On this day in 1964, the VFL season opened with a round of six matches.

The Melbourne Football Club had taken part in the past ten finals series under the coaching of the legendary Norm Smith and had won five premierships in that time. However, it was now almost four years since their last flag. 

The Demons were drawn to take on 1963 premiers Geelong on the MCG in the opening match.

Round 1, 1964 

Melbourne vs Geelong 
Saturday 18 April 
Venue: MCG 
Attendance: 66,250

B Crompton Massey L Mann
HB Anderson Roet Leahy 
C Dixon H Mann Adams
HF Groom Lord Vagg
F Williams Bourke Robbie
Foll Tas Johnson Kenneally 
Rov Emselle
19/20 Miller Townsend 

Melbourne took on the reigning premier in the opening round and Geelong overcame their poor MCG record over the past decade to prevail over the home side by 13 points. Hassa Mann was acting captain for the game as regular skipper Ron Barassi sat the game out serving the last match of a four-week suspension for striking Richmond’s Roger Dean in Round 17, 1963. 

After an even first quarter, the Demons took the initiative to go to a 20 point lead during the second term before a Cat fight back cut their lead to three points at half time. 

Hassa Mann started on 1962 Brownlow Medal winner Alistair Lord, and comprehensively outplayed him in the first half while John Lord’s strong marking was decisive during this period.

The Cats grabbed the lead in third term with three goals to their full forward Doug Wade in the third quarter but it was still anyone’s game at the last change. Geelong’s superior fitness stood out in the final quarter with three quick goals and despite a last ditch comeback Melbourne went down by 13 points.

Melbourne 2.4.16 8.7.55 11.11.77 14.13.97

Geelong 2.2.14 8.4.52 12.7.79 17.8.110

Goals Lord 4 Emselle 3 Bourke Robbie 2 H Mann Vagg Williams 

Best H Mann Lord Kenneally Vagg Bourke Anderson 

Reserves Geelong 11.7.73 defeated Melbourne 10.9.69

Goals Carroll 4 Bourke 2 Bartlett Leitch Matthews Wood 

Best Zinko McLean Davis

Under 19s Melbourne 8.18.66 defeated Geelong 7.11.53 

Goals Stone Pritchard 2 Jones McNabb Osborne Reinholdt 

Best Stone Jones Pritchard
 

I’ll let you all in on a secret. We went on to win the premiership that year. 

The interesting thing is that we lost the opening game of the season before finishing on top of the ladder.

Look at that centre line!

Dixon, H. Mann, Adams.

Anzac Day, 1964 also fell on a Saturday. Sport could not be played before midday out of respect for the marchers. Ironically, today sport can’t be played at all because of another plague on humanity.

Back then, the Demons bounced back in tentative fashion to win their first game and start their march up the ladder. 

Round 2, 1964 

North Melbourne vs Melbourne 
Saturday 25 April 
Venue: Arden Street 
Attendance: 15,914

B Williams Massey L Mann
HB Miller Roet Leahy 
C Townsend H Mann Adams
HF Groom Lord Vagg
F Kenneally Bourke Robbie
Foll Tas Johnson Barassi 
Rov Emselle
19/20 Matthews Wise

The Demons ventured to Arden Street on Anzac Day with skipper Ron Barassi back in charge although he almost missed out again, this time with a bout of flu. Also in doubt with the same ailment were Hassa Mann and Bernie Massey but they recovered to take part in the team’s first win for the season after a hard fought encounter. 

Melbourne had first use of the strong breeze but was held to four goals in the opening term. The home side returned fire with a six goal second quarter to take a 6 point lead into the half time break. 

The Demons hit back in the third stanza and held a four goal lead at three quarter time. The Kangaroos peppered the goals in the final term but squandered their chances by booting a wasteful 1.8 to the Demons’ solitary goal which saw them win by 16 points.

North Melbourne 0.1.1 6.5.41 7.5.47 8.13.61

Melbourne 4.3.27 5.5.35 10.11.71 11.11.77

Goals Barassi 3 Bourke Robbie 2 Kenneally Lord Townsend Vagg 

Best H Mann Robbie Kenneally Barassi Leahy Lord

Reserves 

North Melbourne 15.11.101 defeated Melbourne 10.18.78

Goals Carroll 4 Mounter 2 Bartlett Brewster Mitchell Watson

Best Jacobs Watson McLean

Under 19s 

Postponed until 20 June due to Anzac Day restrictions on morning sport.

So that would have been Barassi's first game since August, 1963.

  On 25/04/2020 at 03:24, bush demon said:

So that would have been Barassi's first game since August, 1963.

That’s right. A result of a 4 game suspension thanks to a magnificent acting  performance from Richmond’s Roger Dean.

Although he often played injured, Barassi's '64 season catapulted us into the grandy, and ultimately the flag.  He wasn't a top performer in the finals series, but was undoubtedly the no.1 legend of the vfl, and losing him cost us our weltanschauung. there has been no viable replacement

 

 

 

  On 25/04/2020 at 08:18, bush demon said:

weltanschauung

I love it when I come across a new word and you'd have to agree that one's a ripper.

  On 25/04/2020 at 08:18, bush demon said:

Although he often played injured, Barassi's '64 season catapulted us into the grandy, and ultimately the flag.  He wasn't a top performer in the finals series, but was undoubtedly the no.1 legend of the vfl, and losing him cost us our weltanschauung. there has been no viable replacement

 

 

 

Nice one, a bit of broadening of culture. I like it. I am, of course, German. I love the sound of German words.

  On 25/04/2020 at 10:33, dieter said:

Nice one, a bit of broadening of culture. I like it. I am, of course, German. I love the sound of German words.

So did any players of German extraction mach shau with the Dees?

  On 25/04/2020 at 11:29, bush demon said:

mach shau

Two in two days, bush demon!  Thank goodness for Google.

  On 18/04/2020 at 11:52, Fanatique Demon said:

Look at that centre line!

Dixon, H. Mann, Adams.

Just fantastic. All great players, but Hassa Mann remains as one of my favourite Demons of all time. Rutherglen boy, I think I can recall. 

  On 25/04/2020 at 03:32, Mister Ed said:

That’s right. A result of a 4 game suspension thanks to a magnificent acting  performance from Richmond’s Roger Dean.

Support you on that one! I remember just how elaborate and well-timed that acting performance by Roger Dean was, fooling everyone except those closer to the action - the latter seeing Barassi exhibit ideal defensive pressure. The white snot goblins (in those days) were after us, even then.

  On 26/04/2020 at 00:48, Deemania since 56 said:

Hassa Mann remains as one of my favourite Demons of all time. Rutherglen boy, I think

Hassa was my childhood Demon hero and I proudly wore his number 29 on my first ever Melbourne jumper as a kid.

Although he was technically recruited from Rutherglen, he had been transferred there in his job (a bank, from memory) but hailed from Merbein, home of the late and sometimes great Colin Sylvia.

  On 25/04/2020 at 11:29, bush demon said:

So did any players of German extraction mach shau with the Dees?

Where would you like to start?

Mueller Neitz, Ditterich, Schwartz, Obst, the Wagner lads. Mann is a German name.

Possibly Burgmann, Glass, Bill Vanthoff, Nick Pesch, Prymke, Alan KRause.

JUst for starters....

  On 26/04/2020 at 01:29, dieter said:

Where would you like to start?

Mueller Neitz, Ditterich, Schwartz, Obst, the Wagner lads. Mann is a German name.

Possibly Burgmann, Glass, Bill Vanthoff, Nick Pesch, Prymke, Alan KRause.

JUst for starters....

Well done.  So now you will have to name them in positions!

  On 26/04/2020 at 00:33, demonstone said:

Two in two days, bush demon!  Thank goodness for Google.

No, I got that one from my Beatles obsession   (Bar owner telling Beatles to "mach shau"). The other one from uni days, world war two history etc.?

Vielin dank bush demon, but Google is for my benefit to discover the meaning of these new words.

Time to go and listen to some relaxing music by Blixa Bargeld and his folk pop outfit, Einsturzende Neubaten.

  On 26/04/2020 at 01:12, demonstone said:

Hassa was my childhood Demon hero and I proudly wore his number 29 on my first ever Melbourne jumper as a kid.

Although he was technically recruited from Rutherglen, he had been transferred there in his job (a bank, from memory) but hailed from Merbein, home of the late and sometimes great Colin Sylvia.

Me too do. Had the 29 on my jumper but I think I got it from a friend of my old man. I think Bluey Adams was his neighbour and he followed Melbourne and was happy that I didn't follow dads saints. 

But the story would only make sense if Bluey came from Mornington where this all happened to the best of my recollection..

  On 26/04/2020 at 03:31, demonstone said:

 

 

  On 26/04/2020 at 03:31, demonstone said:

Vielin dank bush demon, but Google is for my benefit to discover the meaning of these new words.

Time to go and listen to some relaxing music by Blixa Bargeld and his folk pop outfit, Einsturzende Neubaten.

Me, I'm going to watch 'Highway to Hell', Heimatdamisch, 

 

  On 26/04/2020 at 01:29, dieter said:

Where would you like to start?

Mueller Neitz, Ditterich, Schwartz, Obst, the Wagner lads. Mann is a German name.

Possibly Burgmann, Glass, Bill Vanthoff, Nick Pesch, Prymke, Alan KRause.

JUst for starters....

 

  On 26/04/2020 at 05:27, MyFavouriteMartian said:

 

I much prefer Germans doing Ac/Dc...

  On 26/04/2020 at 05:55, dieter said:

I much prefer Germans doing Ac/Dc...

was für eine Überraschung

I was at the Punt Road oval when Roger Dean dived. All of us in the crowd were trying to work out what happened....no replay on a screen to  to enlighten us. Today Dean would probably only have been fined for staging.

  On 26/04/2020 at 05:55, dieter said:

I much prefer Germans doing Ac/Dc...

Elvis.?