 and win the Qualifying final so we get a weeks break into the PF to get some injury recovery time". On this path, we might have won our way into the GF if we could finally get past Collingwood, but I think Geelong would have beaten us in the GF anyway. It didn't work out because Sydney were too good for us in the QF and then we were too beaten up against Brisbane in the SF, and if we had won that then Geelong would have belted us in the PF anyway. The other path would have been to rest injured stars late in the H&A, finish 5th to 8th and have to win 4 finals in a row for the flag. That wasn't happening, I preferred plan A even though it didn't work. Geelong were always winning the 2022 flag.

We finished 2nd after the H&A. Do people really think we would have won the finals against Sydney and Brisbane if we played Dunstan for Oliver, Jordon for Petracca, JVR for Brown and Bowey for Salem. Realistically they were the options we had.

It's the numbers on the players' backs that are the same as the premiership years, e.g. Nev Jetta #39 and 1939, Steven Febey #21 and 2021. I think that's different from your answer above ...

Solution. A team of MFC players who played in jumper numbers that represent the last two digits of our premiership years. Let's hope James Jordon becomes eligible this year and Trent Rivers next year.

St.Kilda would still only have 1 flag

Indeed! Persistence pays off!

You've clearly got it @mo64 and yes Andrew Dale does hold a special place!

@Allus Monk has it!

The cups have runneth over with the number of clues and responses. http://demonwiki.org/Home is your best friend. I'll provide the solution tomorrow.

Yes true and I'd take that career - and you clearly have the solution too @Witches Hat

@Roger Melliehas it!

You're very close Tim, just put those two together. I've always been interested in jumper numbers.

You've already flagged that with me a number of times!

@Bombay Airconditioning has it!

Yes. It was surprising how many half backs qualified.

Maybe not, but if you can work out the solution I'll be pleased to hear a better candidate who qualifies.

No

Clue 4: interestingly, of current listed players, new draftees Matt Jefferson and Jed Adams are in the van to become eligible. But James Jordon may get there first.

@tilly18 has it!

Hint 3: Shane Woewodin was hoping to make the team but now he won't. Taj Woewodin can become eligible though - possibly even this year.

@Mazer Rackhamhas it!

Clue #2: James McDonald and Bernie Vince would love to join this team if possible.

@Demonstone has it

What's the link in my Demon team listed below? Clue #1: It's based on a topic of interest to me, evident in my Demonland posting over the years. B: Neville Jetta, Tony Campbell, Peter Rohde HB: Steven Febey, Nathan Carroll, Ian Thorogood C: Graham Molloy, Don Cordner (c), Daniel Bell HF: Liam Jurrah, Greg Parke, Brent Grgic F: Luke Williams, Sam Weideman, Darren Cuthbertson R: Mark Jamar, Jack Furniss, Jay Viney I: Jack Fitzpatrick, Brian Leahy, Cam Pedersen, Mitch White Answers via PM please ...

Agree. It's possible we go with just one tall forward, Gawn and Grundy and Fritsch with 4 smalls. If we do that then the one tall will be TMac or Brown, unlikely to be the inexperienced JVR with Gawn/Grundy. I think we need 2 tall forwards - so 50 games combined from TMac, Brown and JVR, and it's unlikely we'll get 25 from any one of them. I think they each get to play a fair amount of AFL games.