I was in the opposite pocket that day, directly in line with Lucas’ shot from outside 50.
I remember the groans from people around me as he’d missed all day, then he sealed it from 55 in typical Lucas fashion.
Perhaps you are thinking of Misiti.
It’s pure wog casting.
That’s the joke
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I would never have guessed
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Mark Waugh was the Mark Mercuri of cricket.
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M Johnson and Solly almost exclusively played in the backline (Fletch, Not-a-well-man, Dimma, Wallis, Solly and MJ were our back 6 for basically the entire year).
Rama owned one wing for the season with (primarily) Blumfield & Heff on the other wing.
JJ & Smokin Joe were really the only 2 that spent the entire season in the middle with a rotating supporting cast of Hird, Mercuri, Bewick as well as Blumfield & Heff (the latter occasionally getting defensive assignments eg Woewy in the granny).
For the ruckman Barnes was (arguably) the first that prioritised mobility over actual ruck work and took advantage of this to burn opponents around the ground and be an outlet from the D50. Then Alessio would push forward hard and try to take advantage of opponents that way (and could get away with it because of how dominant our backline was).
To compare to modern players - JJ was like Danger, Hird like Fyfe/Cripps and Smokin Joe similar to the Mitchell’s (Sam & Tom).
Tactically was pretty simple - see ball get ball while (literally) beating the opposition into submission.
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This, a thousand times that season.
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The closest player to Mercuri on our current list, is Nick Martin. Mercuri was a better player and better kick, than Martin (at present). Martin would be abit quicker however.
Mercuri was a half forward flank, and sometimes played midfield…… especially on wet days, as he was the best wet weather footballer I’ve ever seen. He was able to pluck a ball out of the air, with one grab, when it was bouncing around like a bar of soap.
Mercuri’s was our best kick. His disposal inside 50 was phenomenal. Very rarely didn’t find a target inside 50, and if he couldn’t invent a target inside 50…… he’d just run in and kick the goal himself.
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Yep, I’d just add if you haven’t watched him much check out the 93 highlights and see some of the kicks he was pulling off as a 19 year old in his first season. He was such a rounded player, good mark, good kick, evasive the type of players that wanted to stand up on the big stage.
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Maybe Calthorp? He was nuggety.
That season he had in 99 was unbelievable.
A bees ■■■■ away from winning the Brownlow. Probably would have if he didn’t get injured in the last few rounds.
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Yeah totally, he really took his game to a different level that year. His great season covered over the fact we didn’t have Hird.
I’m the joke.
Our problem is Nic Martin is the closest player to Mercuri, Caracalla, ramanauskas, basically anyone with skill and imagination from the 2000 team.
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Who is the Solomon, Hardwick and Mark Johnson if this list?
Farmer had a huge finals series and was the in form forward going into the Granny. It was a big job for Mark Johnson, not sure if Farmer kicked a goal but he was a non factor for the game.
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maybe Lav and Redman have some of the elements for the current backline?
Kicked 3 after 8 in the prelim.
addit
Kicked 1 halfway through the second when they were 3 goals down.
First of the second half when they were 6 goals down.
Then a 3rd in junk time in the 4th.
Yeah we had great small forwards.
Why we dont make them a priority now is beyond me.
Kicking goals is tough