It's hard to imagine a time before the salary cap penalties brought us to out knees. Back when we still had our swagger, big Jack scoffing at battler teams like the Bulldogs and St Kilda, with us being loathed more than being pitied or laughed at. Back when Kouta was the pinup boy of the competition, when Lance was kicking 4-5 goals a match, Sammy Hamill was an up and coming star, and blokes like Darren Hulme, Scott Freeborn and Trent Hotton full of confidence and taking on the best in the comp.

The main thing I remember 2000 for was our great run of wins, and with an unstoppable midfield that included Allan, Rats, Campo, Braddles, Kouta and Brown, all at the peak of their powers. I seem to remember most vividly the peeing of pants that would occur every week from scum supporters as we went win for win with them, lurking in the shadows ready to ruin yet another "perfect" season for them. After yet another massive Carlton win, the talkback lines would often be flooded with scum supporters "But surely they can't beat us right?? Please say no"

How we would've loved nothing more after the rapture of 99 to rub more salt into the wounds of the red and black pricks, by perhaps trumping their own "greatest team ever" at the end once again only on a bigger stage.

But alas, it wasn't to be. True to how the script mostly works, the football gods favoured the scum, and when the talk had finally stopped and the two teams finally faced one another down, it all went to hell and we never recovered. Kouta and Bradley, out of the game within 5 minutes. Kouta gone for the rest of the year. The momentum shifted, and by the time the finals came around we were hobbling badly, a loss to the Demons the biggest demonstration of this. By the time we could finally have our prelim "rematch" with the scum, the team was a shell of its earlier greatness and the spark was all but gone. Kouta didn't played again that year, and Braddles finished on one leg, and Sos's season ended the week before. 2000, a lost opportunity, especially when you consider the barren times that would soon follow.

Anyway, I just felt nostalgic and felt like sharing my thoughts on that bittersweet time. Does anyone else feel that had Kouta stayed fit and our momentum continued, that we could've gone all the way that year?

Yes mate....that was the last "good" side we had.....but it was not a great side.

We had a mix of class players getting on a bit; ....some promising players; and some "bit" players who just weren't up to winning a Flag.

if there has ever been a more anticipated H&A game than that one, I would like to know what it was. (even if the Blues had lost the week before, ending a 13 game (?) streak), and of course biggest ever crowd for an H&A game involving the Blues

We didn't lose to either Grand Finalist in 2001, so that was a pretty good side.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

Indeed. I was working at the G at the time as a red-coat (unfortunately I was based amongst the scum supporters that night), and it was one of the few times I was ever put on ground duty at the end of the game. So I had to walk onto the ground in front of 90,000 people while the game was going on. One of the scariest experiences of my life.

Yep, we were just as good in 2001 I reckon.. Then September 11 happened and we were shell shocked...

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Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you are wise you'll listen to me

Exploits of Koutoufides camouflaged a great deal of that side's deficiencies. Worth noting after he hurt his knee we basically fell away for the remainder of the season. We had got to 15-3 but went onto finish at 16-6 then lost to Melb in Qual Final (admittedly minus Bradley & Koutoufides), pumped Bris at G then easily accounted for by Ess.
Ratten had a big year that season and Camporeale was at his peak. Whitnall's 70 goal season was ably assisted by Hamill's 42 but really Koutoufides carried that side on his back especially during the 13 game winning streak.

Geez 70 goals and all Australian for Lance... Gee the team wasnt great, but it was a good side.

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Chris Judd: 'I've since watched some Steven Seagal movies and realise pressure points are no laughing matter.'

I think it was a great side that without the loss of Kouta would have taken it out in almost any other year. Essendon* were the strongest side of the last decade.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

The 2000 season was a real suprise for me as i consider we were pretty ordinary for large parts of 99 and lucky to reach the GF (despite that famous Prelim).I thought it would see us drop down the ladder even with some established stars.However there were many times during the season when i was really convinced we could win it,especially after some great home ground wins.After the massive win against Coll at home in the "last suburban battle"we celebrated at the Rising Sun in Lygon st just near the ground and met a girl (blues fan btw) who i went out with at school and hadnt seen for 14 years.We are now married.It was great to go each week knowing we should win,something i will not take for granted again.The injuries killed us but the roles reversed with Ess after 93 and i think they would have been very nervous playing us in the Grand Final.

I think we had Essendon* covered if Kouta stayed fit.
In that H&A game, it took Essendon* till the last 10min to win the game despite us losing Kouta Bradley and ?Hulme early.

It would have been delicious to beat them in the 2000 GF but it wasnt to be

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T E A M

I remember the Herald Sun did a huge build up to it throughout the week and were calling it the 'Main Event'. We were screwed by goldspink the weel before against the Dogs , he made two crucial errors in the last minute to kill us.

We didnt just lose Braddles and Kouta as well in that game , I believe Hicky (who had had a stellar season) didnt take his place and Ang Christou who had slowly been regaining form down back also missed. Rice was injured during the game as well from memory which left us one on the bench. We fought hard but two terrible errors in defense early in the last gifted the Bummers goals and the game was gone , as was our season.

I honestly believe we had the premiership that year. During our 13 win sequence our winning margins were nearly double that of the unbeaten Bummers. The loss of Kouta hurt but perhaps the final nail in the coffin was when SOS ripped his hammy from the bone in the last quarter on the 1st semi against the Lions. Our injury hit side was easily pushed aside by the Bummers after that.

And what's more, it was the belting we gave the Lions in 01 which steeled them to play harder and spurred them on to the heights that they hit that year, and possibly beyond

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Geez, is that you Denis?






Was at that finals match against the Dees.


3 goals up at 3/4 time, looking home.

Hammil didn't come back on after 3/4 time (last time he played for the Blues). Start of our downward spiral, Lance was lost without him. Took the money and ran, suck shit Saints, you got a dud!


Brad Green tore us a new one in that last 1/4.



I'm still pissed off with Hammil. No-one leaves the Blues and prospers.

We would off given the Bummers a run for their money in the Gf, regardless of our injuries-they would of crapped themselves if they had to play us.

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I see you watching me watching you.

Hamill actually kicked 7 goals the very next week for us against the Lions and also played the prelim final the week after , in which he put in a real shocker and enraged Elliot at the time. Whitnall had been carrying a bad shoulder for the last few weeks and could hardly lift it against the Bummers. The side were really relying on a big game from Sammy but he delivered one of his worst.

We were never really the same without him the next year and struggled to put two wins in a row on the board for the majority of that season. We lost Sos' 300th and then again to Bichmond in the finals. We beat the Bummers twice only to lose to the Crows in both subsequent weeks. Our season became one of extreme inconsistency without Hamill.

Hellas Blue

i stand to be corrected... but i thought that was the prelim.


Can someone confirm either way?

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I see you watching me watching you.

Sorry Hellas,
you were right

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I see you watching me watching you.

In our last game against Collingwood at Princes Park Matt Allan injured his medial ligament. He did return just before the finals however never regained his previous top form. This injury hurt us badly IMO.

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There is no footy god

Our last great side was 1995, no if, but or maybe.
2000 was good for awhile, but the injuries got us.
Even so, the word "great' shouldn't be used too freely IMHO.