Great year 1964. The closing match at the mud heap (Glenferrie Oval) probably was the first time I heard a crowd chanting Melbourne Melbourne etc. Exciting win. MCC were great in letting us in early to put banners up and we made the old girl "Greysmith Stand" look good. After making the Granny we were at the Prelim and at three quarter time we went and queued up outside "T-Section" and stayed there all week to get the seats behind the goal. Parents kept coming in with food etc and snuck home during the day for showers. Black & white filth were more than us and we got pushed to the side but still a formidable support for the Dees. The rest was history and after the match, having been there all week, wasn't sure what to do but the Club turned on food and drink outside the change rooms and never got home until Sunday. Sure we were young then and not quite sure how I would handle a flag these days. I'd give it  bash though. I have, like most, been really patient waiting for the next.

I was on the hf line on the Punt Rd side of the ground and had a direct side on look at the incident.

Barassi and Dean both had a piece of the ball, Dean was on his knees and RDB was standing up trying his hardest to knock the ball out of Dean's hand with a downward motion of his fist. He did not touch the Dean's face and it was a a complete fake. The whole incident was in the open and there were no other players around. Who in their right mind would believe that RDB would deliberately strike an opponent in such a setting. The umpire and the tribunal were demented.

Four weeks for this possibly costs us a flag. No wonder we dislike the umps, tribunal and all officialdom.

I remember a game at Arden Street ( but not the year ) where due to injuries Barassi was forced to play as ruckman in the last quarter . In a thriller he took running leaps at his opponents at throw-ins or just bustled negatively . We won by a whisker and the great man was so stuffed he had to be assisted off the ground '

20 hours ago, MT64 said:

Great year 1964.

Sure we were young then and not quite sure how I would handle a flag these days. I'd give it  bash though. I have, like most, been really patient waiting for the next.

Gday Mal, keep forgetting how old you (and I ) actually are. good to see you are still reading this stuff  Cheers Mate stay well !

bob

23 hours ago, MT64 said:

Great year 1964. The closing match at the mud heap (Glenferrie Oval) probably was the first time I heard a crowd chanting Melbourne Melbourne etc. Exciting win. MCC were great in letting us in early to put banners up and we made the old girl "Greysmith Stand" look good. After making the Granny we were at the Prelim and at three quarter time we went and queued up outside "T-Section" and stayed there all week to get the seats behind the goal. Parents kept coming in with food etc and snuck home during the day for showers. Black & white filth were more than us and we got pushed to the side but still a formidable support for the Dees. The rest was history and after the match, having been there all week, wasn't sure what to do but the Club turned on food and drink outside the change rooms and never got home until Sunday. Sure we were young then and not quite sure how I would handle a flag these days. I'd give it  bash though. I have, like most, been really patient waiting for the next.

By the time we took the 1964 flag, I had become quite blasé about it all. This was our 6th flag in 10 years so, I was pretty much “meh” on the night of the grand final.

Little did I know.

The 1964 season moved into May ...

Round 3, 1964 

Melbourne vs Carlton 
Saturday, 2 May 
Venue: MCG 
Attendance: 45,494

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

The Demons had been unconvincing in their opening two rounds and, despite their Round 2 win over North Melbourne, the selectors reacted by dropping three players in Matthews, Miller and Robbie and relegating Vagg and Williams to the bench. Future test cricketer Graeme Watson who passed away in April, 2020 was selected for his first game.

It was not a game for forwards with skipper Ron Barassi, the only player to fire up front all day. He kicked two goals himself but his strong play set up many scoring opportunities for others in the team’s 46 point victory as the visitors struggled. At the final break, they had only one goal on the board.

Evergreen stalwart Don Williams who came onto the ground in the second quarter replacing Tony Anderson (broken nose) and Dr. Brian Roet were Melbourne's best on the day. The team finished one man short after Brian Dixon (shoulder) and Barassi (cramp) left the field late in the last term.

Melbourne 2.5.17 6.10.46 8.12.60 11.13.79

Carlton 1.1.7 1.3.9 1.6.12 4.9.33

Goals Barassi Bourke Emselle Townsend 2 Groom Kenneally Lord 

Best Williams Roet Emselle Barassi Dixon Massey

Reserves Melbourne 12.13.85 defeated Carlton 10.10.70

Goals Carroll 3 Bartlett Wood 2 Foster Matthews Mounter Slade Zinko

Best Jacobs Matthews Lynch

Under 19s Melbourne 9.15.69 defeated Carlton 10.5.65 

Goals Leahy McNabb Pritchard Stone 2 Feldman 

Best Pritchard Leahy Stone

On 4/25/2020 at 1:32 PM, Mister Ed said:

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

To which one was accustomed and passed on to Sheedy.... 

1 hour ago, willmoy said:

To which one was accustomed and passed on to Sheedy.... 

Sheedy, who lived in Melbourne’s residential zone but Norm Smith told him he could go away and apply for an open clearance because he wasn’t good enough. 

 If there is a negative to a prolonged period at the top then it’s the fact that sometimes you have to let some quality players slip through the cracks and from time to time, it bites you on the bum.

On 5/2/2020 at 8:07 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

The 1964 season moved into May ...

Round 3, 1964 

Melbourne vs Carlton 
Saturday, 2 May 
Venue: MCG 
Attendance: 45,494

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

The Demons had been unconvincing in their opening two rounds and, despite their Round 2 win over North Melbourne, the selectors reacted by dropping three players in Matthews, Miller and Robbie and relegating Vagg and Williams to the bench. Future test cricketer Graeme Watson who passed away in April, 2020 was selected for his first game.

It was not a game for forwards with skipper Ron Barassi, the only player to fire up front all day. He kicked two goals himself but his strong play set up many scoring opportunities for others in the team’s 46 point victory as the visitors struggled. At the final break, they had only one goal on the board.

Evergreen stalwart Don Williams who came onto the ground in the second quarter replacing Tony Anderson (broken nose) and Dr. Brian Roet were Melbourne's best on the day. The team finished one man short after Brian Dixon (shoulder) and Barassi (cramp) left the field late in the last term.

Melbourne 2.5.17 6.10.46 8.12.60 11.13.79

Carlton 1.1.7 1.3.9 1.6.12 4.9.33

Goals Barassi Bourke Emselle Townsend 2 Groom Kenneally Lord 

Best Williams Roet Emselle Barassi Dixon Massey

Reserves Melbourne 12.13.85 defeated Carlton 10.10.70

Goals Carroll 3 Bartlett Wood 2 Foster Matthews Mounter Slade Zinko

Best Jacobs Matthews Lynch

Under 19s Melbourne 9.15.69 defeated Carlton 10.5.65 

Goals Leahy McNabb Pritchard Stone 2 Feldman 

Best Pritchard Leahy Stone

From the vault:. 

 

The crunch came on this day 56 years ago ...

Round 4, 1964 

St. Kilda vs Melbourne 
Saturday 9 May 
Venue: Junction Oval 
Attendance: 35,000

B Crompton Massey L Mann
HB Anderson Roet Leahy 
C Williams H Mann Adams
HF Vagg Groom Kenneally
F Barassi Bourke Townsend 
Foll Tas Johnson Wise
Rov Emselle
19/20 Jacobs Watson 

The young St Kilda side was still smarting from their loss in the previous season’s first semi final when they took on Melbourne for what turned out to be their last encounter at the Junction Oval. 

The Demons wasted their opportunities in the opening quarter with wayward kicking for goal allowing the Saints to control the game from there on taking a 16 point lead into the main break. Although they got to within five points early in the last quarter, the home side steadied to a comfortable 26 point win, leaving the Demons in mid table with a 2-2 record for the season.

St. Kilda’s charge was led by two exciting young teenagers Carl Ditterich, 18, and Ian Cooper, 17 while Ray Groom was Melbourne’s best. Half forward Barrie Vagg kicked four goals, but his impact on the team’s overall performance was lacking.
 
Veteran winger Brian Dixon who was a Liberal Party candidate for the local seat of St Kilda at the forthcoming State Election missed with a shoulder injury which might have been regarded as a blessing in disguise for him.

St. Kilda 2.1.13 7.5.47 8.11.53 13.15.93

Melbourne 1.6.12 4.7.31 6.12.48 9.13.67

Goals Vagg 4 Emselle 2 Barassi Bourke Groom 

Best Groom Anderson Roet Barassi H Mann Adams

Reserves  St Kilda 9.8.62 d. Melbourne 7.11.53

Goals Wood 2 Bartlett Bourke Carroll Matthews Slade 

Best Matthews Davis Lord

Under 19s Melbourne 17.6.108 defeated St. Kilda 6.12.48 

Goals Feldman 4 McNab Schultz 3 Osborne Marr Stone 2 Russell 

Best Griffiths Marr Pritchard

4 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The crunch came on this day 56 years ago ...

Round 4, 1964 

St. Kilda vs Melbourne 
Saturday 9 May 
Venue: Junction Oval 
Attendance: 35,000

B Crompton Massey L Mann
HB Anderson Roet Leahy 
C Williams H Mann Adams
HF Vagg Groom Kenneally
F Barassi Bourke Townsend 
Foll Tas Johnson Wise
Rov Emselle
19/20 Jacobs Watson 

The young St Kilda side was still smarting from their loss in the previous season’s first semi final when they took on Melbourne for what turned out to be their last encounter at the Junction Oval. 

The Demons wasted their opportunities in the opening quarter with wayward kicking for goal allowing the Saints to control the game from there on taking a 16 point lead into the main break. Although they got to within five points early in the last quarter, the home side steadied to a comfortable 26 point win, leaving the Demons in mid table with a 2-2 record for the season.

St. Kilda’s charge was led by two exciting young teenagers Carl Ditterich, 18, and Ian Cooper, 17 while Ray Groom was Melbourne’s best. Half forward Barrie Vagg kicked four goals, but his impact on the team’s overall performance was lacking.
 
Veteran winger Brian Dixon who was a Liberal Party candidate for the local seat of St Kilda at the forthcoming State Election missed with a shoulder injury which might have been regarded as a blessing in disguise for him.

St. Kilda 2.1.13 7.5.47 8.11.53 13.15.93

Melbourne 1.6.12 4.7.31 6.12.48 9.13.67

Goals Vagg 4 Emselle 2 Barassi Bourke Groom 

Best Groom Anderson Roet Barassi H Mann Adams

Reserves  St Kilda 9.8.62 d. Melbourne 7.11.53

Goals Wood 2 Bartlett Bourke Carroll Matthews Slade 

Best Matthews Davis Lord

Under 19s Melbourne 17.6.108 defeated St. Kilda 6.12.48 

Goals Feldman 4 McNab Schultz 3 Osborne Marr Stone 2 Russell 

Best Griffiths Marr Pritchard

I was just starting to barrack for the Dees at this time, and on that weekend my father - an Englishman who hated aussie rules but loved soccer - took me to Olympic Park to watch Everton defeat Australia 8-2..  If only the day before I could have gone to the G and seen the amazing demons play. It was mid-season a year later that  Saint recruits Cooper and Ditterich tore us apart, ending our reign. 

The turning point ...

Round 5, 1964 

Essendon vs Melbourne 
Saturday 16 May 
Venue: Windy Hill 
Attendance: 27,000

B Crompton Massey Tas Johnson
HB Anderson Roet Leahy 
C Watson H Mann Adams
HF Vagg Groom Kenneally
F Jacobs Bourke Townsend 
Foll Wise Barassi
Rov Emselle
19/20 Foster Matthews

Windy Hill was never a happy hunting ground for the Melbourne Football Club and it was proving to be so for them at half time when inaccurate kicking for goal saw them trailing by a goal against Essendon who began the game as favourites by virtue of their demolition of the reigning premier Geelong. 

The Demons lifted their game in the second half in what was probably the catalyst for turning around a season that was in danger of slipping away. Tony Anderson and Neil Crompton stood firm all day in defence while Norm Smith’s move of third gamer Graeme Watson into the middle allowing Hassa Mann to take on the main roving duties proved to be the master stroke as the team dominated the rest of the game despite their continued inaccuracy in front of goal.

In an interesting sidelight, both of Melbourne’s reserves, including first gamer Robert Foster, sat out the entire game on the bench. Runner Sam Allica was reported for illegally delivering messages to players other than the captain or vice-captain for the second time in the season.

Essendon 2.0.12 4.4.28 5.7.37 7.11.53

Melbourne 1.6.12 2.10.22 5.18.48 10.25.85

Goals Barassi Bourke H Mann Vagg 2 Groom Jacobs 

Best Anderson Crompton Watson H Mann Emselle Kenneally 

Reserves Melbourne 10.9.69 defeated Essendon 6.13.49

Goals Carroll 5 Bartlett Wood 2 Slade 

Best Carroll Vaughan Bartlett

Under 19s Melbourne 13.18.95 defeated Essendon 9.7.61

Goals McNabb Schultz 4 Reinholdt 2 Coutts Osborne Russell

Best Stewart Minton-Connell McNamee

A Minton-Connell in the Under 19’s.

Any relation?

1 hour ago, The Third Eye said:

A Minton-Connell in the Under 19’s.

Any relation?

there were 2 minton-connells in the '60s at mfc. ....adrian and michael......i think stewart was meant to be michael

I think "Stewart" is the surname of another player!

If it's 1964, it would be Michael Minton-Connell.  His brother Adrian, who is Simon's father, didn't come to the club until a couple of years later.  Adrian married Peter Hudson's sister.

It would have been Mike Minton-Connell who was a solid key defender who played some good games in defence but struggled to break into Melbourne’s team with players like Roet and Groom ahead of him at CHB. 

His brother Adrian arrived in 1966 and looked a likely ruck type but injured his knee.

What a pity we couldn’t leverage off the connection to get Peter Hudson!

On 5/16/2020 at 8:13 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

In an interesting sidelight, both of Melbourne’s reserves, including first gamer Robert Foster, sat out the entire game on the bench. Runner Sam Allica was reported for illegally delivering messages to players other than the captain or vice-captain for the second time in the season. 

In other words zero interchanges for the team over the full four quarters. 

Granted that the pace of the game is different these days but I reckon our blokes these days are pampered.

Hi all, coincidentally am currently putting together a book about the 1964 season for publication early next year. Would be interested in hearing the memories from people who were at the Grand Final (and the other key moments like Glenferrie Oval). Feel free to PM me or email [email protected].

12 minutes ago, Supermercado said:

Hi all, coincidentally am currently putting together a book about the 1964 season for publication early next year. Would be interested in hearing the memories from people who were at the Grand Final (and the other key moments like Glenferrie Oval). Feel free to PM me or email [email protected].

Hawthorn's after home game dances were something else. In those days the classiest women on the east side.....

Speaking of Hawthorn ...

Round 6, 1964 

Melbourne vs Hawthorn 
Saturday 23 May 
Venue: MCG 
Attendance: 53,798

B Crompton Massey Jacobs 
HB Anderson Roet Leahy 
C Dixon H Mann Adams
HF Vagg Groom Kenneally
F Barassi Bourke Townsend 
Foll Tas Johnson Wise 
Rov Emselle
19/20 Bartlett Matthews

Melbourne avenged its defeat from the previous year’s Preliminary Final when it emerged triumphant over Hawthorn in a nail-bighting struggle at the MCG. 

The Hawks had the early ascendancy through the goal kicking feats of tough full forward John Peck who booted four goals from as many kicks against Bernie Massey before the defender was injured in the second quarter and replaced by Tas Johnson who kept Peck down to only one more for the day.

The Demons strength in the air saw them take the lead at the main break and in a tense struggle, they held sway as both teams managed only a goal each in the final term. Hawthorn managed a goal in the last minute but their final attack for victory was repelled by a Tas Johnson mark in defence on the siren.

The win gave Melbourne a record of four wins .and two defeats but with little breathing space as only percentage separated it from Collingwood and Essendon in fifth and sixth positions on the ladder.

Melbourne 3.3.21 5.9.39 9.11.65 10.13.73

Hawthorn 4.6.30 5.7.37 9.8.62 10.8.68

Goals Jacobs Vagg 3 Barassi 2 Bourke Kenneally 

Best Townsend Roet Tas Johnson Groom Barassi Vagg

Reserves Melbourne 10.16.76 defeated Hawthorn 8.5.53

Goals Lord 4 Carroll Robbie Leitch Mounter 

Best Lord Hill McLean

Under 19s Hawthorn 13.5.83 defeated Melbourne 11.10.76

Goals Schultz 3 McNab Osborne Stone 2 Jones Pritchard 

Best Bird Brodie Stone

On 5/2/2020 at 7:37 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

The 1964 season moved into May ...

Round 3, 1964 

Melbourne vs Carlton 
Saturday, 2 May 
Venue: MCG 
Attendance: 45,494

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

The Demons had been unconvincing in their opening two rounds and, despite their Round 2 win over North Melbourne, the selectors reacted by dropping three players in Matthews, Miller and Robbie and relegating Vagg and Williams to the bench. Future test cricketer Graeme Watson who passed away in April, 2020 was selected for his first game.

It was not a game for forwards with skipper Ron Barassi, the only player to fire up front all day. He kicked two goals himself but his strong play set up many scoring opportunities for others in the team’s 46 point victory as the visitors struggled. At the final break, they had only one goal on the board.

Evergreen stalwart Don Williams who came onto the ground in the second quarter replacing Tony Anderson (broken nose) and Dr. Brian Roet were Melbourne's best on the day. The team finished one man short after Brian Dixon (shoulder) and Barassi (cramp) left the field late in the last term.

Melbourne 2.5.17 6.10.46 8.12.60 11.13.79

Carlton 1.1.7 1.3.9 1.6.12 4.9.33

Goals Barassi Bourke Emselle Townsend 2 Groom Kenneally Lord 

Best Williams Roet Emselle Barassi Dixon Massey

Reserves Melbourne 12.13.85 defeated Carlton 10.10.70

Goals Carroll 3 Bartlett Wood 2 Foster Matthews Mounter Slade Zinko

Best Jacobs Matthews Lynch

Under 19s Melbourne 9.15.69 defeated Carlton 10.5.65 

Goals Leahy McNabb Pritchard Stone 2 Feldman 

Best Pritchard Leahy Stone

Thoughts and memories from the past ... for those of us who can remember, don't forget to take your blood pressure medications. The years between now and '64 have been nightmares, hauntingly irrelevant. Still get a buzz out of the Doc's game and Ron's driven intents.

1964 was a long, long time ago for our last premiership flag.

Why is it so?

 

On 5/17/2020 at 3:15 PM, Elwood 3184 said:

In other words zero interchanges for the team over the full four quarters. 

Granted that the pace of the game is different these days but I reckon our blokes these days are pampered.

Elwood 3184 raised this point as a result of the fact that Melbourne’s 19th & 20th men, first gamer Robert Foster and rover Herbie Matthews, sat out the entire game on the bench. On top of that Foster was dropped for Round 6 which was pretty tough on a kid who sat out every minute of his debut game getting splinters on the bench. The players copped it in those days and in many ways, it was the hallmark of Norm Smith’s coaching discipline - there was no room for the softly, softly approach we often see these days but of course, the times are different.

On 5/23/2020 at 6:13 PM, Demon Head said:

1964 was a long, long time ago for our last premiership flag.

Why is it so?

 

After school TV ? I was petrified of him at first and then grew to love the show

Times have changed...

Here’s the 1964 calendar which matches the 2020 calendar so the days of the week are the same in both calendars.

Edited May 29, 20205 yr by Chelly