I’ve been on this site for just under 25 years and I am far from the elder statesman here. In fact, might not even make the top 10 and there are a lot of other forumites that have come on since and contributed a lot over many many years.
Though the activity level fluctuates over the years and it’s easy to point fingers at various personalities/posting habits etc the real killer is and always has been the onfield performance of the club…
And for a long time now, it’s been a killer.
From my earliest recollections from the 92’ish to around 2010… whilst there were ups and downs, we gave it a really good shake pretty regularly.
Many think we could have pinched a flag in 91-92 with a bit of luck. The wheels fell off at the last second in 97, 98 we had the best list with a bad culture.
04-06 was a super exciting period with arguably our greatest ever list and 08-11 was about as close as you can get without getting it done.
And then, for the last 15 years… it’s been misery. Mediocre lists, blundered first round picks, teams plagued by poor disposal and goal kicking… players getting hit with little remonstration… frequent BS tribunal calls, injuries +++.
The most notable highlights in all reality were the 70 point comeback v the WB and the final win in 2020 also against the dogs. That’s really it.
But like me… so many of you guys are still standing. Week after week, we watch the games, post about them, armchair quarter back it until it all sounds so easy. Many of us are long standing members, many have connections to the club, post news etc
We really are the absolute diehards. Frustrated as we get… our passion and desire is unshackable.
To everyone here that reads this… seasoned vet or newer on the scene… here’s a little
Kudos to the survivors… or perhaps, the unshackables