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Melbourne Cricket Ground - 170 Years

Whispering_Jack
Whispering_Jack
in Melbourne Demons

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My strongest/best MCG memories:

I went to a Dees training day in 1974, taking an autograph book to be signed by the players. Flower, Fowler, Biffin, Callery, and many more. I lost the book about 10 years ago.

Mum took me to an Ashes test and I remember Fred Titmus from England played with toes missing because of a bizarre accident. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Lillie and Thompson bowl.

Caught the train down from the country with my brother in 1980 (I think). There were 58,000 people and the Dees lost by 8 points. For a country boy, it was frightening. Brawls in the crowd, oceans of beer, beer cans being thrown, sitting on the long wooden benches... and the urinals... wow. 

A friend's brother in law played in the Dees team under Carl Ditterich, and I got to go into the rooms before and after the game after we beat the Bombers. 1981 I think.

I saw Dees v Swans final in 1987. The sound of "Robbie" as Flower ran onto the ground for the first time remains one of my greatest football memories.

My first Ashes test as an adult (Aust v England), I wore my great grandfathers MCC blazer, and had some amazing conversations with other MCC members. I later donated the blazer to the museum. I sat right next to the camera and had a wicket to wicket view of play.

I saw the West Indies bruise the Australians in 1991 under the savagery of Curtly Ambrose

I saw an amazing test of Aust v India where 220 runs were scored but 14 wickets fell. The crowd entertainment this day was brilliant, funny, vulgar and magnetic which made the day even better.

Hayden and Ponting dismantling south Africa in a Boxing Day Test. Best batting I have ever seen.

I was there the day Matty Whelan flattened Hird, and although I hate footy thuggery with a passion, I really enjoyed that and still do. Strange that!

Many QB / KB games - too many to separate.

The 2018 final v Geelong. Biggest Dees noise I have ever heard. 

The 2021 Premiership celebration round 1 2022. The way the Dees people yelled out "Bang, Bang, Bang" when Clarry kicked that third quick goal sent chills up my spine.

Love the place. Now, to see a Dees premiership played there in my life time...

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    How great are those those memories, shots and sketches of the G.✅💕

    Edited by DeeZone
    Memories

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    Some of the most amazing things actually sit outside the ground. 

    Walk through the car-park and there are aboriginal scar trees ( a couple if you look hard).  The Wwurundjeri used to camp there, as the swampy areas where the rail yards and Richmond station lay today provided fishing, food and water. 

    More intriguing is that Tom Wills used to have a property on the Jolimont hill, just behind.  Aboriginal people were still camping there during his time, and there is a suggestion that he first observed the game of Marngrook there, while other scholars suggest he encountered it when he moved down Geelong way. 

    It is fitting that the first rules of the Game that Wills wrote are inscribed on the walls/ceiling in the Olympic stand, and not far from where he may have first seen the pre-cursor to the game of Australian Rules.

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