1986 VFL Round 1 - Richmond vs Melbourne

 

What a game!  so many parts of the Northey era present in this match.

Swoopers first game as coach...

I forgot about Michael Reynolds. Came from Tassie and booted 6 goals at FF in a game in his first season. Faded out of the picture after 1986.

1 hour ago, Elwood 3184 said:

I forgot about Michael Reynolds. Came from Tassie and booted 6 goals at FF in a game in his first season. Faded out of the picture after 1986.

Mostly due to injury.

 

Remember that game well as it was dam hot  and the  temperature was in the 30s. It was also Gary Lyon's first game.

 

Edited November 6, 20186 yr by nosoupforme

A lot of forgotten names on both sides. Reynolds, Richards, Rugolo etc. 

Also, the number of traded players.

And the daggy old style commentary. I like it. .  

Shocking that the commentators keep describing the game rather than big-noting themselves while talking about almost anything else as they do these days.

3 hours ago, sue said:

Shocking that the commentators keep describing the game rather than big-noting themselves while talking about almost anything else as they do these days.

Most of the time, simplicity is best. 

Now its a talk fest.

If this Lyon bloke doesn't improve after half-time I reckon he'll be lucky to get another game.

Gee we were done over by the umpires in the bits I watched. What was the free kick count? Is it too late to complain to the Umpy Department? 

I doesn't look like too many players back then would have had a suntan on the back of their necks.

How small was the crowd for an opening game of football? 

Shows the game of AFL has come a long way in terms of attendances since then. 

Back at the very beginning of the John Northey Dreamtime! Have a distant memory of attending the opening match of the season at the “G”  versus the tiges on that very hot late March Saturday arvo. Remember the win but the rest of is decidedly hazy. Of course sufficient cold ‘refreshment’ was necessary even in the shade of the old Southern stand to maintain adequate hydration levels that day. The video bears testament to players endurance and ultimate determination to win, qualities that Swoopers’ teams were rarely short of. Prior to the arrival of the professional era players maintained regular weekday employment or study. According to footy folklore, Ted Fidge who was a plumber by trade kept weights in his van, so if the opportunity arose he could do extras at the worksite. Ted did not possess the footy IQ or skills of Alan Johnson, Brian Wilson or Gary Lyon so he was not regularly selected for the firsts. Fast forward a few seasons to VFL Park Waverley on a dark wintry day. Faux magpie enforcer Darren Millane whacked Ted, who duly retaliated with a fearsome right jab which had the birdies singing and once powerful thighs reduced to liquorice legs. Unfortunately for Ted the live audience was considerably larger than TV ringside and the incident was in the centre of the play. Northey’s team discipline mantra was breached, the runner delivered the coach’s instruction, Ted left the field where he spent the rest of the afternoon on the bench. After serving what must have been an extended suspension.Ted never again played in the seniors, he was delisted at the end of the season.

2 hours ago, Tarax Club said:

Back at the very beginning of the John Northey Dreamtime! Have a distant memory of attending the opening match of the season at the “G”  versus the tiges on that very hot late March Saturday arvo. Remember the win but the rest of is decidedly hazy. Of course sufficient cold ‘refreshment’ was necessary even in the shade of the old Southern stand to maintain adequate hydration levels that day. The video bears testament to players endurance and ultimate determination to win, qualities that Swoopers’ teams were rarely short of. Prior to the arrival of the professional era players maintained regular weekday employment or study. According to footy folklore, Ted Fidge who was a plumber by trade kept weights in his van, so if the opportunity arose he could do extras at the worksite. Ted did not possess the footy IQ or skills of Alan Johnson, Brian Wilson or Gary Lyon so he was not regularly selected for the firsts. Fast forward a few seasons to VFL Park Waverley on a dark wintry day. Faux magpie enforcer Darren Millane whacked Ted, who duly retaliated with a fearsome right jab which had the birdies singing and once powerful thighs reduced to liquorice legs. Unfortunately for Ted the live audience was considerably larger than TV ringside and the incident was in the centre of the play. Northey’s team discipline mantra was breached, the runner delivered the coach’s instruction, Ted left the field where he spent the rest of the afternoon on the bench. After serving what must have been an extended suspension.Ted never again played in the seniors, he was delisted at the end of the season.

Fidge looked bloody good: he was the kind of player - like Millane- who with guidance and understanding would have become oustanding.

Loved the game. It's the first time I've watched a '86 game. Garry's first game you could just tell he was a natural forward. Unfortunately I didn't see the best of Robbie due to injury.

Love the series if I was able to request a game it would be '98 against West Coast away with half the team out and Robbo on fire we won the unwinnable.