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Carl Ditterich on The Front Bar

Dee-Nee
Dee-Nee
in Melbourne Demons

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Did anyone watch The Front Bar last night?

Special guest was Carl Ditterich who was a player and coach at Melbourne in the 70's but played mostly at St Kilda. He was brutal as the clips showed. 
 
The funny thing was, he went through several glasses of beer during the show. Most people on the show who have a glass in front of them, just play with it, maybe having a sip at most, but not Carl. He was guzzling.
 
He was interesting on Phil Carmen (not a team player) and couldn't understand how Robbie Flower never won a Brownlow. Not surprising when he never won a Dees B & F though!
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    Great performer. Classic Aussie character...

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    Big Carl was an absolute classic. I loved watching him play at Melbourne. I remember in 1979 we got done by Fitzroy I think by about 190 points at waverley when Carl wasn't playing and the next week he was in the side and we beat Essendon at the G. One of the biggest turn arounds I have seen especially because the dons did us by about 70 odd points earlier in the year.

    His last game against the filth was a belter as well. Just went out and hit every piece of filth he could get his hands on.

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      On 25/03/2021 at 07:03, dl4e said:

    His last game against the filth was a belter as well. Just went out and hit every piece of filth he could get his hands on.

    I remember that game very well indeed, one of those games one never forgets. Ah, the good old days when behind the game play was as enjoyable to watch as the play itself (ya got two games for the price of one?) I also loved the way Carl spoke about Robbie Flower, with respect and awe while all the time juggling a beer!

    Edited by Dee Dee

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    At 75 he's still an intimidating looking dude. I remember his last game. If played today the outrage would generate headlines for weeks !

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    Big Carl was great 

    I remember meeting him in the rooms in 1973

    I was a short 10 year old!!!

    he leant down like a giant to say hello

     

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    His first game (at 16?) was apparently one of the best first games ever 

    I didn’t see it, but wanting to see a great first game brings you to the ground doesn’t it 

     

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    Absolute legend. Saw him play in the red and blue. Seriously tough but talented. I’d love to have him in the team today. 
     

    Edited by spirit of norm smith
    B

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      On 25/03/2021 at 07:03, dl4e said:

     

    His last game against the filth was a belter as well. Just went out and hit every piece of filth he could get his hands on.

    In that case can we please get him in the midseason draft and play him on Queens Birthday

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    Carl was compelling to listen to last night.  I was hanging on every word.  Great theatre much like when he played the game. A powerful personality was Carl

    Certainly a different type of player but when he played with our team our players walked taller

    My one regret is not seeing him play in that last game of 1980.  I know people who did though and from all accounts, he created havoc amongst the filth.  They were going down like 9 pins

    He dished it out but copped it as well.  But that was footy back then. 

    Laurie Fowler claimed that Carl was his best coach and Laurie was coached by both Hafey & Barassi.  W/L record aside, we didn't have anywhere near enough talent back then.

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    If my memory serves me correct, he played with a  white handkerchief tucked into the back of his shorts! Maybe that was wiping his blood or his opponents blood away!

    Was an absolute fitness freak. Used to pound the streets of Brighton regularly in his high-cut 70s shorts and singlet. His speed and athleticism for someone that tall was amazing. As a kid I stared in bewilderment!

     

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      On 25/03/2021 at 12:01, Macca said:

     

    Certainly a different type of player but when he played with our team our players walked taller

     

    That is 100% right. I can remember as a supporter being proud to barack for a club led by a man that left no stone unturned.

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      On 25/03/2021 at 12:11, dl4e said:

    That is 100% right. I can remember as a supporter being proud to barack for a club led by a man that left no stone unturned.

    My memory is of the later years rather than the earlier stint ... he played under Ridley & Skilton but I was a bit young to be able to evaluate his worth from that time (although his disposal stats read well from those earlier years '73 - '75)

    Interesting that Carl missed 15 games through injury in '79 & '80 and we did not win any of those games ... No Ditterich, no Melbourne was very much the thinking (and the actuality)

    His last game against Collingwood ... 14 disposals, 9 hitouts & 8 TKO's.

    Edited by Macca

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    I well recall running onto the MCG at the end of the round 22 game in 1980 and making a beeline for Carl. I patted him on the back as he ran toward the player's race and implored, "please don't go Carl, we need you". As a kid, I loved the man. 

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      On 25/03/2021 at 21:10, demonstone said:

    I think he might be a bit past it seeing as he's 75 years old.

    Injury sub then.

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      On 25/03/2021 at 10:17, Bigred said:

    His first game (at 16?) was apparently one of the best first games ever 

    I didn’t see it, but wanting to see a great first game brings you to the ground doesn’t it 

     

    I was at his first game v. Melbourne in the first round of 1963 at the Junction Oval. The combination of his young age (17), his athleticism and his spring had previously not been seen - he was a genuine one off footballer.  To top it off (pun intended) he had a shock of long blonde hair that made him recognisable anywhere.

    On the day he seemed to dominate the game and yet his team mate Alan Morrow, a short c.185cm ruckman, was judged BOG for a stunning 22 mark game. But all we saw was Ditterich jumping ever higher above the packs.

     

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      On 25/03/2021 at 12:01, Macca said:

    Certainly a different type of player but when he played with our team our players walked taller

    He dished it out but copped it as well.  But that was footy back then. 

     

    In his very first game for the Saints, think i was 12, he overwhelmed a Mr Barassi and was quite disrespectful as I remember.

    And yes as he got older he played with a small towel in the back of his shorts, (again I think) and a couple of times an opposition player ripped it away . I do not think they did it twice.

    And both the saints and demon sides in the later years walked and played far taller with CD in the side.

    Very well respected,   Go Dees

    Edited by 640MD
    arithmetic

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      On 25/03/2021 at 21:30, tiers said:

    I was at his first game v. Melbourne in the first round of 1963 at the Junction Oval. The combination of his young age (17), his athleticism and his spring had previously not been seen - he was a genuine one off footballer.  To top it off (pun intended) he had a shock of long blonde hair that made him recognisable anywhere.

    On the day he seemed to dominate the game and yet his team mate Alan Morrow, a short c.185cm ruckman, was judged BOG for a stunning 22 mark game. But all we saw was Ditterich jumping ever higher above the packs.

     

    My memory also. He was an Adonis. Blond hair, athleticism and leap. He beat us almost singlehanded.  What a sight. Many said it was the best ever debut. 

    Friend of mine had a drink with him in 2020 and said he was still scary. A smouldering grumpy volcano!

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      On 25/03/2021 at 10:17, Bigred said:

    His first game (at 16?) was apparently one of the best first games ever 

    I didn’t see it, but wanting to see a great first game brings you to the ground doesn’t it 

     

    He was 17. I was at LUNa Park that afternoon, just down the road from the JUnction Oval where he destroyed Melbourne that afternoon.

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