1964 memories- calling our older supporters

[MT64 1,144]

19 hours ago, 640MD said:

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

Nice and cool down there Rob? Let me know when your up next and we should catch up.

[bush demon 2,033]

15 hours ago, Jontee said:

Frank Davis to  John Lords left?

Yes.

[old dee 23,704]

Wow I did not realise there were as many old [censored] as me on here. Is this the year? I am am too scared to thing about that option. Enjoy it everyone you all deserve it. 

[Docs Demons 1,778]

We certainly have quite a few older, long suffering supporters. I was 12 at the time and went to the game with a mate and his dad. What sticks out for me about that day was after the game we raced to the rooms as in those days you could get into the rooms after the game. On this GF day though we couldn't get into our rooms as they were full, so we went into the Magpies rooms and there was big Gabbo sitting down in his full kit with a bottle of Melb Bitter in his hand. Never will forget it.

[640MD 3,346]

On 9/18/2018 at 12:32 PM, Diamond_Jim said:

peanuts... peanuts .. shilling a bag

Thought that was the VFA. He must have earnt a small fortune 

[one_demon 826]

Delete 

Edited May 9, 2021 by one_demon

[robbiefrom13 887]

we'd slaughtered Collingwood in the second semi-final, and it seemed to 14-year-old me a bit of an anti-climax that the grand final was a slog.  Melbourne winning was normal enough - I wanted it to be glory... 

I listened with a mate who was Collingwood.  Felt a bit sorry for him when Crompton broke ranks and won the game.  

But it stood to reason we would be better than Collingwood - Melbourne was a whole city, not just a suburb; and just on the jumpers, never mind anything else - black-and-white was TV, as compared to the movies, and surely we had then as we still have the best looking jumper by a mile. Regal!   At school, you could hold your head up being a Melbourne supporter - even when we lost a game, we were still obviously the best team.  We had Barassi.  We almost always ended up the winners...

Following Melbourne since then has been a wonderful ride.  Builds real character - not just complacent arrogance.  If we win this year, it won't be anything like 1964 was.  It'll be infinitely deeper and better, I think.  Obviously I couldn't have known enough about the psychology of the players back then, to really compare, but considering what it has taken to escape two generations of failure and in its place build this present charge, what we are seeing now has to be a huge human drama playing out.  Brian Dixon may have been conned by Norm Smith into fearing every week that he would be dropped, but our current team are coming off genuine longterm grounds for being unable to believe - yet look at them!  Spectacular turn-around - and huge credit to all of them.  And their coaches.  This an unfolding achievement that will be way beyond 1964.

[Sir Why You Little 36,918]

Couple of weeks ago i spoke to a Young Kid in my street, about 13 i would guess. He saw my Demons Beanie and said “You are a Demon?”

”50 years, i am yes” he was Proud to be a Supporter too and was heading in to The ‘G for the Anzac Eve Game  Was so good to hear a Proud MFC Kid talking us up

It is so important we get young kids on board for life

These Wins on Friday and Saturday nights are so crucial for exposure 

 

[Cassiew 1,903]

We can merge the 57 club topic here 

[Half forward flank 1,022]

Listened on radio then took my seven year old self across to the park with a bloated old footy, perfect for dropkicks, a la Tassie Johnson.  It has been a long ride, we have never been dominant since. On reflection I think the sixty four team may have been old and tired. So it was more than just Norm Smith and Barassi going. The club needed renewal. Anyway, that is all history. My highlights of 57 years were the final training session at the Junction Oval before 87 and the Melbourne crowds ovation a few days later as we ran a lap before the game. 

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,777]

I'll never forget our '64 GF win.

I was 14,so could use one of my Grandfather's MCC Ladies tickets.  We got to the MCG about 10 o'clock, but the best seats we could find were on the top level of the Olympic stand. We assumed we'd kill Collingwood, having slaughtered them by 89 points in the 2nd Semi.  We were pretty worried at half time(down by a point, I think), and memories of the '58 disaster(I was also at that), were flooding back.

Our hearts sank when Gabbo kicked that goal. We didn't know how long there was to go.

Hassa Mann, normally a reliable drop punt kick, missed a sitter from dead in front.

We were ecstatic when Froggie put us in front, but there seemed an eternity after that before the siren rang. Coll. had the ball in their forward line a couple more times, but didn't score.

I'll never forget the triumphant feeling as we filed out of the ground. It took ages to get over the railway bridge to Swan St, where we'd parked, but we didn't care because we were surrounded by happy Demon supporters.

I want to feel that way again tonight!

[Whispering_Jack 29,732]

Due to Covid19 restrictions, I watched the grand final alone. My wife watched upstairs but due to one of my superstitions (I had watched Melbourne’s undefeated streak since Lockdown 6.0 began by myself wearing the same top and I wasn’t going to change anything). But I wasn’t watching alone because I had this original poster by the wall watching the proceedings with me.

Back on 19 September, 1964 I watched the grand final at the Elsternwick ABC Studios as a “guest” of their doorman. I remember all of it from the monochromatic monitors in their auditorium. Dicko’s heroics, Galloping Gabbo’s goal that brought us to the edge of despair, Hassa’s missed shot, Froggy’s goal and Bourkey’s saving mark. Ron Barassi holding up the premiership cup after what became his last appearance in the red and blue. Loved all of it.

I can’t remember if they had a replay that night but I watched TV until fairly late and then I suddenly felt inspired. I snuck out of home and walked to the milk bar/newsagency on the corner of Hawthorn and North Roads in East Brighton. The store was closed and the lights were off but at the front of building sat one of those metal grilles that usually housed newspapers sheets with the headlines of the day. Only on this night, it encased the Weg ‘64 Premiership banner. 

Unashamedly, I “liberated” the banner from its cage and it’s been with me for the past 57 years. Actually, it sat for many years at the back of a cupboard but I took it with me when we married and years later, had it framed. Its 2021 counterpart has been ordered and will also be suitably framed to sit alongside my 1964 find.

The postscript to the story is that about five or six years later, I was walking past the same milk bar and bumped into an old mate so we ducked inside to buy a pack of cigarettes (I gave up a long time ago). Afterwards, as we smoked our Alpines at the front of the store, I told him about my Weg poster and he remarked, “I can’t believe you stole something!” As he uttered the words, a copper walked past and I swear he heard them. The copper was none other than Melbourne Footballer and high flying key forward Greg Parke, looking ever so tall with the stern look that figures of authority have when carrying out their business. Parke looked at us, winked and walked into the shop. 

Sadly, Greg Parke who played over 100 games for the Demons from 1968 to 1973 and also later played for the Bulldogs, the Norwood Redlegs and Fitzroy, passed away after a long illness just hours before the grand final and missed out the end of our long wait. Rest In Peace Champ!

 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,672]

9 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Due to Covid19 restrictions, I watched the grand final alone. My wife watched upstairs but due to one of my superstitions (I had watched Melbourne’s undefeated streak since Lockdown 6.0 began by myself wearing the same top and I wasn’t going to change anything). But I wasn’t watching alone because I had this original poster by the wall watching the proceedings with me.

Back on 19 September, 1964 I watched the grand final at the Elsternwick ABC Studios as a “guest” of their doorman. I remember all of it from the monochromatic monitors in their auditorium. Dicko’s heroics, Galloping Gabbo’s goal that brought us to the edge of despair, Hassa’s missed shot, Froggy’s goal and Bourkey’s saving mark. Ron Barassi holding up the premiership cup after what became his last appearance in the red and blue. Loved all of it.

I can’t remember if they had a replay that night but I watched TV until fairly late and then I suddenly felt inspired. I snuck out of home and walked to the milk bar/newsagency on the corner of Hawthorn and North Roads in East Brighton. The store was closed and the lights were off but at the front of building sat one of those metal grilles that usually housed newspapers sheets with the headlines of the day. Only on this night, it encased the Weg ‘64 Premiership banner. 

Unashamedly, I “liberated” the banner from its cage and it’s been with me for the past 57 years. Actually, it sat for many years at the back of a cupboard but I took it with me when we married and years later, had it framed. Its 2021 counterpart has been ordered and will also be suitably framed to sit alongside my 1964 find.

The postscript to the story is that about five or six years later, I was walking past the same milk bar and bumped into an old mate so we ducked inside to buy a pack of cigarettes (I gave up a long time ago). Afterwards, as we smoked our Alpines at the front of the store, I told him about my Weg poster and he remarked, “I can’t believe you stole something!” As he uttered the words, a copper walked past and I swear he heard them. The copper was none other than Melbourne Footballer and high flying key forward Greg Parke, looking ever so tall with the stern look that figures of authority have when carrying out their business. Parke looked at us, winked and walked into the shop. 

Sadly, Greg Parke who played over 100 games for the Demons from 1968 to 1973 and also later played for the Bulldogs, the Norwood Redlegs and Fitzroy, passed away after a long illness just hours before the grand final and missed out the end of our long wait. Rest In Peace Champ!

 

This is poetry. Should be published in a wider read journal.

With respect to Greg Parke, he played an extraordinary game at Morrabbin which is the only individual performance I remember from that period. I don't know if they kept statistics of "contested marks" in those days, but even allowing for the inevitable inflation that bedevils memory, I'm sure he took more contested marks that day than any player I have seen since. 

[frankie_d 1,471]

After the Thursday night training before the '64 Grand Final - good memories!

 

[tiers 2,822]

I have referred to this more than once in these threads. In 1964 I was in high school and had the thrill of standing in the open stand under the old scoreboard and watching Crompton's kick sail towards me.

Until Saturday this was my greatest thrill after more than 60 years barracking for the dees. My greatest thrill from now on will be watching the last quarter and a half when we kicked 16 goals to one. 

C'arn the demons.

[durango 2,001]

The last minute of the 3rd quarter was priceless.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,672]

6 minutes ago, tiers said:

I have referred to this more than once in these threads. In 1964 I was in high school and had the thrill of standing in the open stand under the old scoreboard and watching Crompton's kick sail towards me.

Until Saturday this was my greatest thrill after more than 60 years barracking for the dees. My greatest thrill from now on will be watching the last quarter and a half when we kicked 16 goals to one. 

C'arn the demons.

How many times have you watched it so far? I've only had time to see it three times (live and twice replayed).

[John Crow Batty 8,860]

If Nostradamus had predicted we would win our next premiership in Perth some of us would have thought we would never ever be alive to witness it. 

Edited September 27, 2021 by John Crow Batty

[tiers 2,822]

44 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

How many times have you watched it so far? I've only had time to see it three times (live and twice replayed).

Not enough. I am looking forward to a long and pleasant summer.

[Daemon 15]

A bit late to the party but I was there as well in 64. Went with my Mum in the Ladies Stand, Mum was one of the first female MCC members. Mum was also a fanatical Pies supporter who spent many hours watching their 1990 GF win in her last years. I was 11 and, like many others grew up watching the Dees win flags. My favourite player was Hassa Mann but I also remember thinking that the world had come to an end when Barrass went to Carlton.

Don't remember a lot about the game itself other than thinking that Gabbo's run went on for about 5 minutes! Neil Crompton's goal never looked like missing and the last few minutes were torture.

It has been a long road with many great moments and far more disappointments but this team has brought more joy than I dared to hope for over the years. I knew we had something special when I saw us beat Brisbane in Sydney, Brisbane coming off 8 wins I think. We soaked up their dominance in the first half and then gave it back in spades. This is the best Melbourne team I have ever seen and even after watching the game on Saturday 3 times now, I can't believe how good it was. Not only were we behind on the scoreboard but we were getting beaten in the one on one contests, getting outmarked and couldn't get our hands on the pill. All of  a sudden it was over in the blink of an eye. This is a special group of players and my heartfelt thanks to everyone who is responsible for them. 

One last shout out to Jonesy, the fact that you weren't there is my only disappointment from this fantastic dream!

 

[old dee 23,704]

I started following the Red Legs in 1960. Went with my dad. We would come down from the country a few times during year and to finals if we could get tickets. I went to 60 GF and 64 GF in standing room. After the GF in 64  I thought on the way home how good is following Melb. This will go on forever. Ha little did I know. I was thinking of Dad all Saturday. He lived his football. We followed the Hawks in the BFL. I often thought in the 57 years since if he had followed the Hawks in the VFL how much fun I would have had. Well Dad they finally did it for us. The Hawks can expect to be on the end of some big losses to the mighty Demons in the years ahead. 

[Mydee 288]

The 1964 grand final was the first I attended at the age of thirteen  with my dad and younger brother.  We were seated in the Olympic stand and if I can recall correctly we were sitting in the top level for the second semi final where we beat Collingwood by thirteen goals. We met a family of  Collingwood supporters who were allocated seats next to us.  Over the course of the game we got chatting to them and, surprisingly, they seemed to be reasonable. I had  lived in West Heidelberg and had a fairly jaundiced view of Collingwood. Despite the loss and obvious disappointment they departed quietly.

Somehow Collingwood managed to beat Geelong by four points in the Preliminary final and the Collingwood family reappeared next to us. Well the rest is history My memories were of John Lord kicking two goals and of course Ray Gabelich's famous run from half forward to the goal square and goaled. Somehow the video or film clip gives a different impression to that which I recall from all those years ago. I remembered Gabelich's run as being a lot longer and more ponderous and his bouncing of the ball being more erratic  than the records showed. And from memory it really was a tortoise and hair situation with Tassie Johnson closing in on Ray but not quite getting there.

I missed Neill Crompton's winning goal because the shadow from the stand complete blocked the view of the far goal mouth area.

As soon as the siren sounded dad whisked us away as the looks on the Collingwood faces signaled murderous intent. A great feeling not repeated until last Saturday night.