Tarax Club

Surely Jj Rogan Josh is preferred. Meat pies are so passé.

#14 Jack Billings Micheal Hibberd and Lyndon Dunn the most recent Demons prior to Jack Billings gave this fabled Guernsey number stability and endurance going back to the 2006 season. Hibberd originally came from Essendon. A club imploding after a successful reign at the top echelon of the AFL, due to the highly controversial supplements scandal. After a lost year out of football due to the performance enhancing? drug saga. He quickly established himself as a top defender in the Demon’s lineup and was subsequently rewarded in 2017 with an All-Australian team gong. Despite injury concerns, his timing late in the 2021 season was impeccable. He achieved what would be a career pinnacle, of being selected for and playing in the resurgent Demons 2021 premiership team. Lyndon Dunn played either as a tall forward or defender at Melbourne with mixed success and at one stage trialed as an on baller. No stranger to appearances at the AFL tribunal due to his propensity for on field altercations. He fell out of favour, coinciding with the arrival of Paul Roos and finished his playing days with Collingwood. Rodney Grinter was described in demonwiki as ‘one of the most controversial hard men of the league’. Grinter often fell foul of the umpires, making sixteen appearances at the VFL tribunal in his time at Melbourne and serving a total of thirty-one weeks suspended. His ‘badman reputation’ on and off the field would have given Bon Scott as front man of AC/DC a run for his money. Beyond the uncompromising on field demeanor. Grinter proved to be a no-holds barred, combative, competitor who gave the team plenty of spine and spunk in an often rough and tough era. Barry Bourke a premiership player in 1964 and record holder for number of games played in the #14 guernsey at 175. Played most of his footy at the beginning of the big drop off, briefly walking out of the club with the sacking of Tiger Ridley. Back in the days of kick to kick after the game at the ‘G, your correspondent nearly got collected by BB resplendent in #14 cantering off the field. Must have been another loss judging by his grim facial expression. Back in the Time Machine, Trevor Johnson and a ‘Robert Johnson’ according to demonwiki represented the club in #14 during the golden 50’s early sixties. May be a a bit of a demonwiki mystery here to solve? Big Bob Robert B, wore #18 and #16. Robert C his father wore 11 according to dw. Maybe this ‘Robert Johnson’ did a deal at the with old Nick at the crossroads? Delving further back into the numero-mythology of #14. Maurie Gibb started his MCCFC career in this jumper switching to #10 to become a significant contributor in an earlier golden era. Playing in two consecutive premierships before WW2 service truncated his footy days. Finally the most famous name to grace #14 Ivor Warne-Smith. Dual Brownlow Medalist, one awarded in the 1926 premiership year another in 1928 playing as captain and coach. All from centre half-forward too, a more than handy footballer apparently.

Rotations aside appear to have eased off on the pedal last quarter.

The beauty of the understatement; ‘Well that escalated quickly’ Must have flown these guys in from Canberra AM.

All aforementioned doing their chances no harm.

Be grand if Andy debuts sooner rather than later consistency is the key.

Just got to wrangle that AFL media accreditation Andy.

Immaculate ball drop!

Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power and Roan Steele all ‘early’ matinee idols. RS continues his fine run of ‘classic goals’ should have the turnstiles clicking over. Get him in mid-season draft!

Hombre it’s just not cricket. Too many gringos chasing leather.

Yes had auto spell totally bluffed.

Correction should read as Cavalry rather Calvary. Hopefully we won’t be crucified by the umpires too often this season. TC

Trust the ‘pine’ at ikon is not as shabby as the old stand, Royal Parade side next to the 2001 Space Odyssey Black Obelisk. Otherwise somebody could get splinters and be abducted by aliens if they seek medical attention.

#6 Caleb Windsor As alluded to earlier in this thread, in more recent times this number has been a bit of a revolving door. Fred Fanning decades on, famously still holds the league record for most goals kicked in a game. A triple six 18, as demonwiki writes a record ‘unlikely to be broken’ by whole football teams it seems, with a premium placed on whole ground defenses. Then come the two Franks: Frank Adams speed Demon, MFC Hall of Fame, Team of the Century, 6 premierships over the golden era. Frank Davis caught the tail end for the ‘64 flag. Became the holder of the most games in the guernsey (162), endured nine seasons, three as captain at the very beginning of the lost decades wandering in the wilderness. Glen Lovett played in a period where the club had more success. A Best and Fairest winner, he was a very neat player with excellent skills but struggled with injuries early and later in his footy career. Matthew Bate showed some promise but never reached his full potential. Scott Thompson got a start, but the draw of home lured him across the border to fame and good fortune. Caleb may have the distinction of being the first of that ancient name being on a MFC list. The name is mentioned in the Bible. Of the 12 sent by Moses in search of the promised land two return mission accomplished. Caleb #6 and one other. If footy is still a religion in Victoria, can Caleb Windsor visit the promised land at the ‘G late September and return mission accomplished? Why not!

666’s pics confirm Harry Petty having an early run and kick. Jake Melksham for all those recently just back from Mars. Screams ‘play me now’ but must be on world record pace for an earlier return than normally expected. A good start to the season than the Calvary will arrive.

Just a 🐝’s Richard from putting Carlton away with their purported ‘premium forwards’ with a misfiring bottom six forward six. As Leigh rightly says ‘two weeks out of the top four in three seasons’. Bring it on.

#4 Judd McVee; The lower numbers typically have the history of former greats associated with them. Norm Smith the most famous. His son Peter’s career was briefer but like Dad ended in controversy. Tony Sullivan wore it with distinction his son Chris also got a go. Tony Campbell, Brent Grgic and Jack Watts all had their moments. Craig Ellis and Ben Holland came from other clubs. Peter Giles’s time was cruelled by injury. Andrew Obst wore it later in his reign. John Lord still has his appreciators before my time though. James Harmes wore it with distinction in Perth on Grand Final Day, the cameo that bought us back from the precipice. The young man from Geraldton must feel the buzz of association when he goes to locker #4.

I’ve had the good fortune of meeting Angus and having a brief conversation with him regarding, playing against his brother early in his career. We also shared something in common Go Bloods! Left me with the strong impression of a friendly, gregarious young man with the world at his feet. Who still had the time of the day to talk to an old bloke about footy. His pre-mature retirement leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. Both on field and in the hearts of many true red and blue supporters. Others have rightly eulogised his on field exploits and contribution to the success of the Club. Of course his courage, never say die attitude and commitment to others out on the field cannot be questioned. A great team man with a heart of gold and a great sense of humor. Would like to wish Angus all the best in his post football life. Sursum Corda.

Throw in a witch burning ritual to round it all off. Late April early May is quite propitious.

Demonland Pre-Season Spectrum

Colliwobbles 2024 variant.

Like to think here is an opportunity, to overcome adversity. Let the Demons show up and do it on the field. Fair dinkum supporters whether new or already dug in for generations will back them in. All the media vultures gathering round can fugazi off.

Any chance we’ll be ahead after 7/7th? Save some of the lammingtons.

? Can’t be this bloke he was in dry dock today.