I was at the MCG early on 25 September, 1971 at this very minute when the Melbourne Under 19s were on their way to a premiership victory over Essendon. The team had beaten the Bombers in the Second Semi Final and they repeated the dose by 13 points in the  Grand Final.

Peter Williamson was solid in the ruck, Ian McGuinness starred up forward with six goals and rover Peter Dilnot took a screamer and kicked three majors. 

The Under 19s produced a number of future senior players - Ross Brewer, John Cumming, Peter Dilnot, Geoff Harrold Stephen Kerley, Ian McGuinness, Kevin Moore, Laurie Queay, Kim Smith and Peter Williamson. However, despite the fact that there was a lot of promise packed into the side, only Brewer and Kerley became regulars and the latter transferred to South Australia relatively early in his career. 

Melbourne 6.2.38 11.6.72 13.9.87 18.15.123

Essendon 3.4.22 7.7.49 12.11.83 16.14.110

Goals McGuinness 6 Dilnot 3 Brewer Harrold Taylor 2 Anderson Cumming Williamson

I stayed the whole day at the MCG and used the time between the 19s and the seniors to study up for my forthcoming final year Uni exams and then watched the Hawks win their second flag (they’ve won another 11 since then). Peter Hudson kicked a few goals and finished equalling the record of 150 goals in a season but his usual accuracy for goal eluded him and he butchered the opportunity to hold the record on his own.

Saw the Dees win the reserves GF in 1970 . I can't remember the Under 19 GF in 1971 . Maybe had not arrived at the ground early enough . My dad would get there very early to get his usual set in the smokers stand and would reserve my seat in the ladies area .

 

I went to the G in 1981 when we also won the 19s flag coached by Slug Jordan. We had a good side for a few years.

A portent indeed

Not sure about year but it was one of 55,56 or 57. Those were the days when reserves games were played as curtain raisers to the seniors. In this reserves game GF Melbourne player Rickard ? had a set shot after the final siren from a long way out ( no 50 metres arcs then) with the demons behind by under a goal. He nailed it to win the flag and it was a wonderful warm up for our  seniors premiership win later that day. Go demons!!!!!

I used to watch at home with my late Dad, love watching my dad at least get to see us win GF in the under 19s