The 2000 side!

[cAsEy_18]

What made us so unbeatable in that year. not only unbeatable, nobody could get close to us. up foward and down back we had stars (lloyd hird up foward, fletcher down back) but our midfield was dominant. we had the best midfield by a long way, and i'm just wondering how we did it. None of those players were stars of the competition. Look at Caracella, Blumfield, Heffernan, Jason Johnson, Misiti. None of them were stars, not saying that they weren't bad players, they were all very good players but none of them were stars of the competition (with the possible exception of jj) Yet that midfield was so good that helped us to win 24 out of 25 games that year. And look whats happened to them.
Misiti - fair enough he's retired what a great player he was.
Blumfield - Went to Richmond, did nothing, ended up back in our 2's.
Heffernan - Went to Melbourne, did nothing, ended up back at us.
Caracella - The only one we traded to do something decent, did well at Brisbane and Collingwood but not as good as when he was with us.
JJ - Hate to say this because he's one of my favourite players but he looks past it now.
The most astonishing thing was that they were all about 21 at the time
how did we do it? and why werent we as dominant for many years to come? (exception of 2001)

 

[16 FLAGS]

What was amazing about that year is a fair chunk of our goals came from our backline rebounds. Total dominence down back!!!

 

[Darealrath]

and why werent we as dominant for many years to come? (exception of 2001)

In short - very important players retiring, horror injury runs in '01 (this is never talked about but I doubt even bris would have made the finals that year if they got the equivalent injuries we did) and '02 and the salary cap.

 

[windyhill]

Attack on the man/ball. Never seen a side as manical in their attack on the ball/man, never will again.

 

[Osmodiar]

i was thinking of the salary cap the other day. I wonder why we had such big drama's with the cap back in 2000, whilst the eagles seem to have none? They continue to spend the money season after season so it'll be interesting at the end of the year. Maybe just bad planning from our boys

 

[windyhill]

i was thinking of the salary cap the other day. I wonder why we had such big drama's with the cap back in 2000, whilst the eagles seem to have none? They continue to spend the money season after season so it'll be interesting at the end of the year. Maybe just bad planning from our boys

Essendon estimated a bigger rise in the salary cap, it didn`t materialise as they expected and got stung badly, bye bye Cara, J.B, Bewick forced to retire (he still had two years in him) and Heff

 

[Osmodiar]

Essendon estimated a bigger rise in the salary cap, it didn`t materialise as they expected and got stung badly, bye bye Cara, J.B, Bewick forced to retire (he still had two years in him) and Heff

cheers for the info. I didnt know we were expecting the rise. We are still recovering today

 

[VelvetSledge]

Attack on the man/ball. Never seen a side as manical in their attack on the ball/man, never will again.

They can't; Remember, lots of shitty rules have been brought in in the space of seven years.

 

[AJ_2000]

You have forgot to mention 2 key backline players in Wellman & Wallis. They were both huge in the backline rebounds. Even Barnes played a massive part in the free flowing style we had.

The midfield also kicked a lot of goals. JJ would rack up a couple most weeks on the run.

 

[hewer]

also hardwick down back... cant forget about him

 

[Margim]

I remember someone mentioning something about having 10 players kick 30+ goals. That implies even contributions across the ground.

Also, the 'hard nut in every line' philosophy, with the likes of Barnard, Wally, Hardwick, Solly (as he was back then... not just stupid as he became later), Johnnos, etc.

 

[BluesRules]

What made us so unbeatable in that year. not only unbeatable, nobody could get close to us. up foward and down back we had stars (lloyd hird up foward, fletcher down back) but our midfield was dominant. we had the best midfield by a long way, and i'm just wondering how we did it. None of those players were stars of the competition. Look at Caracella, Blumfield, Heffernan, Jason Johnson, Misiti. None of them were stars, not saying that they weren't bad players, they were all very good players but none of them were stars of the competition (with the possible exception of jj) Yet that midfield was so good that helped us to win 24 out of 25 games that year. And look whats happened to them.
Misiti - fair enough he's retired what a great player he was.
Blumfield - Went to Richmond, did nothing, ended up back in our 2's.
Heffernan - Went to Melbourne, did nothing, ended up back at us.
Caracella - The only one we traded to do something decent, did well at Brisbane and Collingwood but not as good as when he was with us.
JJ - Hate to say this because he's one of my favourite players but he looks past it now.
The most astonishing thing was that they were all about 21 at the time
how did we do it? and why werent we as dominant for many years to come? (exception of 2001)

we would have beaten you guys if we didn't lose kouta, braddles etc in round 20. It would have been a repeat of 1999.

 

[Margim]

we would have beaten you guys if we didn't lose kouta, braddles etc in round 20. It would have been a repeat of 1999.

You make funny posts.

 

[Bombs Away]

we would have beaten you guys if we didn't lose kouta, braddles etc in round 20. It would have been a repeat of 1999.

You silly tool, in 1999 you obviously dont realise that we had johnson (j), hird and lucas out for the majority of the year.

2 class on ballers and a CHF

who was your etc... spalding or some other ****** like brown

 

[Bombs Away]

we would have beaten you guys if we didn't lose kouta, braddles etc in round 20. It would have been a repeat of 1999.

Nice occupation you have there troll, why dont you just come out and say that you have a government scholarship

 

[BluesRules]

The same brown who drove wallis's head into the turf and then murphy swooped with a one handed pick up and way we went. That win is worth 10 flags.

 

[BluesRules]

Our last 6 years have been sh-- and i wouldn't trade that 99 prelim win for 6 years of being in finals.

 

[DaSawx]

Our last 6 years have been sh-- and i wouldn't trade that 99 prelim win for 6 years of being in finals.

culture summed up in 1

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

The same brown who drove wallis's head into the turf and then murphy swooped with a one handed pick up and way we went. That win is worth 10 flags.

Or 3 spoons

 

[Margim]

Our last 6 years have been sh-- and i wouldn't trade that 99 prelim win for 6 years of being in finals.

Please, keep posting.

 

[melbournemartin]

Can someone please go through what you got exactly in trades involving Blumfield, Caracella, Heffernan etc

 

[16 FLAGS]

Our last 6 years have been sh-- and i wouldn't trade that 99 prelim win for 6 years of being in finals.

Keep posting, your holes getting deeper and deeper

 

[windyhill]

Our last 6 years have been sh-- and i wouldn't trade that 99 prelim win for 6 years of being in finals.

You take a shitty `99 prelim, I`ll take a shiny `93 cup. (could have gone two ahead carlton, complete embarassment that day, much like the last 6 or so years)

 

[windyhill]

The same brown who drove wallis's head into the turf and then murphy swooped with a one handed pick up and way we went. That win is worth 10 flags.

The same wallis who sent mil hanna into ga-ga land ? How much is 1993 worth ?

 

[andrew4443]

ahh 2000, the good old days where bragging was at its finest!