Dr. Gonzo

If it were "only a game" you wouldn't dedicate hours upon hours on here or at training or at the club etc It's more than a game, it's part of the fabric and history of this city/state/country. It's tribal. Supporters are emotionally invested and for many the football club is like a part of their extended family, it is part of their identity. That's not to say there shouldn't be perspective, but trying to downplay its importance is equally silly.

Because it is part of our clubs history and without addressing it and recognising the failure we won't be able to achieve success.

It's just the feeling I got while watching an old Norm Smith doco from fox footy a couple of weeks back. It had an extended version of the interview of Smith on the Tony Charlton show after his sacking which led me to believe the bad blood between he and the board went beyond this incident and went to the heart of our fall from grace. He said in that interview in 1965 that he and others (like Barassi) could see the writing on the wall but the board were oblivious Interestingly another commentator (can't remember who it was) that was interviewed made the comment that yeah, what Norm Smith did was wrong and anyone else you could understand the board not backing them. But this guy WAS Melbourne, he played in 4 premierships, coached 6 more for a total involvement in 10 of the clubs 12 flags! He had just come off an unprecedented era of success. Guys like that you back to the hilt, even if they're wrong. It was an interesting half hour doco, I'll try and upload to YouTube and post here in the next couple of days.

There's a bit of truth in that - but it also reeks of excuse making. Collingwood in Jock McHales day had a policy of paying every player the same. It cost them Ron Todd but they still got on and made finals, GF and won premierships. Our problem is we are co atantly questioning our direction, like we have some ongoing existential crisis about what we stand for. Is it because we grew from a stadium and not a suburb? If we were the East Melbourne Football Club would we be better off? Complacency was definitely a problem after the 50s and 60s and being the club of the establishment probably doesn't help either. We need to just learn how to be a football club instead of constantly worrying about our identity. Being a football club is simple, look after your people (including supporters) and win games of footy. Nothing else matters.

From my reading that was just the straw that broke the camels back. It seems there was a relationship breakdown between Smith and the board that would've blown up anyway.

We have to request to host them otherwise we never get scheduled home games against them

Ok it wasn't listed in the honour roll above. Still how did he only win 1? Point stands.

How the hell did Robbie never win the Bluey

Ridiculous. I would be fuming if I were a crows supporter

Watching White in full flight was phenomenal. I remember seeing him with the massive run up at an opening bounce and literally jump straight over the head of his opponent and that's no exaggeration.

I was on the lookout for these books a few years back but couldn't find them anywhere. Our school library used to have them in primary school. I might be able to help with old games, PM your email address and I'll send you my list of games.

We were a rabble in 2007? And the Blues weren't? C'mon, it was always about the $$$

Don't know if it was ever a possibility but didn't we draft one or both of the Jarmans in 89? They stayed in SA until Darren joined hawthorn in 91 and Andrew was part of the inaugural Crows side the same year.

Like Collingwood did with the Clokes?

I went to Vic Park once as a 10 year old in 1992 and stood in the outer with my dad and uncle (both Melbourne) another uncle (Collingwood) and his friend (Melbourne) when another Jako (Jakovich) kicked 7 goals after being dragged early and we ran over the Pies in the last quarter. I was too young or stupid to care about the Pies supporters and was cheering the Demons home and singing the song on the walk back to Hoddle Street. Don't remember getting any dirty looks or worse, but my dad was keen to get out of there in a hurry. Shame to see grounds like that lost to history, one of the best hamburgers I've ever had was there too on the grill just inside the entry gate. Collingwood supporters have the reputation but the team who I have had the most issues with at the footy is Saints supporters.

Depends what the impact on revenue is. They should get a percentage of revenue, if revenue drops by 80% because the networks won't pay for no games then players salaries should drop around that mark as well. Maybe cap it at $150k so the bottom percentiles aren't impacted but those earning more than that should have their salaries slashed if they refuse to play

How about Essendon having equal most premierships but they sit 3rd on the Grand Finals won ladder. 1897 and 1924 they won the premiership after a round robin finals series with no Grand Final played.

I agree, and I'm sure the players do to and will have no qualms with foregoing their salaries for this season.

We also won the 88 prelim vs Carlton there. I don't think it had anything to do with waverley, it was the games we dropped mid-late season costing us the double chance through the Northey era that cost us.

Or fork out yourself to put your wife and kids up with you in the hotel. Why should that be on the AFLs dollar? I'm sure Tim Kelly can afford it

Players want their cake and eat it too. AFL should just call the season off and players forfeit their salaries.

They also knocked us out in the semis in 90 and 91 ?

1989 we were 2nd after beating the Cats in round 16 then lost 5 of the last 6 games. We still finished 4th I think but again the double chance was gone. Garry Lyon didn't play after that Cats game but I'm not sure what his injury was? The beginning of his back problems? He also missed one of the semis against the Eagles (90 or 91?) which hurt us.

We were leading Brisbane by about 8 goals at half time at Waverley and won by 2. Stkilda seemed to be our bogey side through that era we lost to them in 88, 89, 90 and 91 (round 3) before finally getting over them later in 91 by 1 point at Moorabbin thanks to some Jakovich magic

And beat west coast and hawthorn twice too