Sir Why You Little

I was at that game - Trav showed a lot of skill - from memory I think we were in a position to win it when Yze and Robbo knocked eachother out in a terrible collision - typical of our luck.

I think it was stephen Powell & Robbo that Collided. The last Game Powelly played for us. He was a tough player who's type we could use right now.

I've got to say, I've been looking through these youtube clips just now and am disappointed with some of them. For one thing, the 1988 Prelim has no highlights of the last quarter. I loved the last quarter of that game. The crowd was great, it was raining and people were having the best time.

Ricky Jackson's goal hit the post I think. On the video, after the goal has been awarded and on its way back to the centre, there is a shot of Ricky with a cheeky smirk on his face raising his eyebrows to a team mate I guess. He knew it was a point.

And I think it was two Carlton supporters who ran out on the ground. Slip sliding all over the place trying to avoid the cops.

It is the one guy who posted all these clips on Youtube, along with hundreds of others of other games. He must have a great collection of old VFL Big League video tapes. I am going to email him and put in some requests for more complete footage of some games to be posted. I would love to see more of the Round 13 1984 game against the Hawks for starters.

I have the entire game on VHS but it is years since i have watched it. Yes that cutaway of Ricky Smiling-he knew we had got away with that one!!!

Even in 2002 we were probably the best side in the AFL after 1/4 time, but our slow starts absolutely killed us. Does anybody remember the 2002 SF vs Adelaide? We were about 6 goals down at 1/4 time, fought back to a 3 goal lead at 3/4 time but then got rolled in the end.

2 of the best quarters & 2 of the worst quarters the3 club has ever played. Remarkable Game-I still have the VHS somewhere.

Excellent stuff Einstein.

Only watched the 1988 PF against Carlton and the following memories:

1. It was an absolutely wet day

2. High number of goals kicked along the ground.

3. Gary Lyon's 60 metre bomb goal.

4. Strawbs report which I thought hurt MFC for the following week.

Most of all, its always good beating Carlton.

Yep i was there-loved getting wet, had a SHOCKING Hangover but that disappeared with Victory.

I think it was Ricky Jackson who was awarded a goal, that looked very much like a point!!!

I remember a carlton supporter running on the ground to get the Ump!!

G Lyons Bomb right on Half time was pure Art.

Yeah, from all account he's returned to mediocre Wheatley, rather than handy attacking Wheatley.

His defensive effort has never really been enough to justify him unless his attack, with that long kick, was up to it. Doesn't look like we'll see much more than some farewell games from him. He may get to play in the glorious round 22 win over St. Kilda.

The secret reason I hope St. Kilda beat Geelong this week is that I want them to go undefeated right up until they hit us in round 22. It'd be historic! They'd hate us for a generation!

Yes that may set up a Brilliant GOOD FRIDAY Rivalry. A Time slot both clubs should Pursue.

Demons v Saints at the 'G Twilight Game. would be superb...

Chris Connolly is your biggest problem. Every club he's been at, he's run the list into the ground.

That is just so wrong & ill informed, But expected from a shallow Filth Supporter i suppose.

Back to your cell, it's still mid week.

What has happened to Paul Wheatley? he hasnt played a game this year and is not on the injury list...I would have expected that after a strong 2008 season he would be amoungst them? or then how is he going down at Casey?

From MFC site:

Arguably one of the most improved players in the AFL, Wheatley had a fine season in 2008 bettering anything he’d done in his previous eight seasons. Had more disposals (462 at 24 a game), marks (124 at six a game) and tackles (41) than before and five times he topped 30 disposals or better. Gathered a career-high 36 touches against West Coast in round 20 and collected three Brownlow Medal votes for that performance. Finished third in the AFL for defensive clearances with 84. A fine running defender, he becomes a 10-year player for the Demons in 2009.

Some posters have called for him to be axed, but the bloke is only 28 years old and in my opinion he was the Dees best defender last season.

Wheatleys time is up sadly. He is not up to it. He played a good season last year, because we were so crap. Yes he is a mighty kick but i still don't believe he is in our best 22. He should be but he is not.

Think just for a minute a little sideways, what has the last couple of heavy losses in fact delivered. It's in fact given us a % gap we can use as safety net a little later as we (hopefully start to win a couple) of games.

Imo, not this week, please.

West Coke beating the Tasmanian Hawks has saved us from that dilema i believe. We need a win on the 'G to put some pride into the Jumper this week, otherwise all the Draft picks in the world will not save us.

We are allowed 3 more wins & this could be one.

West Coke will win again in perth before the seasons end-i am confident of that.

I share your frustration WYL.

However as glum as the past three weeks have been, we are definitely better than last year. Our midfield is and has been a concern for some time.

Davey has been good this year but the issue is with his possessions is that he does not hurt the opposition enough with his disposals and he cant win contested ball in traffic. But a midfield of Beamer, Brock, Jones and even Sylvia is just molasses combined with an invisible and useless ruckman in PJ then we look less than third world.

The team also lacks on field leadership and none of our senior players impact the game and most of the senior list should be pensioned off at year end.

This leaves an intolerable burden and pressure on young bodies and young minds. And its been a hard season and its taking its toll on players like Morton.

I think once we are over the WCE hump then Bailey needs to instil some confidence to back their ability and run and use the ball. The impact of the losses and lack of leadership is that player have a a defensive mindset and are not prepared to take risks. Many senior players are doing safe things under pressure not the things that inspire and change momentum in games.

There are signs of optimism. Keep the faith.

I think we should play Watts in the Backline for a few weeks to get him into the game-get him chasing so he reads the tempo better.

At the Moment he is like a rabbit looking at headlights.

He will be a Gun but is not reading the AFL Tempo yet.

I have been reading these forums for a long time now and have finally just joined so this is my first posting!

I bought a couple of my favourite wins from name a game and earlier today watched the 1994 Qualifying final against Carlton (what a game that was). It got me thinking how did we not win a premiership in the 90's???

When i looked at the great players we had such as Lyon, Schwartz, Neitz, Lovell, Tingay, Stynes etc With that team we had a chance in 1994 but i think we had our biggest chance in 1998. Had we made the grand final that year i think we could have beaten the crows again if we played at pur best like we did when we beat them in the earlier final.

So why did we not win ourselves a flag???? Whereas adelaide, west coast and even the kangaroos all won 2 each.

Was it the players werent good enough??? The other teams were way too good??? Was it lack of leadership??? Our coaching staff wasnt up to it???? Or was it something to do with the culture of the club???

Look at a club like richmond, they clearly have a bad culture and cant even make the finals let alone contest for a flag.

I ask these questions because like most of us i think we have an exciting group of kids coming through for our great club but can this group that dean bailey is putting together go further than our team of the 90's???? Is a premiership really not that far away??? I certanly hope so. What do others think???

I think our Facilities let us down most, & the Lack of a really Hard "win at all costs" Culture-with no disrespect to the players of the day. 1998 was a good side when Stinga could play-But G Lyon couldn't move in the Prelim Final-his Back was shot as were our chances.

In '95 Losing the Ox Pre-season cost us dearly as he would have been as good as Carey if his knees had stayed strong. I cried that day over a quiet Beer. I knew our chance was gone.

Balmey would have done well with the right Cattle.

Read the RED FOX. We have to be more Pro active as a club, as we were under Smithy. Because of financial Constraints this club over time has become reactive-This must stop.....

Michael Newton LOL

Man that guy is a no hoper at AFL level.

He will just take up space.

Play Watts, Jurrah and Martin up forward.

Say NO to Newton.

I agree Martin could be an exceptional Forward in years to come-certainly worth a good look. Newton has done nothing to deserve a senior spot.

Senior Spots need to be Earned, not given. Otherwise this club will be doomed to fail.

As much as I would like a win this week and understand how good that could be for morale, I think this win we need is at least a week away.

If WCE win, they lose the the PP and it locks Scully to us in the draft. Its brings our 2nd pick closer to pick 1 and to us. The outcome of this game is too important to our list for next season.

I agree RR but at the same time our performance against the lions was just so unacceptable. We have gone Backwards this year & that concerns me. Our Mid field is just so slow, which is wierd considering we have the Quickest player in the league in the Backline. Davey has been Great this year, but most of his work is not hurting the oppositions as he is too far from goal.

Bailey should be more bold in these later rounds. Move the team around- Give the Boys some Challenges. They looked so predictably Bad last week.

Stefan Martin was good-he could be a total Gun with Jurrah..

C'mon Bails Go Bold in the last few weeks-get the crowd involved please.

In the context of the grand scheme of things we must lose this week and ensure the first 2 picks. A loss this week will be forgotten in a short time but if we miss picking up a player that will help shape our future then this will be a no brainer win.

I think we will win because WCE would also be dumb to miss out on a priority pick for the sake of a pointless win. If nothing else the game should be an intriguing one.

Interesting scenario isn't it. I agree with what you are saying, but with what has happened over the last 3 weeks This club really needs a win to put some spirit into the Joint.

West Coke beating Hawthorn last week certainly gives us Breathing space to still snare 1& 2 at years end.

Play Jack Watts in the Backline so he is the Hunter rather than the Hunted for a few weeks-so as to learn the Tempo of the Game.

and most of our supporters

No i believe we still have a lot of "quiet" supporters out there, but we shall only see them with sustained success.

Humans like Winners & our fall from grace over the past 50 years is quite unique sadly. We will return

I notice that Dean Cox has been left out of the Eagles' team on the basis of his injury. That stuffs them up this week against Hawthorn and I wouldn't be surprised if Big Cox takes a bit more time to recover and will miss against Melbourne the following week as well.

West Coke do not want another win in 2009. Their Tanking is even Longer than Carlton which was executed for 11 weeks. Straight after their thrashing of Port Adelaide in Round 11 2007.

We must lose to them in order to win.

Good question. How do we benefit...Umm, expansion on TV rights dollars, perhaps to over $1 Billion. As Axis of Bob said, Isn't that more money to clubs then?

By the way the AFL Commission has given the go ahead for expansion into West Sydney. Vlad as CEO, is probably the puppet.

I agree with Axis of Bob here: -

Whilst I am cautious about the West Sydney move, the AFL will move on decisions on what is best for the game which is the current clubs and the expansion of the AFL competition. Establishing a presence in West Sydney would be a committment to the continued growth of the game against the threat of foreign codes. Tassie won't be neglected, they'll just have to wait their turn.

I can still not see how The Melbourne Football Club will Benefit from this Venture-Your answers are the same spin the AFL tells me. The Sydney Franchises will both be economic Basket Cases Long after i am dead.

How is that a benefit.

The Last Round of Broadcast Right were $780 Mill & 5 clubs are still on Drip feed-The whole thing is Bull sh#$%^&t

The great Norm Smith had very ordinary results when he no longer had good players. We need talent more than anything.

That said, I wouldn't be in a hurry to sign up Bailey. He was an unproven coach when we appointed him and he remains unproven. Collingwood don't bow to media pressure about Malthouse. They determine when they make that decision despite all the speculation regarding Buckley. They're not pandering to anyone elses agenda except their own. I wouldn't be looking at Bailey's contract until at least mid next year.

Totally Agree. Is Bailey getting the best out of these players?? Half time worries me, Why are we so Bad in the 3rd Q? There has to be a reason......

The AFL Commission was not created to do what is best for the public, it was created to run the game on behalf of the clubs. Therefore the AFL will do wat is best for the game and, by virtue, the member clubs of the AFL. If the AFL thinks that West Sydney will benefit the AFL and its member clubs more than a Tasmania team, then the AFL is right to ignore Tasmania.

I would like to know how Ploughing Millions of $$$ into a Club Franchise that is Doomed to fail is a Benefit to the Melbourne Football Club, which at the Moment is in Debt?? How do we benefit.....

have a bit of a theory that it doesn't matter what the noun is, put -ed on the end and it because an adjective to describe being really drunk!

HaHa Little Alex I like that one...& i think you are right!!

Where abouts Is the Daulton Bar? I live In St Kilda and dont know of it? I agree The Elsterwick Is a good pub to watch footy and get on the punt.

Barkly & Acland Street Corner. Big Yellow Pug. You Gotta Know it if you live in st.kildea!!!!

Apart from a brief stint when Northey was coach, Melbourne hasn't had any respect for the last 40 odd years. Any ounce of respect we may have had also evaporated with the soft tag during Danihers reign.

Since the day Norm got the sack, we lost our Mojo & respect.

I hope Jim Stynes is the man to re discover it.

Read the "Red Fox" again-that will get your blood pumping hot again...

It has struck me that if there is one place in the world where Liam's debut guernsey belongs, it's in his home community of Yuendumu where it will stand forever as testament to the effort and energy of Liam and the many people that have contibuted to his debut for the greatest football club in the world, the Melbourne Demons.

The idea is if we can get at least thirty of us put in $20 dollars each we can (hopefully) purchase Liam's guernsey, have it nicely framed up and dontae it to the community as a whole. The donation will be on behalf of Demonlanders. A nice news story for the club and a nice contribution and connection to the community.

Whose in?

Reply to this post letting me know, I'll bid on our behalf and hopefully this'll come off.

I know everyone on here is right behind Liam and is inspired by this young man's effort thus far and also by the outstanding effort the club has made in settling him into his new life down there. His selection and the clubs faith deserves to be acknowledged, so let's make a statement.

It's on $390 at the moment and there is only a day left so we have to move quick! C'mon Demonlanders!

That is a superb Thought, i want to be part of that..

A Mate Has Just Bought a HUGE LCD so we will get Trolleyed & then hit the clubs to drown the Sorrows.

Do we have to wear another Crap Jumper. I can't cope with this Clash Jumper [censored] much longer!

This is the year where all our players need to be tried out in all different positions, Petterd will get more opportunities. We still have 10 weeks of trialling to go.

I like Ricky- i want him to succedd-

Reminds me a little of "Stinga" when he runs Flat out.

Keep Trying Ricky.....