Monbon

A good win in the circumstances. The facts to consider are that Pickett and Fritsch had lean nights, as did Van Rooyen until the last quarter.  

Richmond are not that far from being a very good side. Had they kicked straight...

Some of the umpiring decisions/non-decisions were farcical. They were also inconsistent...

I liked the way Brayshaw and Richmond's Pickett helped each other to get up after a contest, and there was a similar incident of mutual respect in the last quarter. The game was played in good spirit.

6: Viney

5: Oliver.

4: Gawn

3: Langdon

2: Lever

1: Petracca

1 hour ago, YesitwasaWin4theAges said:

God's Country Adelaide.

Couldn't make the trip because of work.

I'm turning 73 in less than 4 hours, have recently retired and the only thing I want more than good wine, and Melbourne winning, is the thought of living somewhere between Goolwa and Encounter Bay. Normanville/Yankalilla also sound fine. I worked in the wine Business and have been to SA over 50 times, mainly to McClaren Vale and that area. Apart from it being God's own country, anywhere north of the areas I mentioned get too hot for me in summer...

1 hour ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Emerg: Gary Baker. B&F winner and at his best, at least as good as Jolly and Keenan.

(Yes, I know he came from Foot-is-Grey.)

Nobody loved G.Baker as a player more than yours Truly. Jolly was forced to play number 2 to Jeff White, went to Sydney, Collingwood, played in premiership sides for both and played 237 games all up. 

Also, Gary Baker only played 5 games for Sydney when he left after 1981 - his knees were rooned, as they say. I recall some of his best work was his marking ability, especially when he played Back against the resting opposition Ruck Forward.

2 hours ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

Love the topic Monbon but:

Scott Thompson was far better than a bench player in this side.

I think Spalding was a better CFH than Hogan and if memory serves me correctly, Earl played in 2 Grand Final sides, including a premership with Carlton in a dominant year.  I like Jessy, but I don't think he's delivered on his potential.  Conversely, while he was arguably a less talented player, Earl squeezed every bit of potential out of himself and was a valuable contributor and performer for two teams right up there at the pointy end of team performance.

Again nothing particularly against Walsh, but Nathan Bassett was a better player.

Always loved Martin Pike.  What a beast.  And how many players around in the modern era could claim to have played in 3 different teams and 4 premerships.  If the chips had fallen differently, he could possibly have played in Premierships with the MFC in the early/mid 90s, which was bursting with talent, but just couldn't put it together consistently enough and/or keep it all out on the park long enough to capitalize on it.

 

Regardless of them being amoung the elites or not, I'm actually generally really enjoying see some of our recient departures like Sauce, Hunt and Jessie in particular get a game and oppertunity to perform at the top level.  I've no real love or hate for Jackson and who knows if he'll be another that got away, but I'll never view him with the same kind of distain as that rat $cully, who despite all the tickets he had on himself, never really justified the huge price he accepted from that scum Sheedy and the goons at the AFL.

Agree with you on most points. I had to fit Spalding in, but methinks maybe you underestimate Hogan's performances - most in an ordinary side:

Set to debut in Round 1, 2014, Hogan's senior career was stalled when it was revealed that he had stress fractures in his back shortly before the season started. Despite initial predictions that he would only miss a few weeks he was placed on the long-term injury list on May 1.

He returned for one Casey game late in the year but did not make his senior debut until Round 1 the following year. Hogan effortlessly stepped into senior football the next year, kicking 44 goals despite Melbourne having another low scoring season and winning the Rising Star award.

In an improved side in 2016 he produced close to the same numbers as his debut year, but struggled late in the season after a fast start. He then had a troubled 2017, suspended early in the season before losing his father to cancer and then being diagnosed with the disease himself and undergoing surgery. He returned later in the year, suffered a broken collarbone, returned again then injured his hamstring in the last game of the year.

He had a more successful 2018 campaign, playing 20 games and kicking 47 goals before a foot injury ended his season after Round 21.  He kicked 152 goals in 71 games and as you read above, severe injuries hardly helped his cause.

With regard to Thompson, I'll play the 'just because they're named on the bench doesn't mean they won't start in the opening 18'...Have a look at the side as published yesterday...Chandler on the Half Back Flank...

11 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

Of interest (to me, anyway):

-  Ben Brown named so fit to play, but not selected in the Melbourne team

-  Kyah Farris-White selected to play against men after running around in the under 18 comp.

-  Woey back but no sign of Turner (K.) or Smith (J.)

-  Jimmy Munro still injured

Which is the Smith in the right back pocket?

4 minutes ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

No, was wrong 

You ask my wife: I'm NEVER wrong!

13 minutes ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

Adelaide’s Ben was on our list but didn’t play a game

I'm not doubting: was it before or after his Adelaide stint?

3 hours ago, Melbournepotter said:

Bulldogs from memory, but his body was shot after Melbourne.

Played 7 games...Talk of any Demon side post 1964 must mention Jakovich in some context!

9 hours ago, Rod Grinter Riot Squad said:

And Ben Hart

Demonwicki lists 1 Hart- played 1 game in 1943...Who is this Ben Hart?

13 hours ago, daisycutter said:

good job, but you left out 2 brownlow medallists

Yep: Woewodin and Wilson...Unforgivable in both cases. 

13 hours ago, Left Foot Snap said:

Cameron Bruce surely gets a gig. No love for Scully? Secial mention to Stevie Armstrong and his premiership medal as well.

Addit: Bishop should get a look in too.

 

 

 

Yes: I missed too many: Howe, Bruce, Bishop, Armstrong, Parkes, Trengove, Dunne, 

Yes, I have no love for Scully.

12 hours ago, Beetle said:

Tingay should be in there over Dyson. 

Tingay didn't play a game at the Swans: he was injured all the time....

5 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

i would've thought a player could only be considered an 'import' if they played a senior game with another club

That's what I thought and meant.

Backs: Walsh   Frawley   Hughes

Half Backs: McLean   Rivers  Spalding

Centres: Alves   Wells  Lovell

Half Forwards: Pyke  Hogan  Watts

Forwards: Farmer    Jakovich    Healey

Rucks: Jolly, Barassi, Elshaugh

Bench: Thompson, Dyson, Keenan, Byrne, Charles

Also, I forgot about Stephen Powell....And my biggest blunder: Carl Ditterich

10 minutes ago, dee-tox said:

Think Jeff Farmer can also be classified as an import with Freo trading their rights to Farmer for Phil Gilbert.

Then again, I based the side on players who 'played' for other AFL sides in the Firsts...

Farmer would make my side of Fabulous Melbourne exports...Scully would not be considered for selection...

14 minutes ago, Go the Biff said:

Can Brett Lovett get a spot ? Started his career with Hawthorn U/19s I believe.  Might have played in their Magoos as well before coming to the Demons 

I wondered that as well. He played over 60 games in Hawthorn Reserves. If that was counted, he'd be the first picked. Then there's Ricky Jackson...

23 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

Don't think Wayne Gordon won a B&F.

Baker certainly did.

You are absolutely correct: he came 3rd in 1980: apologies...

33 minutes ago, bush demon said:

I'm nominating Diamond Jim for half-back flank. I thought he played well in that position. On a serious note, Alan Johnson and Todd Viney should definitely be there.

By Imports, I mean players from other AFL clubs.

25 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

biz played his best footy for us as an undersized key defender

Agree 100%: but I had to include Icke and Rhode...

During a bout of insomnia I formulated a side which incorporated a Melbourne side composed solely on Imports:

Backs: Fowler      May    Ingerson

Half Backs: Icke     Lever    Rohde

Centers: Langdon   Wilson   Bizzell

Half Forwards:  Vardy  Moore   Crosswell

Forwards: Pickett, Brown  Shaun. Smith

Rucks: White Vince, Coles

Bench: Clarkson, Gary Baker, Wayne Gordon ( the Best and Fairest winner the year before he died,) Jarrott, Templeton

Emergencies: Cross, Seekamp, Holland, 

I had to fit three ruckmen into side - Brownlow Moore, Baker and White and Moore played a season or so at Collingwood as a Forward.

Ben Brown or Templeton:?Brown because he played in a Premiership side.

13 hours ago, rjay said:

Love this HB line

What a great player Gary Hardeman was

My centre line would be

Flower Mann Alves

I had to play Neitz as Full Forward, hence Lyon CHB where he played some great games. 

6: Viney

5: Oliver

4: Grundy

3: McDonald

2: Hunter

1: McVee

Unlucky: Rivers, Fritsch, Petracca, 

3 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Fowler  May  Tassie Johnson

AJohnson  Hardeman  Yze

Flower.  H Mann  Alves

RRobertson. Ox.  Lyon

Fritsch. Neita.  Farmer

Gawn  Oliver  Wells

Stynes  Trac  TViney  Jones

And yes, I am old.

 

We have many players in common.