A HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB: PART 8

[Demonland 73,139]

A HISTORY OF THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB:

PART EIGHT: WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD ... by the Professor

In the aftermath of the Second World War mankind witnessed staggering technological developments in all fields of endeavour. Extensive progress was made in communication; trade and economic developments and the emergence of television, space flight and nuclear power attended an ever-changing world picture.

But the explosive force generated by the detonation of a nuclear device would never match the impact of the Melbourne Football Club under Coach Norm Smith and Secretary Jim Cardwell. In 1952 - his first season as coach - Smith had a small nucleus players at his disposal with which to fashion a competitive combination. His better players were Denis Cordner, Stuart Spencer, Noel McMahen and John Beckwith. In 1953 Smith was able to add such young players as Ron Barassi Jnr., Frank "Bluey" Adams, Geoff Case, Peter Marquis and Don Williams. The following year Bob Johnson, Brian Dixon, Clyde Laidlaw and Ian Ridley got the chance to taste V.F.L. football. Melbourne improved greatly to finish fourth at the end of the home and away series and made the Grand Final only to be defeated by a strong Footscray side. This was the first of the Club's record seven consecutive premiership pay offs.

At the beginning of 1955 Noel McMahen was appointed captain. The Demons won 15 of the 18 first round matches and accounted for Collingwood twice in the final series. The physically stronger Melbourne team harassed their opponents all day and while the Magpies were persistent the Demons kicked the last four goals of the match to win the Grand Final.

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1955

Melbourne 2.3.15 3.10.28 4.13.37 8.16.64

Collingwood 2.2.14 2.5.17 4.6.30 5.6.36

Goals Clarke Ridley 3 Laidlaw McKenzie

Best Cordner, Barassi Melville McLean McMahen Marquis

THE TEAM

B Beckwith Marquis Trev Johnson

HB Williams McGivern McMahen

C McLean Melville Case

HF Mithen Laidlaw McKenzie

F R Johnson Clarke Ridley

R Denis Cordner Barassi Spencer

19 Adams 20 Gleeson

Melbourne went from strength to strength in the Olympic year to finish on top of the ladder with 16 wins. The Magpies were again the main rivals for the Demons' crown but Melbourne again recorded a big premiership 73-point victory over Collingwood. A big crowd of 115,902 flocked to the MCG and paid a record gate to watch Spencer and Webb kick 5 goals each as the Demons routed the opposition. Melbourne also recorded 19 consecutive wins from mid-1955 and well into 1956. The team went on to defeat the premiers of South Australia and West Australia to achieve recognition as Australian champions.

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1956

Melbourne 2.4.16 6.11.47 10.16.76 17.19.121

Collingwood 3.3.21 4.3.27 5.6.36 6.12.48

Goals Spencer Webb 5 Barassi R Johnson 3 Ridley

Best Spencer Barassi Adams Cordner Beckwith Melville

THE TEAM

B Beckwith Marquis Trev Johnson

HB Williams McMahen Carroll

C Dixon Melville Adams

HF Mithen Laidlaw Sandral

F R Johnson Webb Ridley

R Denis Cordner Barassi Spencer

19 Gleeson 20 Lane

The loss of McMahen, Cordner, Spencer and Melville before the start of 1957 did not prevent the club's domination of V.F.L. competition as new blood in John Lord, Geoff Tunbridge, Ian Thorogood and Denis Jones emerged to replace them. John Beckwith was appointed captain and Ron Barassi his deputy. Melbourne was recognised as the team to beat with a dominant centre line of Dixon, Mithen and McLean, a dynamic ruck rover in Barassi, a solid ruckman in Bob Johnson and pacy rovers in Adams and Ridley.

Despite this, the Demons received a scare when they lost to the Bombers in the second semi final. However, they bounced back with a ten goal plus victory against Hawthorn and then made it three flags in a row to end their centenary year with a grand final win against Essendon by 61 points. Barassi's ruck roving position had been moulded to perfection by coach Norm Smith and his best on ground display in the grand final was outstanding.

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1957

Melbourne 6.2.38 9.9.47 12.11.83 17.14.116

Essendon 2.3.15 4.4.28 7.8.50 7.13.55

Goals Barassi 5 Ridley 4 Webb 3 R. Johnson Tunbridge 2 Case

Best Barassi R Johnson Fenton-Smith Lord Williams Ridley

THE TEAM

B Beckwith Marquis Fenton-Smith

HB Williams Lord Carroll

C Dixon Mithen McLean

HF Case Trev Johnson Tunbridge

F Barassi Webb Ridley

R R Johnson Wilson Adams

19 Brenchley 20 Throrogood

Melbourne achieved top ladder position for the fourth year in a row in 1958 and another premiership seemed a formality for the Demons who were looking to equal Collingwood's record of four consecutive flags. However, the Magpies who had received a drubbing in the second semi had other thoughts and despite a great opening quarter the cocky Demons were battered into submission in a grand final that proved to be one of the great upsets of football history.

The addition to the ranks of Bob "Tassie" Johnson and "Hassa" Mann in 1959 reinvigourated the Demons who were keen to prove that they were still the dominant football power. Barassi who was subdued in the 1958 final starred as did Dennis Jones whose career had been hampered by constant injuries. The Demons won the flag after a slow start with a 37-point victory over Essendon.

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1959

Melbourne 1.4.10 8.5.53 11.10.76 17.13.115

Essendon 3.3.21 7.8.50 10.10.70 11.12.78

Goals Barassi Rowarth 4 Adams R Johnson 3 Mann Ridley Tunbridge

Best Barassi McLean R. Johnson Dixon Jones Beckwith

THE TEAM

B Beckwith "Tas" Johnson Lord

HB Case Jones Thorogood

C Dixon Mithen McLean

HF H Mann Laidlaw Tunbridge

F Barassi Rowarth Ridley

R R Johnson Fenton-Smith Adams

19 Crompton 20 Williams

The club continued to go from strength to strength in 1960 as Ron Barassi took over the captaincy. Beckwith remained as his deputy. For the sixth successive year Melbourne topped the ladder and the team went on to destroy Collingwood in the grand final win of 8.14.62 to Collingwood's miserable 2.2.14 - the lowest ever grand final score. Melbourne's dominance was assisted by the continual unearthing of new stars. Bryan Kenneally and Brian Leahy were introduced to the club in 1960.

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1960

Melbourne 4.3.27 5.5.35 7.12.54 8.14.62

Collingwood 0.0.0 1.0.6 2.0.12 2.2.14

Goals Adams 2 R Johnson H Mann 2 Tunbridge Rowarth.

Best Lord Mithen L Mann Dixon R Johnson Tunbridge.

THE TEAM

B Beckwith "Tas" Johnson Trev Johnson

HB Case Lord Thorogood

C Dixon Mithen Kenneally

HF H Mann Laidlaw Tunbridge

F R. Johnson Rowarth Adams

R L Mann Barassi Ridley

19 B Leahy 20 Nillson

The next three seasons saw a weakening of the great combination but there was sufficient in store for two thirds and a fourth placing before a return to the top in 1964. The team could no longer boast the high standards of strength and brilliance it had achieved in the fifties but still commanded a share of luck. Freak goals by "Hassa" Mann (to win a late season game against Hawthorn and secure a finals berth) and Neil Crompton (to allow the Demons to steal a grand final victory over Collingwood) assisted in capturing the club's twelfth flag on 19th September 1964. Ron Barassi and Bluey Adams played their last games for Melbourne that day and celebrated their participation in six premiership teams ...

RESULTS - GRAND FINAL 1964

Melbourne 2.6.18 5.7.37 7.10.52 8.16.64

Collingwood 2.5.17 5.9.39 5.11.41 8.12.60

Goals Townsend 3 Lord 2 Bourke Crompton H Mann

Best Adams Dixon Tas Johnson Wise H Mann Williams

THE TEAM

B Crompton Massey "Tas" Johnson

HB Anderson Roet Davis

C Dixon Williams Adams

HF Kenneally Jacobs Vagg

F Lord Bourke Townsend

R Wise Barassi H Mann

19 Emselle 20 McLean