bush demon

Interesting fun fact that Casey is the demographic centre of Melbourne; or as Norm Smith once said, "I am Melbourne".

I think part of it was that we didn't have a big marking full forward like Peck, Wade, Waters, Ken Fraser etc so had to play a fast, swarming style game.

Lots more professional coaching now, but kids in the old days learnt their art in primary school, in the backyard and in the street hence the magnificent kicking of footballers in the 60s. The 1973 YouTube game between Carlton and Hawthorn and the '65 GF also on youtube shows much we have devolved into a boring system-based game.

When Don Blew blew, Norm Smith blued. Apologies in advance for any syntax or grammatical errors.

And Norm Smith got South into the finals in 1970 but he had to change clubs to do that.

If you watch the '65 grand final on YouTube between StKilda and Essendon it is easy to see that the talented players were gravitating to other clubs. StKilda and Essendon were two teams that showed us up mid '65 when we were unbeaten. I think by this time the Barassi Smith ranting methodology was wearing off and we overplayed the 'if only' victim game. I also think loss of rich talent zones had a lot to do with it.

I was just starting to barrack for the Dees at this time, and on that weekend my father - an Englishman who hated aussie rules but loved soccer - took me to Olympic Park to watch Everton defeat Australia 8-2.. If only the day before I could have gone to the G and seen the amazing demons play. It was mid-season a year later that Saint recruits Cooper and Ditterich tore us apart, ending our reign.

From the vault:.

I remember Porterfield scoring the winning goal in the 1971 FA Cup, i think against Man. Utd. Sunderland were the rank underdogs.

No, I got that one from my Beatles obsession (Bar owner telling Beatles to "mach shau"). The other one from uni days, world war two history etc.?

Well done. So now you will have to name them in positions!

So did any players of German extraction mach shau with the Dees?

Although he often played injured, Barassi's '64 season catapulted us into the grandy, and ultimately the flag. He wasn't a top performer in the finals series, but was undoubtedly the no.1 legend of the vfl, and losing him cost us our weltanschauung. there has been no viable replacement

So that would have been Barassi's first game since August, 1963.

Graham Molloy, from South Australia. A great player for the Dees in early 70s. Jeff White, Fremantle. oops, did JW start in Vic, go to WA and come back again?

Tassie.

Don Williams left Melbourne late 50s or early 60s went back to play for Sale then came back to star in Melbourne's '64 premiership team.

Norm Smith left Melbourne in 1948 and played for the Royboys as coach in 1949? He came back to Melbourne 1950s as coach.

Gary Hardeman went to play in South Australia in the 70's then came back to play under Barassi in 1980.

Who would have thought the players would have to wear a 22.

What rubbish.

The year Harley rose again.

I used to wear Paul Callery's no.35 on my jumper when I went to the footy as a kid. that's cos i was a short*rs-* as well.

No 25, wedged between Dillon and Parke. A very average kick.