On this day in 1989 ...

[Whispering_Jack 30,947]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNXIYBStPfA

[Dr. Gonzo 24,368]

I remember this game well - we got over the Cats by 3 points in a high scoring game at Waverley (112 vs 109) only 4 or 5 weeks after we got belted by them at the G when we kicked 2.8.20 for the entire game (the lowest score I've witnessed us kick) - we also kicked 2.8.20 in the opening round of 1991 when we travelled to Perth and got belted by the Eagles (Allen Jakovich's inauspicious debut).

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,064]

This win and the win over Hawthorn at Princes Park were certainly our watershed moments of 1989.

Not sure what it was about the Dees but we couldn't get pass second base in 89/90/91 despite showing great promise in all three seasons.

[Kozzie4PM 765]

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

This win and the win over Hawthorn at Princes Park were certainly our watershed moments of 1989.

Not sure what it was about the Dees but we couldn't get pass second base in 89/90/91 despite showing great promise in all three seasons.

Realistically the late 80s/early 90s dees were very good and had a lot of heart, but ultimately didn't have the talent to go all the way. 

[Swooper1987 3,322]

9 minutes ago, Kozzie4PM said:

Realistically the late 80s/early 90s dees were very good and had a lot of heart, but ultimately didn't have the talent to go all the way. 

John Northey got everything out of that group. They had a great record against Hawthorn - better than any other side over that period 87-91, when the Hawks won three flags and were runner up in another play off.  Putting them out of the finals in 1990 was probably my second greatest footy memory, after round 22 1987.

[Wells 11 5,440]

16 minutes ago, Swooper1987 said:

John Northey got everything out of that group. They had a great record against Hawthorn - better than any other side over that period 87-91, when the Hawks won three flags and were runner up in another play off.  Putting them out of the finals in 1990 was probably my second greatest footy memory, after round 22 1987.

Yep such a memorable win that final in 1990. A high point. We’d just beaten them the week before in the final round of the season … so 2 wins v the hawks in 2 weeks felt like a big statement. Dees were real contenders! 

Unfortunately the following game ( after a week off to let the magpies and eagles replay their draw) we played the eagles at waverley and got fully thrashed. despite the weeks rest and despite the eagles travel schedule. It’s a loss that remains one of my worst memories as the 1990 flag was just so winnable. it remains “ the one that got away” in my brain. so it was a big high  right next to a big low…. and of the two memories the loss makes a deeper impression. 

[bush demon 2,116]

10 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

Yep such a memorable win that final in 1990. A high point. We’d just beaten them the week before in the final round of the season … so 2 wins v the hawks in 2 weeks felt like a big statement. Dees were real contenders! 

Unfortunately the following game ( after a week off to let the magpies and eagles replay their draw) we played the eagles at waverley and got fully thrashed. despite the weeks rest and despite the eagles travel schedule. It’s a loss that remains one of my worst memories as the 1990 flag was just so winnable. it remains “ the one that got away” in my brain. so it was a big high  right next to a big low…. and of the two memories the loss makes a deeper impression. 

I went to that game. WCE totally outsmarted us by continuously kicking across the ground 'to the fatside', always unmarked players. We couldn't lay our hands on the ball.

Edited July 22, 2021 by bush demon
Sp.

[leave it to deever 17,546]

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

I remember this game well - we got over the Cats by 3 points in a high scoring game at Waverley (112 vs 109) only 4 or 5 weeks after we got belted by them at the G when we kicked 2.8.20 for the entire game (the lowest score I've witnessed us kick) - we also kicked 2.8.20 in the opening round of 1991 when we travelled to Perth and got belted by the Eagles (Allen Jakovich's inauspicious debut).

Good old Waverly....such a strange spot to put a stadium.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

37 minutes ago, Wells 11 said:

It’s a loss that remains one of my worst memories as the 1990 flag was just so winnable. it remains “ the one that got away” in my brain. so it was a big high  right next to a big low…. and of the two memories the loss makes a deeper impression. 

 

Amen. Look at the list of the team that won it. Christ. They should have been nicknamed "the NQRs"

[Kozzie4PM 765]

1 hour ago, Wells 11 said:

Yep such a memorable win that final in 1990. A high point. We’d just beaten them the week before in the final round of the season … so 2 wins v the hawks in 2 weeks felt like a big statement. Dees were real contenders! 

Unfortunately the following game ( after a week off to let the magpies and eagles replay their draw) we played the eagles at waverley and got fully thrashed. despite the weeks rest and despite the eagles travel schedule. It’s a loss that remains one of my worst memories as the 1990 flag was just so winnable. it remains “ the one that got away” in my brain. so it was a big high  right next to a big low…. and of the two memories the loss makes a deeper impression. 

That 1990 finals series was I think probably my first memory of being at the footy.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,950]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

Good old Waverly....such a strange spot to put a stadium.

Probably not such a strange decision at the time it was made. Firstly, Waverley was expected to become the geographic centre of greater Melbourne. That didn't happen, but not by much as the centre gradually moved eastward to about Ashburton until about 5 years ago and then started to move west again because of the rapid growth in the Werribee and Melton vicinities.

Secondly, the then VFL expected a railway line to go to Waverley (VFL Park), via Monash Uni. The apocryphal story, which may well be true, is that the Premier at the time, Henry Bolte, had to choose whether to send the railway line to Monash and the proposed VFL Park or through Sandown Racecourse to Dandenong. It is claimed that he chose Sandown because he was more of a fan of racing. (It's hard to believe today but back in the 50s and early 60s, racing used to get decent crowds to every Saturday meeting.) 

Edit: I should add that the failure to provide a railway line probably did more to kill VFL Park than anything else. And the "killing" of VFL Park enabled the MCG to grow to become the wonderful stadium it now is. (If only we could go...)

Edited July 22, 2021 by La Dee-vina Comedia

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

Another thing to kill off VFL Park was that it was the coldest, iciest, most windswept place in the southern hemisphere, apart from Cape Horn, and Ballarat.

Plus, modern stadiums are shaped like bowls. Waverley was shaped like a saucer. If you weren't in the first tier of seats, you needed a telescope to see what was going on when the ball was on the opposite side of the ground.

And that stupid bloody giant brown TV.

[Guest]

Those were the days.

Avoiding radio broadcasts and all scores in general so one could save themselves for the replay.

Crossing the border into NSW to go to a club to watch the match live or going to a pub with a satellite connection to Imparja. (I lived in the Mallee and Kelly Country as a kid)

Drew Morphett (and Sandy Roberts and Peter Landry) being remarkable in that they actively chose not to spend the lion’s share of their air time talking absolute cobblers about irrelevant nonsense or otherwise engaging in forced banter with other knuckleheads in commentary.

Football in the suburbs. 

Great memories. ☺️
 

As an aside, next week, the 30th to be exact, is the 10 year anniversary of another famous game of ours against Geelong. 

And like George Costanza, I’ll leave on that high note. ?

Edited July 22, 2021 by Colin B. Flaubert

[dl4e 5,851]

Why did they always use white crow tomato sauce ?

[Tony Tea 2,809]

Yet another case of late season altitude sickness near the top of the ladder.

[Spud 288]

1 hour ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Probably not such a strange decision at the time it was made. Firstly, Waverley was expected to become the geographic centre of greater Melbourne. That didn't happen, but not by much as the centre gradually moved eastward to about Ashburton until about 5 years ago and then started to move west again because of the rapid growth in the Werribee and Melton vicinities.

Secondly, the then VFL expected a railway line to go to Waverley (VFL Park), via Monash Uni. The apocryphal story, which may well be true, is that the Premier at the time, Henry Bolte, had to choose whether to send the railway line to Monash and the proposed VFL Park or through Sandown Racecourse to Dandenong. It is claimed that he chose Sandown because he was more of a fan of racing. (It's hard to believe today but back in the 50s and early 60s, racing used to get decent crowds to every Saturday meeting.) 

Edit: I should add that the failure to provide a railway line probably did more to kill VFL Park than anything else. And the "killing" of VFL Park enabled the MCG to grow to become the wonderful stadium it now is. (If only we could go...)

The fact Sir Kenneth Luke owned the land the VFL park was built on, probably helped his decision as head of the VFL as to where the ground should be built!!

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

As an aside, next week, the 30th to be exact, is the 10 year anniversary of another famous game of ours against Geelong. 

What I don’t understand is why this loss is talked about but no one seems to ever mention that other loss, the one at the hands of Fitzroy, 42 years ago (28 July 1979). Is it because that was so much longer ago? 

[Guest]

45 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

What I don’t understand is why this loss is talked about but no one seems to ever mention that other loss, the one at the hands of Fitzroy, 42 years ago (28 July 1979). Is it because that was so much longer ago? 

I think the politics and backlash were the key reasons why people talk about it more. You could draw an almost straight line to the unraveling of the club to that day and it’s lead up. In 1979, there wasn’t nearly half the backstabbing, power plays or expectations of success as there was in 2011. Everyone basically viewed us as a bloody awful football team, and we proceeded to dawdle along in that vein till Barass became coach in 1981.

Plus I don’t believe it was broadcast at the time (or even included on the replay). If you are a masochist, the highlights of that game are still on YouTube to watch. I’ve never seen it, and I never intend to.

With all that being said, I expect a 186 10th anniversary thread next week, so plenty of time to sink our teeth into it then.

Edited July 22, 2021 by Colin B. Flaubert

[leave it to deever 17,546]

2 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Crossing the border into NSW to go to a club to watch the match live or going to a pub

Used to be to get to the nsw pokies as Victoria was behind(or ahead) of the times.

Top post CB f.

 

Edited July 22, 2021 by leave it to deever

[MarkMacca 133]

About VFL Park my Dad used to say cold pies and hot drinks. My happiest memory of that awdul place was the 1987 (mid week) night grand final when we hung on desperately to beat the bombers.

[leave it to deever 17,546]

2 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Football in the suburbs

Used to love the radio station going around the grounds as they would say....over at Arden st.....back to Victoria park....live at lakeside.

[leave it to deever 17,546]

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

, the then VFL expected a railway line to go to Waverley (VFL Park), via Monash Uni. The apocryphal story, which may well be true, is that the Premier at the

Tx...that explains a lot. Cheers.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,820]

It was great  knocking Hawthorn  out  of  the finals in  1990, BUT.... it opened up the finals for  Collingwood to win their first flag since 1958.  Hawthorn were  their nemesis.

Edited July 23, 2021 by Jumping Jack Clennett
date error

[Dr. Gonzo 24,368]

21 hours ago, Kozzie4PM said:

Realistically the late 80s/early 90s dees were very good and had a lot of heart, but ultimately didn't have the talent to go all the way. 

Lacked a key forward.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,064]

3 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

It was great  knocking Hawthorn  out  of  the finals in  1990, BUT.... it opened up the finals for  Collingwood to win their first flag since 1958.  Hawthorn were  their nemesis.

So very true.

Hawthorn beat Collingwood twice in 1990 including putting 160 points on the pies in round 20. A lot of Collingwood supporters are adamant that there would have been no 1990 premiership had they copped Hawthorn in the finals.