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1960 Grand Final

PacificGhost
PacificGhost
in Melbourne Demons

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Hi All,

I'm currently searching for information, photos and memorabilia of the 1960 Premiership side as I am trying to compile a history of my distant cousins' playing careers (Brian, Terry and John Leahy) - Brian was a reserve for the 1960 Grand Final.

Does anyone have a copy (or scan) of the 1960 Premiership Team photo?

Any chance of getting signed team memorabilia these days?

Is there any way I can obtain a copy of the game on VHS or DVD? (It doesn't seem to have been released officially from what I can see).

Feel free to PM me or E-Mail me directly at [email protected]

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    Hi All,

    I'm currently searching for information, photos and memorabilia of the 1960 Premiership side as I am trying to compile a history of my distant cousins' playing careers (Brian, Terry and John Leahy) - Brian was a reserve for the 1960 Grand Final.

    Does anyone have a copy (or scan) of the 1960 Premiership Team photo?

    Any chance of getting signed team memorabilia these days?

    Is there any way I can obtain a copy of the game on VHS or DVD? (It doesn't seem to have been released officially from what I can see).

    Feel free to PM me or E-Mail me directly at [email protected]

    I remember your cousins playing with the Dees (well Wrecker and Terry anyway. John only played two senior games).

    I have a bit of stuff that may interest you, including a small b & w photo of the 1960 premiership team and a photo of Terry in 1966, his first year with the Dees and the year he won the Bluey. I'll email you with details, and you can tell me what you want.

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    I have seen some footage of the 1960 Flag on YouTube, so check that out if you have not already, Cheers

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    I'm pretty sure that very little film of that muddy Grand Final(where Collingwood only scored TWO GOALS) exists.

    Graeme Smith, on Demonology has some ABC audio of Grand Finals. I'm not sure if he has 1960...I think he does.

    Do I correctly remember that "Wrecker"(Brian) was publican at that Pub on Punt Rd just before StKilda Junction until quite recently?

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    I have audio of the 1960 ABC Grand Final commentary, which I passed on to Graham Smith over a year ago. This came through ABC ARchives, Sydney about nine years ago. One cassette cost me $70!

    The first and last quarters of the game are also available on video: Red and Blue: History of MFC. It is about the only reasonable grand final video preserved of Melbourne in its glory era. Unfortunately the game was wrecked by the sodden MCG. Most of the action consists of players kicking the ball along the ground through puddles. It is worth watching though. Highlights: A beautiful pick-up on the run by Tunbridge, Len Mann's ruckwork (like Keating for Brisbane a couple of years ago. Also, Barassi marking, and missing a direct shot just before the siren. On the audio, the most fascinating part was at the end when the captains were interviewed. Barassi said to the ABC commentator that he was 'going through a flat spot' and was too down to answer the guy's questions!

    Postscript: I spoke to Len Mann at the Fed. Square 150th celebrations last year and he was also very interested in getting hold of this footage for his own memories!

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    • Author

    Cheers for all the replies guys!

    I have a bit of stuff that may interest you, including a small b & w photo of the 1960 premiership team and a photo of Terry in 1966, his first year with the Dees and the year he won the Bluey. I'll email you with details, and you can tell me what you want.

    I'd love to see most (if not all) of this stuff, feel free to E-Mail me when you get a chance.

    1960 Grand Final, Melbourne v Collingwood - 4 Minutes To Go....Youtube. The Footage awaits.

    I should have mentioned this in my first post, but saw this the other day. Cheers for the heads up though.

    The first and last quarters of the game are also available on video: Red and Blue: History of MFC.

    I'll have to try getting a copy of this - Would be very interesting to watch!

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    • Author
    Do I correctly remember that "Wrecker"(Brian) was publican at that Pub on Punt Rd just before StKilda Junction until quite recently?

    I'm not quite sure, however, he was a publican in the Albury-Wodonga region for a while, though apparently returned to Melbourne for a bit after this. Brian passed away in Wodonga in January 2004.

    From what I can see, John passed away in 1980; and I can find nothing further on Terry (though have just been told he may have later coached out in country NSW).

    I've also just spoken with some older members of the family who remember the Leahy boys bringing Hassa Mann, Brian Dixon and other members of the Melbourne Football Club back to the family farm (at Howlong, NSW) to go fishing and duck shooting back in the 60s. I'd love to find out the truth behind all this, as well as any photos (if they were taken).

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    I remember reading up on this game a while back, not sure if it was from Red Fox (Smith biog.) or from a friend's scrapbook. In some ways, this was MFC's high watermark. Even though we continued to be finalists, 61, 62 and 63 seem to be etched as failures. In '60 we finished a clear first on the ladder with a high percentage. In the much-touted second-semi we obliterated the highly rated Fitzroy (coached by Norm's brother Len) and then ran over Collingwood in the Grand. Not since this time (imo we 'fell in' in '64) have we dominated a finals' series.

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    Weird that we were 14-1 before losing our last 3 of that season, then dominated the finals.

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