FIFTY YEARS AGO

[ihatesnakes 22]

On Saturday, 1 August, 1964, the MCG hosted 33,212 fans for what was billed as a danger game for the Demons as they faced the Saints which were the last side to beat them - back in round four. Melbourne did the job comfortably in a low scoring encounter and despite failing to score in the last half hour.Melbourne 3.5.23 6.5.41 8.7.55 8.7.55

St. Kilda 0.0.0 2.2.14 3.3.21 5.7.37

Goals Barry Bourke 3 Graeme Jacobs Hassa Mann 2 Ron Barassi

Melbourne held St. Kilda scoreless in the opening quarter and led by 23 points at the first break. It stretched the margin to almost six goals by three quarter time and, despite being well held at the end conceded only two goals, to still record a comfortable victory. Defender Brian "Doc" Roet sustained a calf injury.

Height/weight of Barry Bourke?

I had always thought of him as a sort of decoy FF, but reading these posts it seems as though he was too good to be called a decoy!

[Whispering_Jack 29,753]

The Melbourne juggernaut was stopped in its tracks in front of 70,385 fans on Saturday 8th August, 1964 when the team lost to Essendon by two points in an thrilling game at the MCG. The a Demons led all day but were held goalless in an absorbing final term.

Melbourne 2.2.14 5.5.35 7.6.48 7.6.48

Essendon 1.2.8 2.5.17 5.9.39 6.14.50

THE TEAM

B: Neil Crompton Bernie Massey Bob "Tassie" Johnson

HB: Tony Anderson Don Williams Brian Leahy

C: Brian Dixon "Hassa" Mann Graeme Watson

HF: Bryan Kenneally Ray Groom Barrie Vagg

F: Graeme Jacobs Barry Bourke Frank "Bluey" Adams

FOLL: Graham Wise Ron Barassi John Townsend

19/20: Ken Emselle Peter McLean

Goals Graeme Jacobs, Hassa Mann 3, Graeme Watson

Best "Hassa" Mann Brian Dixon Frank "Bluey" Adams Don Williams Ron Barassi Graeme Jacobs

Melbourne coasted through the first half and appeared on top in all departments and when Hassa Mann goaled twice early in the third quarter, the game seemed over with the Demons holding a 31 point lead. However, they stopped dead in their tracks from that point onwards, allowing the Bombers to score three goals into a strengthening wind and draw to within 11 points at the last break. That wind turned into a swirling gale at the end and Essendon did all the attacking to score an upset victory.

It was an unhappy finish to the match for skipper Ron Barassi in his milestone 200th game. Little did we know that he would play only four more for the club.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,686]

So, for two weeks in a row Melbourne didn't score at all in the last quarter. Thanks goodness Demonland didn't exist in 1964. Can you imagine the angst?

[CHAMP 347]

Height/weight of Barry Bourke?

I had always thought of him as a sort of decoy FF, but reading these posts it seems as though he was too good to be called a decoy!

Bourke was 179/77 same as Alan Rowarth. Athol Webb was 180/80.

[bush demon 2,035]

Bourke was 179/77 same as Alan Rowarth. Athol Webb was 180/80.

Bourke had a great spring and could take a high mark.

[KLV 1,765]

Melbourne had a fair afternoon on this day 27 June, fifty years ago.

The Demons beat the Tigers decisively in all three grades and came away with a 113 point win in the senior game at the MCG before a crowd of 27,614 Melbourne 4.5.29 11.13.79 16.16.112 23.18.156

Richmond 0.2.2 3.4 .22 5.7.37 6.7.43

Goals Barassi Jacobs Townsend 4 Emselle 3 Bourke Kenneally 2 "Tas" Johnson Mann Vagg Wise

The winning margin was the biggest of Norm Smith's coaching career and to make it sweeter, the hapless Tigers were coached by his brother Len. Demon captain and Norm Smith protégé Ron Barassi was having a stellar season and was easily best on ground with his inspirational play and four goals.

The win saw Melbourne take second place on the ladder after ten rounds.

4 days and 50 years ago from this superb win, I was born.

A demon supporter ever since, but only from 10 or 11 years of age, once my dad had stopped playing amateurs and we started going regularly to games, do I remember the interest and passion emerging.

And by that time we were a struggling team. So, I'm not quite old enough to remember the glory days. Really enjoying reading your contributions WJ of a season, the nature of which is completely unfamiliar to me!

[Whispering_Jack 29,753]

4 days and 50 years ago from this superb win, I was born.

A demon supporter ever since, but only from 10 or 11 years of age, once my dad had stopped playing amateurs and we started going regularly to games, do I remember the interest and passion emerging.

And by that time we were a struggling team. So, I'm not quite old enough to remember the glory days. Really enjoying reading your contributions WJ of a season, the nature of which is completely unfamiliar to me!

Thanks demondame. The thing that always comes back to me whenever I think about that period was the feeling of invincibility. By that I mean, every Saturday no matter who we were playing against, I would wake up in the morning knowing that we were going to win that day and I was almost always right.

[Whispering_Jack 29,753]

One of the pivotal games of the 1964 season was Melbourne's clash against Hawthorn which took place at Glenferrie Oval on Saturday, 15th August. The Demons needed victory to assure them of the coveted double chance in the finals while, for the Hawks who were undefeated for the year on their narrow home ground, the win was necessary to keep their season alive.

Things were close in the first half but the home side drew away in the third term setting up one of the most exciting finishes for the year in front of 20,000 fans crammed into the Hawthorn ground. Melbourne emerged from the game with a famous victory that saved his club its place in the finals and was ultimately the springboard for its twelfth premiership.

Melbourne 2.3.15 6.8.44 6.10.46 10.13.73

Hawthorn 3.2.20 6.3.39 9.8.62 10.9.69

THE TEAM

B: Neil Crompton Bernie Massey Brian Leahy

HB: Tony Anderson Don Williams Frank Davis

C: Brian Dixon "Hassa" Mann Frank "Bluey" Adams

HF: Bryan Kenneally Peter McLean Barrie Vagg

F: Graeme Jacobs Barry Bourke Ken Emselle

FOLL: Graham Wise Ron Barassi John Townsend

19/20: Maurie Bartlett Graeme Watson

Goals Graeme Jacobs 3 Hassa Mann 2 Maurie Bartlett Barry Bourke Brian Dixon John Townsend Barrie Vagg

Best Neil Crompton Brian Dixon Frank "Bluey" Adams Frank Davis Don Williams "Hassa" Mann

Demon youngster Barry Bourke was destined to always remember his third game for the club. He kicked his first goal in league football during the game but it was team mate Hassa Mann's goal from the boundary late in proceedings that sealed the game and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for their team.

The game was played in heavy conditions and the visitors were in trouble at three quarter time when they were 16 points in arrears and had already lost defenders Tony Anderson and Brian Leahy through injury by half time.

Coach Norm Smith pulled off the winning move when he switched an unusually quiet Brian Dixon onto the opposite wing and he responded with 11 kicks in the final term. Mann's goal came with two minutes left on the clock leaving the Demons still on top with one game to go before the finals.

[daisycutter 29,600]

Ahh, maurie bartlett, the bricklayer's assistant with the body of a greek god

remember him well jack

[Bossdog 2,002]

Played footy with Maurie a few years after he left Melb.....Was the original "Gentle Giant"

I only saw him lose his temper once and thought he was going to kill this bloke

Had a beer with him a few weeks ago at a reunion....Great fella

[daisycutter 29,600]

Played footy with Maurie a few years after he left Melb.....Was the original "Gentle Giant"

I only saw him lose his temper once and thought he was going to kill this bloke

Had a beer with him a few weeks ago at a reunion....Great fella

me too bossdog

a wrecking ball on the field and as you say a gentle giant off the field

maurie only knew one direction on field....straight-ahead... and he didn't discriminate between friend or foe who happened to be in the way

[Whispering_Jack 29,753]

Bartlett was one of a number of players with promise who came along at that time in our history but who never kicked on to bigger and better things.

When Norm Smith and Ron Barassi were at their peak as coach and team leader, everything the club touched turned into gold. From the middle of 1965 with Barassi gone and Smith in dispute with the board, everything went south. Stan Alves was probably the exception to the rule.

[Deeoldfart 8,005]

Height/weight of Barry Bourke?

I had always thought of him as a sort of decoy FF, but reading these posts it seems as though he was too good to be called a decoy!

Barry continued the run of relatively small full forwards that we had around that time, but in my view he really came into his own when he moved into defense. He also played a few seasons as an on-baller / ruck rover type. IIRC, all of his representative games for the 'Big V' were as a back pocket player, where he excelled.

[Whispering_Jack 29,753]

With top spot and a place in the second semi final assured, the Demons travelled out to the Western Oval for the final home and away round on 22 August, 1964. Earlier in the season, they had easily disposed of the Bulldogs but to say that in the circumstances, the team took things somewhat casually this time, would be an understatement.

Melbourne 1.4.10 2.6.18 4.13.37 4.14.38

Footscray 3.0.18 6.1.37 7.1.43 12.6.78

Goals John Townsend 2 Rob Foster Graeme Jacobs

THE TEAM

B: Neil Crompton Bernie Massey Bob "Tassie" Johnson

HB: Peter McLean Don Williams Frank Davis

C: Brian Dixon "Hassa" Mann Frank "Bluey" Adams

HF: Bryan Kenneally Rob Foster Barrie Vagg

F: Graeme Jacobs Barry Bourke Ken Emselle

FOLL: Graham Wise Ron Barassi John Townsend

19/20: Jim Leitch Graeme Watson

Goals John Townsend 2 Brian Dixon Graeme Jacobs

Best Brian Dixon Graeme Jacobs John Townsend Frank "Bluey" Adams "Hassa" Mann Peter McLean

The Demons brought in tall forward Rob Foster who scored a goal on debut but otherwise, it was a dismal day in front of the 20,553 fans crammed into the ground.

From the outset, it was going to be a tough day in difficult conditions with the accurate Dogs leading the visitors who struggled to hit the target up forward. By the final break Melbourne had double the number of scoring shots but trailed by a goal. Footscray ran out the game with the aid of the breeze to win by 40 points against a team that clearly had its mind on other things.

[bush demon 2,035]

i think we had several players out injured or 'rested' for that game?

[gsmith12 491]

i think we had several players out injured or 'rested' for that game?

Rotten place to play footy or cricket for that matter because of strong gusty winds.

I played cricket at the western oval when the umps didn't contemplate using bails and wearing a hat was a waste of time.

Edited August 24, 2014 by gsmith12

[Deeoldfart 8,005]

Western Oval was the best place on the planet on the last Saturday in August 1987.

[gsmith12 491]

Western Oval was the best place on the planet on the last Saturday in August 1987.

Not for Garry Lyon but yeah, what a game and set of results.

[ijbfossil 77]

I was wearing my Melb jumper to school.

The other kids wore their Pies, Bombers, Blues, Lions etc. jumpers - no-one else followed Melb.

I was hated for it.

Everyone hated Melbourne - they were sick to death of them.

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

[gsmith12 491]

It certainly was beautiful, we Demons were accused of jumping on the bandwagon, untrue in my case as our family were tied to the club from around the time of WWI.

[Whispering_Jack 29,753]

Back in 1964 we were biding our time before the finals. School holidays were coming up and the Demons were lucky. They had the double chance and a week off.

[Deeoldfart 8,005]

It certainly was beautiful, we Demons were accused of jumping on the bandwagon, untrue in my case as our family were tied to the club from around the time of WWI.

I believe you gsmith. If we had jumped on the bandwagon in 1987, we would sure as hell have jumped off again by now!

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,777]

Rotten place to play footy or cricket for that matter because of strong gusty winds.

I played cricket at the western oval when the umps didn't contemplate using bails and wearing a hat was a waste of time.

Great pitch to bat on in the sixties,though.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,777]

One of the pivotal games of the 1964 season was Melbourne's clash against Hawthorn which took place at Glenferrie Oval on Saturday, 15th August. The Demons needed victory to assure them of the coveted double chance in the finals while, for the Hawks who were undefeated for the year on their narrow home ground, the win was necessary to keep their season alive.

Things were close in the first half but the home side drew away in the third term setting up one of the most exciting finishes for the year in front of 20,000 fans crammed into the Hawthorn ground. Melbourne emerged from the game with a famous victory that saved his club its place in the finals and was ultimately the springboard for its twelfth premiership.Melbourne 2.3.15 6.8.44 6.10.46 10.13.73

Hawthorn 3.2.20 6.3.39 9.8.62 10.9.69

Goals Graeme Jacobs 3 Hassa Mann 2 Maurie Bartlett Barry Bourke Brian Dixon John Townsend Barrie Vagg

Demon youngster Barry Bourke was destined to always remember his third game for the club. He kicked his first goal in league football during the game but it was team mate Hassa Mann's goal from the boundary late in proceedings that sealed the game and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for their team.

The game was played in heavy conditions and the visitors were in trouble at three quarter time when they were 16 points in arrears and had already lost defenders Tony Anderson and Brian Leahy through injury by half time.

Coach Norm Smith pulled off the winning move when he switched an unusually quiet Brian Dixon onto the opposite wing and he responded with 11 kicks in the final term. Mann's goal came with two minutes left on the clock leaving the Demons still on top with one game to go before the finals.

Jack ,I'm not sure you're exactly correct about our standing before that Hawthorn game. I can't find the ladder after round 16, but my memory is that we really needed to beat the Hawks at Glenferrie to stay in the four, or the last game at the Western Oval would become crucial. Neither Hawthorn nor Footscray were easy beats at that time.

Do you remember Graeme Jacobs had a sitter, 20 yds out directly in front with about 3 min to go, and missed. ?Our hearts sank, but then Hassa goaled with a snap from the boundary near the behind post.

Remember their ugly, violent,detestable,but effective full forward John Peck? We used to stand behind the goals and chant, rhythmically....."we hate Peck, we hate Peck,etc" Charming,eh?!

[El Gordo 13]

Being from SA originally, my memory of John Peck is from a state game on a very muddy Adelaide Oval in about 1963.

He went to ground in a heap with Brian Sawley who was a small half forward who played for Norwood.

When Peck went to get up Sawley,s boot got stuck in the leg of Peck's jockstrap. Big John turned around and layed Sawley out with a huge haymaker.

He got rubbed out for a few matches but I remember seeing vision of Ted Whitten complaining that Sawley had kicked Peck.

Was a huge story in Adelaide at the time.