150 YEARS ON - THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

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150 YEARS ON - THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS by the Demonland Crew

There have been very few highlights for the Melbourne Football Club as it celebrates its 150th year but last month's big anniversary bash to celebrate 150 Heroes of the MFC and attended by over 1,300 supporters at Crown Casino was certainly one of them.

The evening was universally considered by the attendees as one of the best football functions ever and a real tribute the hard work of outgoing President Paul Gardner. Here are some of the highlights taken from newspaper reports of the event – mostly from the Melbourne Age:

Paul Gardner:

"Welcome to the first and only 150th birthday party ever celebrated by a sporting organization anywhere In the world," was Gardner’s introduction pointing out that the Melbourne Football Club was older than Manchester United by 20 years, the New York Yankees by 43 years, Real Madrid by 44 years, and came into existence 24 years before the Ashes legend was born.

"In 1858, we'd never heard of Ned Kelly, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin... or Collingwood. They were called the good old days for some reason,"

Former captain Garry Lyon reminisced about his early recruiting trips with club recruiter (and now Fremantle CEO) Cameron Schwab:

"We'd take them out to the pub and get them as pissed as we possibly could. I've never been more sure of signing a bloke than when we signed Earl Spalding. He sat back and drank both Schwabby and I under the table. I looked across and said, 'I reckon we've got him, Schwabby'. That was my introduction."

Lyon also recalled a pre-season camp on the Mornington Peninsula when he was just 16 years of age. One night after a training session the senior players, including coach Ron Barassi, went to the pub 'and wreaked all sorts of havoc' but Lyon, was too young for such things and was therefore confined to his hut from 8.00pm.

Around about 3.30 next morning he was asleep when "this bloke with a bad case of Bundy-itis stumbled over three or four of us and climbed into bed with me. I panicked and 1 just rolled out on the floor. I woke up the next. day and looked and it was Ronald Dale Barassi. I'd not spoken to Barassi at this stage. He looked at me with that snarly look, and he said, You've seen nothing, son.' I said, Yes, right, Barassi."

Football operations manager Chris Connolly paid tribute to his former team mate Jim Stynes, the Brownlow medallist, four-time best and fairest and now MFC Chairman.

Connolly:

"He looked more like a goal stick than an AFL footballer. He could run like Forrest Gump and we found out he had a heart as big as the MCG. In 150 years of Australian, rules football, the Jim Stynes story is arguably " the greatest"

Robbie Flower (who got a standing ovation) said he was only 70 kilograms when he arrived at the club:"

They said, 'Go to the gym', and I said, The only Jim I know is my brother."

Flower also told of the drama associated with the now famous 1987 last-game finish, when Melbourne won at the Western Oval to reach the finals for the first time since 1964.

The Dees needed Hawthorn to beat Geelong, too, and, according to Flower, John Sell, the team manager, told the players a "little white lie" at three-quarter-time, that Hawthorn was smashing Geelong.

The Demons went on and won the game but, explained Flower:

"Little did we know that down at Geelong, Hawthorn needed (Jason) Dunstall to kick the last goal. As we were running off the ground, people were huddled around radios around the ground trying to get the scores. When the result came through, to me, that was definitely the greatest thrill I had in football,"

A couple of highlights in a night of highlights was the auction of famous player’s framed jumpers which raised a much needed almost $100,000.00, the video presentations and particularly an emotional retelling by champion Ron Barassi of his trip to his father’s war grave in North Africa and the unveiling of the club’s 150 Heroes. Here they are:

Jim Abernethy Frank Adams Bill Allen Stan Alves Syd Anderson Tony Anderson Lance Arnold Ron Baggott Gary Baker Harold Ball Ron Barassi (Jnr) Percy Beames John Beckwith George Bickford Ray Biffin Barry Bourke Harry Brereton Cameron Bruce Keith Carroll Geoff Case Albert Chadwick Noel Clarke Geoff Collins Jack Collins Chris Connolly Bob Corbett Denis Cordner Don Cordner Ted Cordner Vin Coutie Harry Coy Jimmy Davidson Frank Davis Ross Dillon Carl Ditterich Brian Dixon Len Dockett Adrian Dullard Hugh Dunbar Richard Emselle Fred Fanning Jeff Farmer Matthew Febey Steven Febey Dick Fenton-Smith Rowley Fischer Robert Flower Laurie Fowler Maurie Gibb Peter Giles Terry G.Gleeson Brad Green Rod Grinter George Haines Gary Hardeman Henry Harrison Gerard Healy Greg Healy Dick Hingston Paul Hopgood Danny Hughes Anthony Ingerson Eddie Jackson Alan Johnson Bob Johnson (Snr) Bob Johnson (Jnr) Bob 'Tassie' Johnson Trevor Johnson Travis Johnstone Gordon Jones Les Jones Bryan Kenneally Allan La Fontaine Clyde Laidlaw Frank Langley John Leith Andrew Leoncelli Charlie Lilley Wally Lock Harry Long John Lord Andy Lovell Brett Lovett Glenn Lovett Garry Lyon Hassa Mann George Margitich Peter Marquis Bernie Massey Anthony McDonald James McDonald Fred McGinis JP 'Shane' McGrath Bob McKenzie Col McLean Ian McLean Noel McMahen Ken Melville Laurie Mithen Peter Moore Jack Mueller David Neitz Stephen Newport Jack O'Keefe Andrew Obst Gordon Ogden Greg Parke AM 'Joe' Pearce Jack Purse Ian Ridley Guy Rigoni Frank Roberts Russell Robertson Alby Rodda Brian 'Doc' Roet Peter Rohde Alan Rowarth David Schwarz Norm Smith Steven Smith Earl Spalding Stuart Spencer Charlie Streeter Steven Stretch Jim Stynes Tony Sullivan Dick Taylor Ted Thomas Ian Thorogood Stephen Tingay John Townsend Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Geoff Tunbridge Bill Tymms Barrie Vagg Frank 'Pop' Vine Todd Viney Ivor Warne-Smith Ray Wartman Athol Webb Greg Wells Jeff White Sean Wight Don Williams Brian Wilson Stan Wittman Shane Woewodin Graeme Yeats Charlie Young Adem Yze.

The 150 Heroes Night cost supporters up to $500.00 to attend but the real anniversary is today and there's a party to celebrate it tomorrow nightwhich might be a little more affordable. You too can attend this birthday bash as below (although we doubt whether it's an official club function):