spirit of norm smith

Lyon gets my vote as at today. The vote may change circa 2025. Maxy may end up one of our greats if he can sustain his performance over the next 4-5 years and get a few more B&F and All-Australia selections... and a premiership.

Wow. That’s fine by me. Except Eagles (away) and Giants would be a tough start.

Yes absolutely but agreed that given its with a nil crowd, Dees get the next Home fixture when the crowds back at the G is ALLOWED (2021? 2022?).

No.41 Round 22 v Carlton at MCG The home and away season in ‘88 had two memorable victories. We defeated the Hawks to avenge the 87 prelim and we were full of excitement for the elusive premiership glory. The team recorded a 5 straight winning sequence to start the year and were 12-4 by round 16 and holding the double chance behind the Hawks on top. Then we lost to the Hawks (smashed) and then the next 4 games. The 5 straight losses left us 12-9 with the Blues in 2nd place in round 22. The Bombers were keen to take our spot in the finals. At least our destiny was in our own hands, “ if we win, we are in ! “ The big game at the MCG suddenly saw the Dees awake with a big first quarter. We were on fire. I remember a very anxious crowd suddenly remembering that we were a good team. Northey had a way of lifting his players above themselves. Whilst we didn’t have a key full forward which was the real gap in the team, Lyon, Spalding, Wight & Williams stood up through the year to kick vital goals supported by Wilson and Jackson as small forwards. An 8 goal first quarter burst had us up by 5 goals. Lyon was the key. The lead extended to 7 goals by 3/4 time and could and should have been more. Stynes and O’Dwyer were in charge in the ruck. The Blues were being held but then kicked 5 goals to start the final quarter to get within 2 goals. Three goals to the Dees answered the challenge in the last 10 minutes gave us a 30-point victory. I remember the excitement of young Andy Lovell when he kicked the final goal. We had defeated the Blues (reigning premiers) twice in the year and deserved our spot. It was excitement and relief as we qualified for the finals to back up 87. We did it tough and Demon supporters needed heart medication once again. Ultimately the 88 finals were memorable (both good and bad!) Melbourne 14.12.96 defeated Carlton 10.6.66

Yes in 1980 the Dees thought they’d got Barassi as coach and Leigh Matthews as new skipper. The Dees were ready to a full in assault to get back to the glory days. Matthews was ready to sign but Hawks matched the $$$s and appointed him skipper. Probably deserved it.

Interesting rule. Possible strategy. You could draft an older brother as a late draft pick to get a younger talented sibling.

No. 42. 2015 Round 12 v Geelong at Kardinia Park The Dees hadn’t won at Kardinia Park for 10 years. The Cats were arrogant and had considered the Dees easybeats. But not on this day. The Dees were ready to go from the start and the Cats had a fight ahead this time. The Dees kicked 5 goals to lead by 11 points at qtr time and then held on to be 5 points ahead at 1/2 time. The third quarter was an arm wrestle as the cats tried to get ahead. A great goal to Jeremy Howe from a mark and kick from the boundary about 40 metres out was a beauty and setup a 2 goal 3/4 qtr time advantage. The Dees kicked 5 goals in the last to the Cats two goals to seal the upset victory. Nathan Jones was outstanding as a leader. Gawn controlled the ruck and was showing his potential. Brayshaw showed why he was a top draft pick. Recycled group of Vince, Lamumba, Cross and Garlett (4 goals) were fantastic. A young Neal-Bullen kicked 3 goals in his third game as a half forward. A rare win at the Cattery was celebrated with hope for the rest of 2015. Melbourne 18.5.117 defeated Geelong 13.11.89

Absolutely. Peter Matera was ready to sign and come across. Dees would have grabbed him with PSD#1. WA media went nuts and camped out the front of his house. The Eagles players and coaches put pressure on him to stay and I recall the club offered him leadership credentials. Matera played for 5 more years across 1998 to 2002. He would have been a star in the MCG and might have helped us in the 1998, 2000 & 2002 finals runs. Certainly would have been the Biggest get since Templeton and Moore moves across.

Yes my family and I ventured out to Waverley to see if the Demon revival would continue. In a fairly even first half, the Dees had chances but went in one goal down. The 2nd half rain suited the Bombers who won by about 6-7 goals. We were disappointed but knew the bombers were a very good team (eventually being premiers in 1984).

No. 43 1984 Round 13 v Hawks at Princes Park I remember this day clearly. A gusty Melbourne afternoon but good conditions for footy. My dad and I, met my uncle at Flinders Street station. We got the tram up Elizabeth Street and up Royal Parade. We were anxious. The Hawks were the reigning premiers. A mighty side. Stars on every line. Playing at home. A tough assignment. The Dees were the mix of youngsters and veterans. We had lost the first 5 games of 1984 but bounced back to win 5 straight from round 8 to 12. We had smashed good teams like the Cats, Lions and Dogs. This team was bonding. Kelvin Templeton was having a good year and we had some wildcards like Rhino Richards and David Williams complimenting half forward. Healy, Johnson and Flower in the midfield. Peter Moore was in outstanding form, controlling the ruck. Stephen Smith was the leader of the backline and today was on Leigh Matthews. Senior players Icke, Giles and Jarrott across half back. The Dees matched the Hawks in the first quarter. and took advantage of the breeze in the 2nd quarter kicking 8 goals to 3. Could the impossible happen? Matthews was getting frustrated and whilst he was a champion, he was not the fairest and lost his cool. The Demon faithful could smell an upset as we held onto the lead at 3/4 time by 3 goals. Templeton kicked his 4th and we felt home. The Hawks tried to claw back but the Dees held on to a famous 17 point win. The song was sung with heart. A massive upset. The Dees were in the five by percentage and we celebrated. Melbourne 15.17.107 defeated Hawthorn 13.12.90

No.44 1986 Round 21 v Kangas at MCG 1986 was John Northeys first year. The team had promise but lacked ability to win at crucial times. The year was over for us but the Kangas were desperate to win as they were on the edge of the final five. A big win over us would see them into the Five. But this day Dees had other ideas. Lead magnificently by Robbie Flower and Peter Moore dominating, the Dees lifted to a great 85 point win. 17 goals to 6 after half time. It was a mix of the retiring veterans Zantuck, and Jarrott plus Flower and Moore, skill of Wilson and Connolly plus with the youth of Healy, Newport, and Lyon. David Williams kicked 9 goals. Amazing. He was a talent. I’d like to think that this game laid the foundation for the confidence starting in 1987 and Robbie decision to go around again. Melbourne 28.14.282 defeated Kangas 14.13.97

A good win but as it was a crappy game, I really wouldn’t rate it. There is a few more glorious victories over the Essenscum Fc. Imo we should go back to round 12 1993. Jakovich kicks 8 and we win by 5 goals. A young David Neitz showcased his future as well. Bombers were premiers in 1993 but we gave it to them and their supporters that day.

No 45 . 1991 Round 5 v Kangas at MCG The Demons still had a strong team around Stynes, Spalding, Lyon, Viney, B.Lovett, Lovell, G.Lovett. But the prior match in 1990 had seen the Roos destroy the Demons by 127 points. The Roos were establishing an arrogance. This match was a scoring bonanza with 9 goals each to quarter time. Amazing 18 goals in a quarter. I got RSI noting down all the goalkickers in the record. The Dees got on top and asserted a 3 goals half time lead. Whilst the Roos had Longmire and Carey as strong young key forwards, the Dees had relied on Darren Bennett and little Ricky Jackson. Yet the Dees found goals through a rampant forward setup. The Dees smashed the Roos in the 2nd half to win by 70 points. Excitement had returned. We felt like we now had the firepower in the forwards to translate our form to success. I recall commenting over a few beers that we were now a serious contender. In the backdrop of the Southern Stand rebuild, the Dees found Darren Cuthbertson 7 goals and Rod Owen 5 goals as new scoring options. 21yo Cuthbertson was as exciting as any young player in the game. A mid sized opportunist high flyer. Owen was a teenage sensation who had left the Saints to join the Dees after years of injuries and a few misdemeanours. Owen was fantastic, agile and strong across half forward. Aggressive but skilled. Could he be a player to propel us to the premiership? (Alas 5 games later, a Knee injury ended his year and his Demon career). Whilst undersized, Peter Rohde had controlled Carey and Dees had overturned the prior 20 goal defeat. Jimmy Stynes was huge and in excellent form. Newcomer Kevin Dyson was probably BOG. Dyson had destroyed the Blues in round 4 and this win over the Roos was only his 3rd game. A new 23yo midfielder who was strong and could kick the footy 70 metres was a big plus. Hope and excitement filled the G once again. Melbourne 28.14.182 defeated Kangaroos 17.10.112.

Robbo was sensational. Neita is a great.

Jonesy deserves to be rated higher than what many are thinking. Loyalty. Toughness. Leader. All in a time of little support and a fragmented ineffective coaching setup.

No.46 2001 Round 2 v Crows at Football Park The Dees had had a shocker in round 1 against the Tigers and were keen to respond. The Crows at Football Park was a tough assignment. The team had a great first half leading by 6 goals. Whilst the Crows were always likely to make a comeback, the lead had be reduced to a few points when Simon Goodwin kicked a goal to put the Crows in front. 30 seconds to play. The Dees got take ball forward to a stoppage. From the umps bounce, Schwarz knocked it 10 metres forward to Leoncelli who ran and kicked from 40 metres and it sailed through for a goal. We had managed to snatch victory after giving away the lead. A rare victory in South Australia for the Dees. Relief yes but celebrating also followed. Melbourne 12.11.83 defeated Adelaide 11.14.80

I agree across all except imo Brown is in, Bradtke is an out by the way, do we have a forwards coach - if not, GET ONE (Egan or Rooke out!!)

Great appointment. He is very well connected. Now confirmed.

No.47 1973 Round 10 v Geelong at MCG The debut of Robbie Flower. Robbie was only 17 yo when picked as a skinny teenager. The Dees were desperate for a win (were 4 wins 5 losses) and smashed the Cats by 9 goals. Greg Swan kicked 8 goals and John Tilbrook kicked 6 goals. I did not see this game (my first year of going to games was a 6 year old in 1975) but my late father reckoned John Tilbrook was one of the best players that he saw in the red and blue. He must have been very good. Greats like Wells and Alves starred. Robbie’s debut was victorious and he played every game for the rest of the year. It was the start of a very special career for a very special Demon. Melbourne 20.19.139 defeated Geelong 11.15.81

The 1990 team definitely was good enough to win it. Pies stole it. The Bombers & Hawks had dominated the prior 7 years. We were able to BEAT both of them in 1990. We lost to lower teams. We were capable.

I think we should have kept Lyon going for the last quarter. He could have kicked 13 or 14 imo

Stynes was truly one of Melbourne’s best ever.

No.48 2016 Round 20 v Hawks at MCG The Hawks we’re reigning premiers but Roos’ Demons were a rapidly improving side. Roos was to step aside at the end of 2016 but the Dees had a very small sniff of possible finals actions. They only had to win their last 4 games. The Hawks were tested by the Demons earlier in 2016 and had won a tight encounter. So despite the Hawks being a top 3 team again, we felt we were a big chance of an upset. Unfortunately Jesse Hogan was out and Sam Weideman came in for his first game. Another tight affair was evenly balanced at 3/4 qtr time with the Dees in front by a goal. With the demon faithful supporting, the Dees lifted to win by 6 goals. Dom Tyson kicked the sealer and the Dees celebrated. We’d finally beaten the Hawks after years of embarrassing losses. Watts, Gawn and Jack Viney were our stars but backed up by many young players coming through. Hope was rising that very soon the finals drought would end. Melbourne 17.8.110 defeated Hawthorn 11.15.81

1994 was another very very good team. Viney Schwarz Pike Charles Lyon Neitz B.Lovett G.Lovett Tingay Wight Stynes Lovell Febeys unfortunately Jakovich was injured mid year as he could have made a difference very unfortunate to have to play Eagles in Perth in 1994 preliminary final. They would have won it imo

Trevor Spencer. 3 games in 1990. Key forward/ Ruck. Brad Miller was the best recruit from Qld. Played 9 years and was a very very good contributor as a key back and key forward.