Flashback: Round 22 v Hawthorn

[Melb_2009 0]

Flashback 1996 Merger game v Hawthorn

The end of the 1996 season saw Melbourne and Hawthorn play each other in the last round of that season. "The Merger Game" as it was called, was a spirited contest, as it was a likely possibility that it would be the last Hawthorn v Melbourne contest and, as the result that Melbourne could not make the finals and Hawthorn needed to win the game by any margin to have any chance to contest the 1996 finals series, many fans saw this game as a last chance to see their team play football.

63,196 fans went to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to see Dunstall kick 10 goals and the Hawthorn Hawks win by one point. In a now-famous moment of defiance to both the league and his team's board, Chris Langford (Hawthorn's full-back) took off his Hawthorn jumper and proudly held it above his head while leaving the field.

Later in the round, Richmond lost to the North Melbourne Kangaroos by a large margin. This loss ensured that Hawthorn were playing in the finals. Hawthorn would get knocked out by the Sydney Swans, by one goal, in the first week of the 1996 finals, a week after the merger votes.

[deanox 8,677]

Flashback 1996 Merger game v Hawthorn

The end of the 1996 season saw Melbourne and Hawthorn play each other in the last round of that season. "The Merger Game" as it was called, was a spirited contest, as it was a likely possibility that it would be the last Hawthorn v Melbourne contest and, as the result that Melbourne could not make the finals and Hawthorn needed to win the game by any margin to have any chance to contest the 1996 finals series, many fans saw this game as a last chance to see their team play football.

63,196 fans went to the Melbourne Cricket Ground to see Dunstall kick 10 goals and the Hawthorn Hawks win by one point. In a now-famous moment of defiance to both the league and his team's board, Chris Langford (Hawthorn's full-back) took off his Hawthorn jumper and proudly held it above his head while leaving the field.

Later in the round, Richmond lost to the North Melbourne Kangaroos by a large margin. This loss ensured that Hawthorn were playing in the finals. Hawthorn would get knocked out by the Sydney Swans, by one goal, in the first week of the 1996 finals, a week after the merger votes.

ill tell you what, i have never been at a game and felt so much passion in the air...its amazing. there was even more feeling in that game than melb v carlton round 22, 2007...

but seriously, thats a game id like on dvd...

[John Dee 438]

I went to this game with my son, daughter and one of my daughter's friends. We left in what was supposed to be plenty of time, got stuck in many a traffic jam, discovered all the car parks closed when we finally got there, parked in the city and didn't get there until after quarter time. We eventually found seats up the back of the Olympic Stand for my daughter and her friend, my son and I were happy to stand. The 63,000 odd figure is very misleading as, being directly opposite, we could see that there was not a soul in the AFL members area; we were packed in like sardines and a major portion of the Southern Stand was completely empty.

BTW, we was robbed- seconds to go the ball is kicked to a leading Neitz just on the 50, Langford pushes him in the back under the footy. Neitz, to his eternal credit, did not do a Lloyd swan dive with pike, merely tried to double back, but Langford got the ball and the game was over.

[Melb_2009 0]

I went to this game with my son, daughter and one of my daughter's friends. We left in what was supposed to be plenty of time, got stuck in many a traffic jam, discovered all the car parks closed when we finally got there, parked in the city and didn't get there until after quarter time. We eventually found seats up the back of the Olympic Stand for my daughter and her friend, my son and I were happy to stand. The 63,000 odd figure is very misleading as, being directly opposite, we could see that there was not a soul in the AFL members area; we were packed in like sardines and a major portion of the Southern Stand was completely empty.

BTW, we was robbed- seconds to go the ball is kicked to a leading Neitz just on the 50, Langford pushes him in the back under the footy. Neitz, to his eternal credit, did not do a Lloyd swan dive with pike, merely tried to double back, but Langford got the ball and the game was over.

You see how Dunstall kicked his 100th goal for the season and everybody from the Stands starting running and givin him a hug saying well done. until the scoreboard read along the lines Patrons please step off the arena. Cos i watchin on bigpond website and what frustrates the most of the site now, is they are missing the last QTR and you may hear Commentators talking in deep voices.

[Yze_Magic 3]

It is just me or does one of the flashback merger game threads get started every week?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Every 3 or 4 months......

Frankly if people really want to know excitement at AFL game, they should have been at the 1987 elimination final (vs Kangas) and the qualifiying final vs Swans. I have never seen an MFC crowd so pumped and the atmosphere of excitement and expectation was electric.

I also recall each week when Northey ran the team out on the ground before the start of the game, he instructed to run as a group as close to the perimeter fence of the MCG as possible to soak up the wave of support. It worked.

However the following week at that cemetery sporting venue Waverley, the excitement just could not be captured in that ground. We fell short that day.

[wisedog 328]

I was at this game too. I was only 9 or 10.. My sister and I made 'no merger' signs but they were taken off us by MCC staff.

I remember Neitz kicking 4 goals in the first quater, and in that last quater seeing the ball being bombed into the forward line again and again... we just couldnt score! Needless to say I was devestated and left the game in tears.