I was at Western Oval Western side of the ground watching perhaps the most exciting day of footy I can recall. It was 25 years ago in 1987. Today just for nostalgia and because today was not unlike the same conditions weather wise I delved into the past and in glorious sunshine out in the back room have just revisited this game. Replayed with Tim Lane of channel two calling the shots in that iconoclastic, imbued football show of yesteryear "The Winners" resonated and replayed some magic moments from that fantastic year.

Would love to hear from others who were or were not there some thoughts on this red letter gala Demon day of Delight!

Enjoy the nostalgia PF but for myself I no longer give a flyer about '87. I want some real success real soon!

I was at Western Oval Western side of the ground watching perhaps the most exciting day of footy I can recall. It was 25 years ago in 1987. Today just for nostalgia and because today was not unlike the same conditions weather wise I delved into the past and in glorious sunshine out in the back room have just revisited this game. Replayed with Tim Lane of channel two calling the shots in that iconoclastic, imbued football show of yesteryear "The Winners" resonated and replayed some magic moments from that fantastic year.

Would love to hear from others who were or were not there some thoughts on this red letter gala Demon day of Delight!

I think from memory PF, I was over near the members side flank, city end... A bit vague tho.

I remember chatting to Sammy Alica. Was that the game Gazza broke his leg.

WYL, would you have a copy of this game?

I think from memory PF, I was over near the members side flank, city end... A bit vague tho.

I remember chatting to Sammy Alica. Was that the game Gazza broke his leg.

Yep.

I was up the other end of the ground in the outer at the Northern end, my son and I ran back to the car after the game to listen to the radio.

WYL, would you have a copy of this game?

I have The Winners programe somewhere at home.

Most of the second half.

I was on the city wing.

I have memories of Dougie Hawkins ,Our Midfield coach ,Steve Wallis ,Peter Foster .

For us I remember Newport ,Robbie ,Yeats ,CC and possibly Tony Campbell playing.

Lots of people listening to trannies.(Radios that is).

I have The Winners programe somewhere at home.

Most of the second half.

Ah, is that a replay, or footy show? I can't remember it right now, 'the winners'.

I was on the city wing.

I have memories of Dougie Hawkins ,Our Midfield coach ,Steve Wallis ,Peter Foster .

For us I remember Newport ,Robbie ,Yeats ,CC and possibly Tony Campbell playing.

Lots of people listening to trannies.(Radios that is).

I wondered if you went to the SCG for a minute.

. Was that the game Gazza broke his leg.

Gaz was only very early in his career and I remember thinking that he could be replaced. In retrospect he could have been the difference

Also Tim Lane after either the North or Swans match asking "who's going to stop the Dees" Unfortunately we found out, but it was a wonderful, beautiful, exhilarating time to be a Melbourne supporter. Those few weeks are why I am still passionate today. Sad but true

I was there between the FP and HFF on the Hawkins wing, at the end we were kicking to in the last. I was 17 at the time and should have been studying for my Year 12 exams which were about 7 or 8 weeks away at the time! It was absolute magic! The train ride home from Footscray was sublime. I remember chatting with a Fitzroy supporter on the way home (they had just been beaten narrowly by the Swans) and he was so pumped for us! The whole day was magic, as were the next couple of weeks. Without doubt my best experience as a Demons fan.

Gaz was only very early in his career and I remember thinking that he could be replaced. In retrospect he could have been the difference

Also Tim Lane after either the North or Swans match asking "who's going to stop the Dees" Unfortunately we found out, but it was a wonderful, beautiful, exhilarating time to be a Melbourne supporter. Those few weeks are why I am still passionate today. Sad but true

Yep, same here. Exhilarating.

Round 22 1987

Round 22, 1987

Footscray vs Melbourne

Saturday, 29 August

Venue: Western Oval

Attendance: 31,249

Match Statistics

Melbourne win by 15 points

Goalkickers: Robert Flower 3, Warren Dean 2, Brian Wilson 2, Ricky Jackson 1, Garry Lyon 1, Steven Stretch 1, Jim Stynes 1, David Williams 1

Brownlow Votes:

3 - Sean Wight

2 - Warren Dean

Milestones

Last MFC Game

Steve Turner

A famous day, the day that broke a 23 year run out outs and failures to see the Demons, and Robert Flower finally qualifying for a final series.

The equation was simple. Beat Footscray at the Western Oval and have Hawthorn (16-5) beat Geelong (11-10) at Kardinia Park. It was a scenario eerily reminscent of Round 22, 1976 when the Demons had done their bit by beating Collingwood only to see top five contenders Footscray steal a draw against minor premiers Carlton to leapfrog into 5th.

The Demons had often promised in the eleven seasons since then, but through five coaches and hundreds of players they'd more often been down - or at - the bottom of the ladder. Flower had to be talked out of retiring at the end of 1986, and now his chances of playing finals football rested on a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon in the western suburbs - and what happened in Geelong.

Team Manager John Sell told the players at three-quarter time that the Hawks were thumping Geelong. The coaching staff wanted them to concentrate on doing their bit and letting the game at Kardinia Park play out.

Fittingly it was Flower who turned the game for the Demons. They had been 24 points behind early in the third quarter and it seemed that their brave late season run was going to end with a whimper. Two goals during the comeback, and a steadying presence in the dramatic final term were everything you could ask a champion for in what would otherwise have been his final match - especially considering he'd only had two kicks in the first half.

The commotion after the game was unbelievable. Fans who hadn't even been born in 1964 and those who distantly remembered the glory era of the 1950's shared in the celebration. Hundreds invaded the field at the final siren, and some even tried to hoist Robbie onto their shoulders.

The problem was that the game in Geelong hadn't finished yet, and while Geelong had thrown a nine point lead away to trail by three they were still just one straight kick from another 1976-esque heartbreaker for the Demons. As the players hit the change rooms, though, the siren went at Kardinia Park and it was confirmed - they were in. For the second time that day the players erupted.

The story from Geelong made it all the more remarkable. At the 23 minute mark of the last quarter the Cats held a 23-point lead and it seemed inevitable that they would jump both the sides at the Western Oval and finish 5th. Hawthorn stormed back in time-on but a Barry Stoneham goal with no more than a couple of minutes seemed to make it safe. Local radio commentators even declared "the Cats are in the finals" much to the distress of the fans huddled around their radios at the Western Oval.

The Hawks goalled again though, and with 60 seconds left the ball flew into their forward line and somehow evaded the pack waiting for it and landed in the arms of Hawk spearhead Jason Dunstall. He converted his fourth goal of the last quarter to put the Hawks in front and Melbourne into the 5th again.

Wight, Dean and Newport were the best for Melbourne but they lost exciting youngster Garry Lyon with a broken leg. Lyon's reaction on the stretcher would later come back to haunt him during his hosting of The Footy Show. Brian Wilson suffered an injured ankle which kept him out, and Flower a broken finger which required pain-killing injections and a great deal of subterfuge to get him to the line the next Saturday. Steve Turner strained knee ligaments and also missed the finals.

Earl Spalding and Dean Chiron were both reported for striking. Chiron was suspended and missed the first week of the finals while Spalding was cleared.

Reserves

Footscray 18.13.121 d. Melbourne 10.10.70

Goals - Eishold 3, Richards 2, Lamb 2, Kol 1, Campbell 1, Lovett 1,

Best - Allardice, Lovett, Eishold

Under 19's

Melbourne 19.10.124 defeated Footscray 12.9.81

Goals - Lane 3, M. Stillman 3, Graham 2, Healy 2, Partington 2, Smith 2, Gazeas 2, Hanlon 2, Minchington 1

Best - Smit, Clarkson, Hawkins

Edited September 2, 201212 yr by picket fence

Great retro summary.

Was Adrian Battiston playing that day?

No and don't forget Peter Moore was still around I think at this time but I reckon he too was on long term injury list!

Gee had almost forgotten. Behind the goals at the fscray end

I recall listening to the geelong call must have been on someone else's radio but may have even been over the loudspeakers

we all just stood around not really believing it would happen but the cheer when hawks won was fantastic as it was filled with relief and promise.

Funny I can remember Robbie kicking a couple over our heads and if asked would have thought he played his usual blinder for us. again the mists of history cloud the reality

Ahhh the joy of having all the games being played at the same time. The Premier League do it for the last round and I think it is a great way to build excitement.

I was behind the northern goals with my brother and dear departed mother. When we won we all started leaping around like idiots. My poor mum went over on her ankle and managed to fracture it. The Western Oval is not a great place to try to get an over excited 57 year old out of with a broken ankle.

As a footnote (no pun intended) I was married a month later and the sight of her hobbling into the service on crutches still brings a smile to my face. Purely from the perspective of knowing how it had happened.

Go Deess