Ricky P

7 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Not an official record but I believe we may have broken another hoo doo. When was the last time the Demons were such a big favorite (both with scribes and the bookies) in a blockbuster game ...and got the chocolates!?

Maybe it wasn't that long ago but im thinking back to a fairly big build up to a match against the Toiges in the 90s when Gazza & the Wiz were up and about. Seem to recall a big game build up but we were considered the favourites. The Wiz took a screamer in the forward pocket/flank in front of general members area at one point and we went on to win well from memory.

Regardless, even though the Pies fielded a pretty ordinary outfit, we still had a huge mental girdle to break out of on QB and we did it convincingly. We also played at least one quarter of 'finals quality' football in the 2nd.

We are a fair way off challenging the top 6 consistently but also not that far off holding our own against anyone from 7 down IMO, provided we have most of those who played on Monday fit & available.

Another quality (experienced) mid in next draft would be very handy.

That was rnd 22 in 98. Tiges needed to win to make the finals - we needed to win to make top 4 I think. We won by 76 in front of 76k. Yeah, wiz sat on Garry's head early in the first.

26 minutes ago, ProDee said:

I still am. 

Good ordinary players who are great for the club's depth and both are presently best 22, but when we're in the hunt for a flag I doubt either will be running out on GF day. 

But I agree they've been worthwhile recruits and better than I expected. 

Shannon Byrnes played in two flags. Even premiership teams contain good ordinary players who play their role.

If he doesn't improve for the rest of his career he'll be a bloody good player.

He's a bit taller than I thought he was - 185 cms.

Those highlights are impressive but they're all from the same 3 or 4 games haha!

What people mean by 'straightens us up'? Apols, I am out of the country at the moment and you really need to be at the ground to pick this kind of stuff up. 

1 hour ago, old dee said:

A very good question.

you have to understand back then most big time sport was amateur.

Olympics, tennis and cricketers got very little.

it was a very different world.

some people want to maintain their "Pure Amateur" status.

must seem very strange to you but that was the world was  back half a century ago.

So there was a prestige attached to playing for no money?

1 hour ago, Old Man Rivers said:

Spot On. Half way mark of the season & we are alive. I think anyone under 45 here can't remember the against all odds fight we produced in the late 80's to make it happen. So many emerging players back then just like 2016. Destiny is still in our hands. Anything can & is way overdue to happen. This season definitely has that 1987 feel to it.

 

I hope this mob ends up better than the team in the late 80s/early 90s. Although they produced some wonderful memories and occasions, and made the finals every year between 1987 and 1991, they never finished above 4th at the end of the home and away season in a 14 team comp. To be brutal, they weren't good enough. 

1 hour ago, old dee said:

Some players chose to play for no money.

They played as Amateurs. By the sixties they were few and far between but from my memory Doc Roet was one. I am confident  he played as an amateur in the 64 premiership.

Why did they choose to play for no money?

I like that he's a pest. You've got to have one or two players that opposition fans hate. 

6 minutes ago, doc roet said:

Yeah old dee,I guess I have been around a while.Long enough to have enjoyed those glory years.

Tassie,Hassa,johnny Townsend.Those days you could get into the rooms at !/2 time.

I remember seeing John Lord dragging on a smoke at the 1/;2 time address by Norm Smith.

Brian "doc" Roet was CHB during those years.According to Demonwiki,he may have played as

an amateur throughout,which would make him the last MFC amateur player.

Please explain this. What do you mean by amateur player? Did some of the players opt not to be paid or something?

59 minutes ago, Demonised said:

I think we had the better of the umpiring. We got away with quite a few dodgy disposals, and a number of 50/50s went our way.

I reckon early we were getting reamed.

Ok, here's the breakdown folks.

Games we should win

Freo

St Kilda

Gold Coast

Carlton

Dees win 3.

Games we have a small chance of winning

Adelaide

Hawthorn

West Coast

Dees win 1.

Games we have almost no chance of winning

Sydney

Cats

Dees win 0.

So that gives us 10 wins. 

BUT, as I said above, and what the OP is alluding to, is huge momentum and a fairytale run. This could be brought about by a win against one of the top sides. Not probable, but possible. 

Obviously, if we keep going how we're going, we won't play finals. But momentum is a funny thing. A big win against a top 8 side would be the thing that lights the powder keg.  

The game against the Crows at the G after the bye is a big one. That is winnable. If we win that then we are in it up to our ears.  

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

Anyone got footage of Kennedy being coathangered by #40 (which was called "play on" by umpire Nicholls)? I spent the whole first quarter watching through red mist after that. I want to see if it was as bad as it looked. 

Should've been a freekick but was nothing more sinister than that.

8 hours ago, AdamFarr said:

 

It gives me the shits. Sounds like a library almost every week. I feel like I'm the only one out there shouting every week.

Don't know what games you guys are at. The members go nuts. I've heard opposition fans say "there's not many of them but they're loud". 

Pretty much all those players have played less than 10 games. Let's be patient.

Did it for Nasher!!!

The pies fans don't care about QB. 

In Phnom Penh, knocking off at lunch time to watch the boys. Do it for Nasher!!

No chance Club Gecko would be us. I'm proud of the lead we've taken with women's footy and the way we enable our indigenous players to educate our non-indigenous players about indigenous culture.

Some of those questions are pretty hopeless. You can question the efficacy of land rights as a tool for indigenous economic advancement without being racist. Likewise, you can observe male violence in society and conclude that it's natural for men to fight, without thinking it's a good thing. I'd be asking for my money back if I was the AFL.

Burgo also says "so could you sorta, talk us through that" in every question in every interview.

Good old Burgo - clearly loves the dees. U can tell he's amped when he does post-game interviews after a win.

Great work mate! Those of us outside the country appreciate reports like these!

51 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Looks like the announcement on licences will be made on Wed.  http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/melbourne-questions-plans-for-eight-teams-in-afl-womens-league-20160610-gpgq0n.html 

And it seems we will get one:  The submissions of Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs stood out among the 13 the AFL received from clubs making their best case for a female team...' and '...The jury remains out on the other Victorian applicants: Richmond, Geelong, St Kilda, Collingwood, North Melbourne and Carlton, but the strong likelihood is that only two of those will join the Demons and Dogs'.

Will be interesting to see which Vic clubs miss out.  My only worry is that the AFL will use the licences for 'horse-trading' and conferring of fixture/venue favours to those clubs. The favours will be subtle eg more MCG games, better home game opponents, FTA games, fan friendly start times etc etc

It may be my MFCSS but I can't help but feel that even if we do get a licence we will lose out somewhere else...

 

That's awesome news. Really proud of my club for driving this. Can't wait till we win the men's and women's flag in the same year!

I actually said this bloke was the worst player to pull on a Melbourne jumper at the start of his career. Love the way he's turned it around. Now one of my favourites. Happy to eat humble pie!

Amazing to think our defence has three blokes who've played half a dozen games each. 

Starting to get pretty excited about these demons.