Earliest surviving VFL footage

[daisycutter 28,681]

Good get Daisy.

i think also smithy, that the place kick had "effectively" died out about 20 years before this occasion. i seem to remember reading ongarello's place kick caused a bit of controversy in 1955.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

I noticed very few women in the crowd. Maybe they were up in the stands. Maybe they weren't there at all.

On reflection: I blame it on the baggy shorts.

Edited November 19, 2014 by Elusive Tunbridge

[Moonshadow 16,385]

Distinct lack of painted grass or LED fence advertising, trashy loud music that prevents conversation with those nearby and betting odds screaming at the crowd from the scoreboard. And yet the packed crowd was having a lot of fun. Bet you the food and beer didn't require a bank loan either.

FMD the AFL sure know how to spoil things these days.

Edited November 19, 2014 by Moonshadow

[bush demon 1,910]

Not sure there is any footage of old games kept. They've been kind enought to let me into their archives as part of my research for Demonwiki and it's basically pictures/books/programs/memorabilia etc.. I've never seen any rogue VHS' or film reels in there (unless they're well hidden).

They must get this stuff from somewhere for tribute videos and the like but I suspect it has to come from the broadcaster or the AFL rather than our own collection.

What they could do is make a playlist out of all the MFC games other people have uploaded and embed it on the website. There are heaps of clips of anywhere between two minutes and entire matches that have been uploaded in various places across YouTube.

Long been a gripe of mine. Our last premiership coincided with the last year of ritually wiping the football videos of grand finals. Ironically our best early footage is a black and white TV commentary of the last ten minutes of the '58 grand final, when we fell over. I once rang Col Hutchison and he told me that an (unnamed) TV executive at an (unamed) station had wiped several grand finals, including ours in spite, after that station losing the TV rights coverage.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,049]

On that subject, when did the place kick disappear ?

I have a hazy recollection of seeing it employed in the Ballarat FL in the early fifties.

Bizarrely enough, I remember Dermott Brereton attempting one in a reserves game for the Hawks against us in about 1993 (he was presumably coming back from injury). He took a mark at the top of the square, and set about setting up for a place kick. There was some discussion between him and the umpire (no surprise there! ) which lead to him abandoning the place kick and using a drop punt. IIRC he complained after the game that the umpire didn't know the rules, which in this case included having no-one on the mark.

[Outside fifty 967]

The coverage of the game has improved considerably since 1906, with one exception, the commentary. I much prefer the 1906 variety.

[gsmith12 491]

Bizarrely enough, I remember Dermott Brereton attempting one in a reserves game for the Hawks against us in about 1993 (he was presumably coming back from injury). He took a mark at the top of the square, and set about setting up for a place kick. There was some discussion between him and the umpire (no surprise there! ) which lead to him abandoning the place kick and using a drop punt. IIRC he complained after the game that the umpire didn't know the rules, which in this case included having no-one on the mark.

Dermot was right was he not ?

Someone could have stood on the goal line though.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,593]

Long been a gripe of mine. Our last premiership coincided with the last year of ritually wiping the football videos of grand finals. Ironically our best early footage is a black and white TV commentary of the last ten minutes of the '58 grand final, when we fell over. I once rang Col Hutchison and he told me that an (unnamed) TV executive at an (unamed) station had wiped several grand finals, including ours in spite, after that station losing the TV rights coverage.

Channel 7 also dumped a tonne of old footage in a rubbish tip in the early 90's because the film took up too much space! That why most of the stuff that survives before then is GF's and one off matches. What a bunch of morons to think what was lost and how much it would be worth to them today! Not to mention the lack of foresight to see that in the future there would be capability for digital storage.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,593]

The coverage of the game has improved considerably since 1906, with one exception, the commentary. I much prefer the 1906 variety.

Channel 7 still refusing to implement HD though.

[daisycutter 28,681]

Channel 7 also dumped a tonne of old footage in a rubbish tip in the early 90's because the film took up too much space! That why most of the stuff that survives before then is GF's and one off matches. What a bunch of morons to think what was lost and how much it would be worth to them today! Not to mention the lack of foresight to see that in the future there would be capability for digital storage.

digital may not be a good archival methodology

[Dr. Gonzo 22,593]

digital may not be a good archival methodology

That article is over a decade old and I don't think there's any real issue converting digital media to comply with new technology.

Back on topic I have a copy of the last few minutes of our match against Hawks at Glenferrie in 1964 including Hassa's goal which got us into the finals. When I figure out/have time to upload to YouTube I'll post here. I have a couple other snippets of games from the mid-late 60's as well which seem to have been taken from the National Film and Sound Archive.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,049]

Dermot was right was he not ?

Someone could have stood on the goal line though.

I believe he was correct. Haven't looked up the rules on this, though.

[george_on_the_outer 7,058]

Bizarrely enough, I remember Dermott Brereton attempting one in a reserves game for the Hawks against us in about 1993 (he was presumably coming back from injury). He took a mark at the top of the square, and set about setting up for a place kick. There was some discussion between him and the umpire (no surprise there! ) which lead to him abandoning the place kick and using a drop punt. IIRC he complained after the game that the umpire didn't know the rules, which in this case included having no-one on the mark.

Was also there that day. There had been much discussion in the newpapers and TV about the place kick in the weeks beforehand. As I recall it was late in the game and Dermott was mucking around with the game firmly in control. Obviously thought " nothing to lose here, and can make more of a name for myself".

The umpire had no idea what he was up to, and remonstrated with D about where the man on the mark should be. I think in the end he just told him to kick the thing or he'd call play on....

[bush demon 1,910]

That article is over a decade old and I don't think there's any real issue converting digital media to comply with new technology.

Back on topic I have a copy of the last few minutes of our match against Hawks at Glenferrie in 1964 including Hassa's goal which got us into the finals. When I figure out/have time to upload to YouTube I'll post here. I have a couple other snippets of games from the mid-late 60's as well which seem to have been taken from the National Film and Sound Archive.

That is sensational. Would very much look forward to seeing that.

[gsmith12 491]

That article is over a decade old and I don't think there's any real issue converting digital media to comply with new technology.

Back on topic I have a copy of the last few minutes of our match against Hawks at Glenferrie in 1964 including Hassa's goal which got us into the finals. When I figure out/have time to upload to YouTube I'll post here. I have a couple other snippets of games from the mid-late 60's as well which seem to have been taken from the National Film and Sound Archive.

Please do Doctor.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,593]

OK here it is, only a few minutes worth but very good quality if you can ignore the time coding.

Hassa's goal is about a minute and a half in.

[chook fowler 18,374]

What a treat to see Hassa, Barras, Donny Williams, Frank Davis, Bryan Kenneally, Bernie Massie, John Townsend, Barry Bourke, Barry Vagg etc.

Sigh.

[Sir Why You Little 34,818]

How awesome is that footage.....Wet Muddy day...still had no trouble picking out who was playing.

I hate Clash Jumpers...

Jack Eldwards Commentating...Great caller...Worked well into the 70's

[DemonWorshipper 296]

That was fantastic to watch, Doctor. Thank you for the upload.

It's such a shame we can't get more footage like this. The old suburban grounds, classic commentators & a chance to see the champions of a bygone era.

As a child of the 1980's, it's a pleasure to watch.

[Macca 16,173]

Excellent post Dr G

The players would have been happy for all sorts of reasons not the least being that we secured the double chance with that win and therefore received a week's break before the 2nd semi (we then received another week's break after winning the 2nd semi final)

In fact, in 5 of those 6 flag winning years ('55, '56, '59, '60 & '64) we had 2 full weekends off during the finals in all of those years. Smith would have known the value of rest and recuperation 'back in the day' even though it's more seen as a modern advantage.

Even in that short 5 minutes you could see how well drilled we were.

[Moonshadow 16,385]

Great footage Dr Gonzo. Fantastic commentating too: "To the 36 players I takes my hat off!"

Incredible how muddy it was compared to today's arenas. I played U16 suburban footy on muddy grounds like that. They all smelt of that sticky Merri Creek mud, which I'm guessing was the top soil to many footy grounds. Was horrible getting it in an eye.

[Red and Bluebeard 2,049]

Was also there that day. There had been much discussion in the newpapers and TV about the place kick in the weeks beforehand. As I recall it was late in the game and Dermott was mucking around with the game firmly in control. Obviously thought " nothing to lose here, and can make more of a name for myself".

The umpire had no idea what he was up to, and remonstrated with D about where the man on the mark should be. I think in the end he just told him to kick the thing or he'd call play on....

That sounds right. The big plonker could play footy alright, but had an ego to match ...

[gsmith12 491]

Thank you Doctor, great memories indeed.

We were a tad lucky to make the finals and just got home in the big one which I was privileged to witness.

Another one please.

[radar 1,858]

Great footage.

How many of those poor souls - players and spectators - perished in the upcoming war and sickness epidemics?

The average player or fan, let's say 25 y.o. Would now be 130. Even if they lived to 90 would have passed on about 1974.

The young club mascots would be over 110 yrs old.

Life goes on.

[bush demon 1,910]

As the actress said to the bishop, where has that footage been hiding! Demons finishing all over Hawthorn, and Mann's goal as good as I ever imagined. More, please.