I was eight years old and was sitting in the old southern stand with my eleven year old sister. Mum organised and paid for a cousin to take us to the game. Mum and my brother sat in the MCC members using ladies tickets. My brother chose the Dee’s and everyone else jumped on board. I can remember Ray Gabelich “running” into goal with minutes to go to put the Pies in front as it was right under our seats. Then tears from a young boy that turned in to tears of joy when Ray “froggy” Crompton goaled for us in the dying seconds to win the game.

We all still follow the Dee’s, Mum is 92. She raised 3 kids on her own after my useless womanising father left us When I was two.

Thanks mum for saving and buying the tickets. Finances were always a struggle.

Fingers crossed for another premiership VERY soon!

I was there and can’t add much to those fantastic summaries and to have footage is a wonderful memory.

Perhaps a little context 

The world was simpler then and evil wore gaol stripes  -  probably so they felt at home after they got out.

There was huge antagonism between those two teams in those days - not like the respect shown today - although even as a young one understanding right and wrong I had to respect Ray Gabelich’s great lumbering run when (as I remember it) a kick from the Melbourne half forward line caught him alone on the other side of the centre. He certainly nearly won it for the forces of Darkness.

Those were the days of many complaints about Melbourne’s  ‘home ground advantage’, when three or four people would go up for a mark which would always be awarded to the man in front and when any little push in the back was paid every time.

so different....

 

and never ever forgotten 

The oldies will remember the bloke who used to run out onto the ground. in the finals, before the game, and plant a Demons flag in the turf. Around the half forward flank Gt S stand. He would get a huge cheer. Also I can't forget the bloke in the Melb cheer squad who carried into the ground a big hand bell..like a school bell. When it rang out we would all smile.

I would go to the games ready to play fully kitted out in my Demons jumper shorts (Home or away) and boots.

There were other kids as well and we had the freedom to run around anywhere. There police were on the field but they let us go....kids were allowed to run around then pretty much anywhere.

I would go down the race and into the rooms and run out with the team. It was a different time. Two grounds I would take my jumper off to enter and put it on when I was over the fence and on the ground. Widy hill and Vic park....dangerous territory for little demons.

I would often turn up in the long room in the mcc because I could get under or over every fence in the G. I would stare at all the trophies...once I came across the room with all the Premiership cups in a big trophy case....it was like I had reached heaven!

The MCC bloke would eventually chuck me out  Ha!

I attended a school in Brighton in the 50’s early 60’s, our football team wore a jumper exactly the same as Melbourne’s (same colours but different design these days). I can remember a few Melbourne players coming down to our ground to train on a couple of occasions, Mithen, Case not sure who else. Of course Melbourne was the absolute power house of the VFL in those days and the really really daggy team was Hawthorn.

And just as an aside, one name that doesn’t crop up too often in discussions about the good old days is Brian “Doc” Roet, great sold half back who I believe went and practiced medicine in the UK. 

Otherwise if you’re looking for John Lord or Bryan Kenneally you’ll find them both working as volunteer tour guides for the MCC.

peanuts... peanuts .. shilling a bag

In the fifties before the game, the  entertainment consisted of a military band. ,who would split up ,with a small group (“ the ball”)marching through small  goal posts, for a “goal”.

I used to like the goal umps in their butchers’ coats and big white sun hats.

After a goal, they would collect the right hand post flag first, then collect the other flag from the other post. Sometimes that was how you could confirm what score it was before they waved the flags, if you missed the quick finger signals.

Also , the boundary umps, in their brilliant white shirts and shorts, and long black socks, sprinting back to the centre, knees high, then doing perfect “drop punt spinning” throws back to the similarly dressed ump, before prancing backwards to the wings.

Also, all the police coming out to line the boundary line,once there were a couple of minutes to go( how my heart sank in ‘58!)

 

Peanuts, peanuts, shilling a bag, peanuts. 

He was at every game at the MCG. The old guy with his sack of pre packaged bags.  Even to this day, whenever I say peanuts, this refrain comes back to me. And I never bought any.

I was lucky enough to be present at the 1964 grandfinal. From memory,my father brother and I were sitting halfway up the old Northern stand. In those days you got tickets for each of the finals your team was involved with and we were sitting next to some older Collingwood supporters, who, given the circumstances were almost civilzed. We beat Collingwood in the second semi and we had a rematch in the grand final after they beat Geelong in the preliminary. 

So we rocked up and the Collingwood people greeted us amicably. I am very hazy about most of the game but I recall John Lord taking the boundary throw ins in the forward pocket.

My recollection of the Gabelich run is that it seemed to take forever and the Collingwood fans were ecstatic. In contrast Cromptons reply was sudden and I I recall it from the celebrations. Needless to say the Collingwood people were absolutely gutted.

Has anyone seen this: 

 

Great to read the stories regarding 64 .  I was born in 59 .

The only GF I have seen the Dees win was the reserves in 1970 . Had a huge bag of ripped up newspapers and telephone books for throwing during the main game ( ok to do even in the members ) and used it on the 2's .

At Waverly for the PF v Hawks and watched us loose the 2 GF's in the first minute . Ayres punching Jimmy in the head at the first bounce ( no remonstration ) and Wallis smashing Greeny's throat before the game . Will NEVER forgive Long for Simmons bump . 

I was 12 years old in 1964, and sat up on the second tier of the Olympic stand next to the old mezzanine bar with  my demon fanatic father and elder brother.

it was a warm spring day with a lively crowd. I vividly remember after Neil Compton kicked the winning goal looking along the row we were sitting in and seeing Murray Weideman sitting at one end, chain smoking and his hand shaking life a leaf. 

We all had a good laugh when l pointed it out to my brother and dad. Unfortunately my brother has since turned himself into a One eyed Swans supporter, so at least one of us should be happy at the end of today. 

On 9/17/2018 at 3:31 AM, MT64 said:

I'll try and keep it short. I've been very fortunate to have seen the premierships from 55' onwards and we started the cheer squad in 1959 sitting by the old race before moving to the Punt Road end.

G'day Malcolm  good to see you are reading demonland, even here in SW vic   it keeps me "in touch"  I will be sitting on the couch tonight   Cheers  stay well

We had great pride. The team, the coach and of course the supporters. In those days, the Northern Stand was a Demons stronghold. We expected to win and was always a surprise when we lost. Many many games we would be level pegging and even down at half-time or three quarter time, and Norm would give the players an almighty roast. Norm is full throttle was dominating, commanding and above all frightening. The team normally got the message and as with other great teams ran over the opposition in the second half. 

The 64 Granny, I was sitting on the top deck of the Northern Stand with my father and his footy mates. There was a sense that it was going to be a tight game and that the Pies had come to play. 

The famous Gabbo run and goal in the last was like watching our hopes and dreams go down an enormous crevasse in the ground.  There was the sense that it was all over. At very least that it was going to be difficult to come back. The Froggy Crompton goal came like a miracle out of the blue. Unbelievable, incredible, beyond comprehension. Then the torture of the last few minutes with the Pies throwing everything at the Dees. Somehow we hung on like resilient teams do. 

The end. Exhilaration but above all relief. To look at Collingwood fans leaving the ground bereft and some in tears. Heartbroken.  I could see what it was like to lose. And I felt sorry for them. 

Walking through Yarra Park. Floating. 

Blissfully unaware of the disaster that was approaching in 65. When the Titanic hit an iceberg. 

 

I was born in 1964, six months before the grannie and on the other side of the planet. 
I came a long way to see the Dees win our next flag. ?

And waited a bl00dy long time, too!

❤️?❤️?

Yes Hutchy - Wallis punched Greenie in the throat as, I think it was Hardwick, held on to him.

Long didn't bump Simmons, he kneed him in the head. He was given 6 weeks but was allowed to use 4 of them up in pre-season matches. He should have been shown the red card. Kevin Sheedy was behind those "tactics".

In 1964 I was 13 sitting behind the goals at the city end. I went in to shock when Hassa Mann missed the easy shot from close in after marking it. The rest was a bit of a blur and I didn't properly see the goal kicked by Froggy Crompton. He had followed the Collingwood second rover who had been resting in their forward line (it was usual way for most teams to have one rover on the ball and one resting in the forward pocket) down into our froward line. It was Mick Bone as I recall. So although Smith gave him a blast Froggy (#5) was only doing his job and sticking to his man. It was a minor sensation for a back pocket player to have a shot at goal back then.

I was only 8 at the time and the family and friends had series tickets for the front row, top deck, old Olympic stand, up against the mesh of the MCC reserve fence. I remember the commentators expected us to win easily. My only strong memory of the game is the relief and joy when we all jumped in the air at the final siren.

I recognise most but not all of these players. Maybe someone can help out.

I was only 11. My recollection is of the grainy black and white replay after the game.

51 minutes ago, bush demon said:

I recognise most but not all of these players. Maybe someone can help out.

Front left is Hassa Mann.

2nd row is not sure, Dixon, Barassi and Addams.

Last row only player I recognise is John Lord 3rd from left.

Frank Davis to  John Lords left?

This is my first post. I was there in 1964. I was 15, there with my dad, who followed Collingwood. The final minutes were awful. Collingwood kicked ahead and I slumped in tears. Then I heard cheering and my dad said 'You can get up now, you won.' I was so over the moon and didn't give even a thought to my father, whose beloved Maggies had just lost the GF. Always at least try and be kind to other supporters; they love their team just as much as we do.

3 hours ago, Cassiew said:

Front left is Hassa Mann.

2nd row is not sure, Dixon, Barassi and Addams.

Last row only player I recognise is John Lord 3rd from left.

Bourke Dixon Barassi Adams Townsend

Lord Davis back row, centre

Hassa Mann at the front.

I've related this a few times on both Demonology and Demonland but in brief. Thirteen years old, Bay 13, up against the wire fence just down from the bars in what is now the Southern stand. Equipped with torn up phone directories to toss in the air every time we scored. Great vantage point to watch Gabba's run and fumble. Froggy's goal came from nowhere, up went the paper! The rest is a purple haze.

On 9/18/2018 at 8:16 AM, Deevout said:

I was eight years old and was sitting in the old southern stand with my eleven year old sister. Mum organised and paid for a cousin to take us to the game. Mum and my brother sat in the MCC members using ladies tickets. My brother chose the Dee’s and everyone else jumped on board. I can remember Ray Gabelich “running” into goal with minutes to go to put the Pies in front as it was right under our seats. Then tears from a young boy that turned in to tears of joy when Ray “froggy” Crompton goaled for us in the dying seconds to win the game.

We all still follow the Dee’s, Mum is 92. She raised 3 kids on her own after my useless womanising father left us When I was two.

Thanks mum for saving and buying the tickets. Finances were always a struggle.

Fingers crossed for another premiership VERY soon!

Lovely Story hope we win for your mother ( and a quarter of a million Dees fans )  again  this year.
And our older fans as time is getting tight. 
 

Just now, 58er said:

Lovely Story hope we win for your mother ( and a quarter of a million Dees fans )  again  this year.
And our older fans as time is getting tight. 
 

PS It is Neil Crompton btw.