Demonstone

"The Claw"!

Absolutely correct, Norm. Here's a stunning example: The game in 1947 in which Fred Fanning kicked a league record 18 goals (still a record) against St Kilda was the last game for the season and Fred's last appearance for Melbourne. His final kick was the sole behind in his day's tally of 18.1. He had kicked 16 until three-quarter time before being quietened somewhat in the last. The following season, he was lured to coach at Hamilton because of the extra money on offer, which worked out to be six times what Melbourne could pay. That situation would be totally inconceivable these days.

There is some controversy about Greg Wells and if he wore the no. 50 in his debut at Princes Park in 1969, even though that was first allocated number and he wore it while playing in the seconds. This topic came up on the old Demonology years ago and people who were there that day swore that wore the no. 11 in that game and henceforth, but the matter has never been resolved AFAIK. The above list has the recently departed Tony Anderson as the wearer of no. 11 in 1969, but he retired that year after only three games, which makes it entirely possible that Wellsy did indeed don that number in his first senior game.

Is is true that, when metrication was introduced, he considered changing his name to Killer Jewell?

Good point about the French and the protection of their wine names, Diamond Jim. You can't even say "champagne comedy" any more, but instead have to use the phrase "sparkling wit".

Before I contribute to this thread, just let me go and put on my hair shirt.

Sorry Moony. I'd love to oblige but lack both the technology and the know-how to do so. I can provide the proposed team song, but make sure you've got a bucket handy: We're the Melbourne Hawks We're the high-flying Hawks We're the mighty Melbourne Hawks We play each game and we play to win Watch us, we play it with a grin Every heart beats true for the gold red and blue As we sing this song for you One for all and all for one Two will make you stronger Keep your eye on the mighty Melbourne Hawks.

Were those questions directed at me? 1. Just a play on words - dorks/dawks. 2. The new entity may well have won premierships, but it wouldn't have been my team any more and would feel hollow. At the time, I was working with a former Fitzroy supporter who just gave up on AFL when his team was screwed by the league into forcing to merge with Brisbane and followed his local team instead. I think that's I would have done as well.

I've kept the literature we received from the club at the time, including a brochure with the new jumper designs and new theme song. There's also a proxy vote for the merge option, but not the other proxy. I sent that one in, but to no avail as it turns out. Horrible time in my supporting life and I said back then I'd rather finish bottom every year than merge and become The Dawks. It's funny to look at now, but apparently we had the players and Hawthorn had the money.

If you're looking for Vardy's goals, he kicked three in a row in the last quarter when it was raining cats and hounds.

I looked it up and turns out he was from Tassie - a true Van Demon, but I never realised that. Lou Richards described him as "Biffin by name and biffin' by occupation"! One day at Moorabbin when it was blowing a gale to the Nepean Hwy end, Biff spent the entire game in the same goal square, playing as full-forward when we had the wind and as full-back when kicking against it. One of my all-time favourites.

Where was Biffin from, spirit? Nice list, BTW.

Despite the numbers on Demonland, Tingay prevailed (just) by 368 votes to 364.

I've voted for Davey, but have the utmost respect for Febey. Odd trivia: Steve was the only Demon to play in our losing Grand Finals in 1988 and 2000.

Crikey Old Goat, you accuse me of a lack of knowledge then go on to describe Eishold as "a great player". He wasn't great, he was a foot soldier and no better than average. That shot wasn't tough, especially for a "great" player. We have a different opinion. C'est la vie. I would have slotted it, since you ask! ?

I can recall that, years later, Eishold revealed that the occasion got to him and that his legs turned to jelly. Any suggestion that it was a tough shot is ludicrous. There are no excuses for his terrible miss from so close.

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted already.

Who is this Bill you speak of, Rusty?

Our magnificent win over the Suns last year could be one of the three by my reckoning.

To be fair, Plugger is many, many years past his prime.

There was a Darren "Daisy" Williams that played for Essendon. Our David was nicknamed "Dirty".

Did the newbie who started this thread not see the other one already in existence? ?

I wouldn't recruit him and I also wouldn't write TMac off at this early stage.

How odd was it seeing people in the crowd smoking cigarettes!

What would you see as the benefits of this arrangement, MFM?