Queanbeyan Demon

and what's with her hair do?

Um, actually I did the work myself Binman. It's far from the first time I've made these points on 'Land over the years. I note your cheap shot is unable to rebuke my claims - each of which are broadly acknowledged as true by my possie that actual knows about footy and how Melbourne have been screwed by successive VFL/AFL regimes over decades.

I could make a case that it's all BS. Brisbane: Merger Windfall and Father–Son GoldThe 1996 Fitzroy–Brisbane merger gave the Lions a once-only player infusion. While most of the Fitzroy list drifted away, Chris Johnson became a three-time premiership backman and Martin Pike, an ex-Fitzroy hard nut, was re-drafted to add grunt. More significantly, the father–son rules of the late 1990s and early 2000s handed Brisbane elite talent at minimal cost. Jonathan Brown was secured as a second-round father–son pick, Chris Scott and Brad Scott were recruited cheaply, and Alastair Lynch—brought in earlier under special concessions—rounded out the core. These concessions and bargains allowed Brisbane to stack its list around Michael Voss, Nigel Lappin, Simon Black, and Jason Akermanis, producing a dynasty that won three consecutive premierships (2001–2003) and appeared in four straight grand finals. In short, the AFL’s structures let Brisbane bank a generation of stars with little draft sacrifice. Geelong: Father–Son Dynasty BuildersOver the same 30-year period, Geelong mastered the father–son rule. They plucked Matthew Scarlett (pick 45), Gary Ablett Jr (pick 40), and Tom Hawkins (pick 41) with late selections that would never yield such talent in a normal draft. Each became a cornerstone of their premiership sides in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2022. Alongside them, Jed Bews, Nathan Ablett, and others added depth. The Cats did not pay in trades or high picks; they simply exploited the AFL’s rules at the time, when rival clubs couldn’t bid up father–sons. By the time the bidding system tightened in 2015, Geelong had already built a dynasty. They later doubled down with bold trades (Dangerfield, Cameron, Smith), but the foundation came free of charge. Strategic Losing? The Draft Haul That Changed Hawthorn Forever The incentive existed and Horeforn clearly benefited from priority picks in that window. In the 2004 draft, Hawthorn held a priority pick (No.2) for Jarryd Roughead, then also took Lance Franklin (5) and Jordan Lewis (7)– a haul enabled by finishing 15th in 2004 (4–18) under the old priority-pick rules; in 2005 they again qualified and used a priority selection on Xavier Ellis in the 2005 draft. Public chatter has long alleged deliberate late-season under performance to secure those picks, but it remains speculation, not adjudicated tanking. ConclusionBetween Brisbane’s merger concessions and father–son coups, Geelong’s exploitation of the old father–son system and Horeforns 'strategic under performance, all three clubs assembled all-time lists at cut-rate prices. The result: four premierships each, built not just on good management but on systemic advantages few other clubs enjoyed. Call any of them “the best” and you’re ignoring the fact that the 21st century’s been less about three empires and more about three mob bosses taking turns running the joint.

I know facts are not de rigueur around here - but Trac averages exactly the same number of goals per game as Danger. Oh [censored], I forgot. Everything wrong at Melbourne is somehow Trac's fault.

Speak for yourself.

At least you now know that you're one poster who's worth reading.

this is right up there with Jack Dyer's - "Bartlett's, he's older than he's ever been before."

What are you talking about?

You don't expect Max to come running every time Louis spit the dummy?

There are multiple ways to spell some words. For example: “This week’s test will come in the back half.”

Nailed it Ghosty. Handed multiple freebees over a generation.

Can you imagine the call out charges back then? "I'm on my way. I'll just load up my donkey. See you Thursday". Calls the customer on the Wednesday: "Sorry, it'll be Thursday week. Had a stopover in Cana".

[censored] on Ghosty - who respects it now? It’s the Logies for midfielders. Kick ten, save a game, dominate the ruck? Invisible. Rack up 35 sideways handballs? Congratulations, here’s your medal.

Despite all the speculation that goes on around here - you're still my favourite Ghosty.

Gary Lyon barred-up after his goal. Said he'd now legit earned the right to be called the wizard. Have never taken him seriously as a footy analyst. This just confirmed it.

Who was support? Harold Holt and the Sharks?

All good @Fork 'em. Go dees. That's ultimately all that counts. And I'm sure we are both grateful we saw the great man's career.

and the evidence for that would be? carltank have had mostly new people on the scene now half a dozen times in the last 30 years. its going very well for them.

you're the bro who raised stats.

Comparing each players career stats would not work out for you @Fork 'em. So I'll STFIH 🤣. And i already acknowledged in my original post that Tulip was a better mark.

Actually, yes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQzvoTNfnE8

I didn't say that.

Who's room? Carlton have been one of the dumbest traders for the last 30 years. Totally in their wheelhouse.

I can. There are reasons we have finished 14th and the laughing stock of the comp.