Norm Smith Sacked!!!

[sliat1981]

we need more players with the melbourne through and through attitude rather than the whoever will pay me more attitude

[Sasquatch279]

just like norm smith, I am Melbourne Through and Through! dont know how you could sack a man like norm smith, the perfectionist coach he was!

[jamru71]

I'm reading his biography ... a man with morals, a man, who won't back down from what he believes in.... A great man that was shafted , a man who gave them priemerships...consecutive... a man that was shafted,.... morals he lived by ....oh the shame! the shame!......

[MsCelestialDemon]

I'm Melbourne through and through too Mr. Smith, now watch over our demons and bring them back to the glory you once had us at!! =)

[nphanlon1973]

i'm collingwood but i respect a bloke for saying "I'm Melbourne,through and through".how many players or coaches say that now.SFA.

[MsCelestialDemon]

"I'm Melbourne... I'm Melbourne through and through, what a legend!!

[kilgourkid]

The greatest coach of all time,and a great honorable man,shame MFC,shame

[mistersmith6000]

Who was the interviewer?

[Jezza46]

@mistersmith6000 Tony Charlton was the one interviewing Norm Smith on the Tony Charlton Football Show on GTV-9.

[demonsbutterfly]

The Great Man Speaks....The Demon will Rise again.

Jim Stynes has the same type of passion...when Jim Speaks, things get done...

The Red Fox what a read...

[Supermercado]

Agreed, Red Fox is an incredible biography.

[treeintervention]

i hope things work out well 4 jim stynes he seems like a real good bloke,but the only chance melbourne have got of winning a flag is 4 norm smith to pull the skies off and get the boots back on...rip!

[yehyeh443]

ptiy barassi didnt have that loyalty?

[Supermercado]

Given that Smith offered to step aside for Barassi, who refused because he didn't want to kick his mentor out, I'm not sure how that works.

[denidowi]

@yehyeh443 Barassi was young and had a life to live and a game to play ... to a degree, Smith had basically already done it all

[MrNoahDeer]

@yehyeh443 actually norm smith left melbourn to coach fitzroy before returning, barrassi was said to have the same plan, he just had to wait for smith to leave his job. but then this whole thing with the commitee blew up.... so it's not clear cut to simply say that barrassi didn't have the same loyalty...

[yehyeh443]

i swear to god he left a curse on the demons for not unifying in support of him. I like this guy's morals

[denidowi]

@yehyeh443 Yes: Probably what made him the Greatest coach in league history ... I doubt we'll ever see another.

[auntyjack75]

He will always be remembered not only as a great coach, but as an Inspiration to many a footballer...just ask Barassi

[auntyjack75]

What a great man he was

[johnwren08]

I agree, it's a great book, one of the best. You must love it too REDFOX to give yourself that username! Norm Smith was one hard-hitting son of a gun. Wonder how the Generation Y wimps of today would handle his coaching methods.

[THEREDFOX2008]

A superb biography on Norm Smith was published this year and included a fascinating chapter on the real story behind Smith's sacking. All the major figures were interviewed, including players who were alleged to have knifed old Norm. Real cloak and dagger stuff intriguing to say the least. The book was published by The Slattery Media Group and received rave reviews. Some have said it's the best footy book ever written.

[jaidee76]

Melbourne F.C have been cursed since that day. Never been the same club since...

[purebloodprincess84]

Yes very badly, no premierships since...and the grandfinals we did get to were Hawthorn and Essendon...gee they went well....Come on Normy lift the curse!!!!

[SheDemon84]

After everything all he could say was "Im Melbourne, Im Melbourne through and through" if only our supporters were more inclined this way... and no wonder we are cursed! Such treatment of a legend! But I agree with princess, come on Norm, the real Dee's didnt want it to happen and are disgusted...PLEASE stop the curse!

[denidowi]

@purebloodprincess84 Yes; Absolute Football drownings or 'bloodbaths', you might figuratively call them.

[denidowi]

@jaidee76 NO! ... and it's a terrible pity, because it looks like the gods have cursed us indefinitely since ... None of us can know all the specifics of course, but obviously, things went terribly wrong somewhere. I mean, fancy not supporting a coach who was as loyal as he, and who had won a premiership every 2nd year at the club - with 8 straight Wins on the board!!! Just pure Idiocy!

[lawlers69]

The committee members didn't even have the guts to tell him face 2 face sent around a letter

Well every grand final people hear your name and cheer

Committee members from that year would anybody remember their names

A champion medal dedicated to a champion person and mentor

[rambambambalam]

Great Man - Great Shame!!!

[jackdyer17]

New username same message" Great Man - Great Shame!!!

[newellgirl]

Melbourne never recovered after that decision..countries directions are based constitutions (decisions) written 100 yrs ago..football clubs can be affected by leaders in a similar fashion...this was a generational decision that tore the heart and soul of a club that was once, one of the greatest football clubs in the afl...

[preposterouscarrot]

curse of the Norm is right tragic failure to match this kind of success ever since probably caused his premature death

[Cheborneck]

Yep. I agree totally

[denidowi]

@preposterouscarrot Yes; isn't it amazing how all the 'also-rans' just Drown the tall Poppy - never to be again.

[Cheborneck]

The first time I have ever seen that footage & I was "gutted" for the great man, Norm Smith. His face told the story about how he felt & his words......

I am Melbourne.... I am Melbourne through & through are indicative of all I ever heard about him. God bless you Norm. If only our club had a leader like you now!! Go Demons!!!

[demonsbutterfly]

The Melbourne Football Club has been cursed ever since that day. I truly believe that

[denidowi]

@demonsbutterfly Apparently. I guess it will be interesting in the Big Sky [Judgment] when all the books are opened and every secret act revealed

[preposterouscarrot]

It was like the end to Robbie Flower's playing career in 1987, moments from playing his very last game in a Grand Final. Flower was the greatest footballer ever to draw breath.

[calabreseboy]

curse of the norm...

[BootPatrol]

What the Demons brain trust did to Norm Smith was a disgrace.

[denidowi]

@BootPatrol Who was on that "Brains Trust"??

[Grandoldflag]

One of the worst days in a once proud and successful club. We have never been the same since.

[denidowi]

@Grandoldflag That sacking has been about as significant to Melbourne's history ever after as the 1970 Grand Final was to the switch to the modern game.

Virtually Permanent!!