Brent Crosswell is the reason I follow Carlton. I had his first cousin in my high school class in Launceston. I saw him do amazing things at an athletic meet in 67 and then went to Carlton the next year. There were many stories about his sporting exploits at Scotch College, I am sure some, if not most have an element of truth. 70 GF was a fantastic day and I listened to Dick Mason on the ABC with a friend who was a Collingwood supporter. At the half time kick in the empty block next door he was Tuddenham and I was Crosswell. I kicked the winning goal and then we raced inside to hear the greatest GF win ever! From then on I was a Blue for life, especially after watching the 72 GF live with Nicholls, Jezza and Wallsy all starring. Then of course there is that memory of the Car-O-Tel hotel in St Kilda across the road from Luna Park.....

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

I was sitting in the Ponsford Stand - middle deck directly behind the goals.
Actually, I'm not sure it was called the Ponsford then.

I was 17 and had secured tickets for myself and some family friends by sleeping out for a couple of nights at Princes Park.

At half-time the area I was sitting in was funereal as it was occupied entirely by Carlton fans. At 3/4 time the general consensus was that the Blues third term was a mighty effort but we would be unable to sustain it.

When Jezza's long left-foot shot bounced about 15 yards out the crowd in that area stood as one and beckoned the ball to continue its way forward. When it crossed the goal-line with it's final burst of energy to give us the 10 point margin, the jubilation was indescribable.

When the siren rang strangers began hugging and kissing each other and I guarantee the crowds singing of the winning theme song has never been matched. My friends dad (one of those I had managed to get a ticket) told me he would never forget what I'd done for him (and he never did).

The greatest day of my life until my marriage.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"

Big call, Bluey but only us oldies can recall Nick and his exploits through the haze of time.
I'm with you just the same. Kerna was great but Big John was a colossus.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Jeez, KKK, we have something in common. The 1962 GF was the worst day of my life until MY marriage.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Does anyone remember a week or so after the 1970 Grand Final that the club showed a replay of the match at Princes Park?
A large screen was set up on the ground and we sat either in the social club seats or the Heatley Stand, not sure.
The atmosphere was great!
Pretty sure the same thing was done again in 1972.

Also, does any one know of the where abouts of the Rothmans colour film of the 1970 grand final?
The Rothmans cigarette company used to film the Grand Finals and I believe presented copies to the club and the VFL.
I have seen snippets of it on TV over the years and it was filmed from different angles to the TV coverage.
It would be fabulous to see the game in colour.

Gee Bluey you have a good memory. I now remember going to those replays at the Social Club. I rememberr a huge crowd being there. Those were great years.

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Brent Crosswell,
Saw his first game in 1968 against Geelong. A brilliant debut.
The best first game I have seen.

We had top sides between 1972-1979, but couldn't win the important finals match when it counted.
If Brett had stayed at Carlton, we may have won one or two Grand Finals in those years.

Peter Bosustow's departure to the West after 63 games at the end of 1983 had a similar effect on the Blues, he was rubbed out of the finals for that year.
His tackle and goal of the year on Geelong's Nankervis in the 1981 Second Semi turned that game.
Possibly would have won a flag between 1982-1987 if he had remained.

Both brilliant, exciting, and unpredictable players.

They could change a game in a few seconds with a touch of magic.

Dont remember any of the game apart from what I have seen on replays later in life
Can remember my elder brother threatening to belt me up if I didn't follow Carlton
Can remember being glued to the radio
Can remember carving the scores with a knife on the Window sill
Can remember the whack accross the back side from mum when she saw what I had done

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Ahh the memories. I was 14 and went in standing room with my family. I was wearing my Jezza duffle coat and Carlton jumper with Vinny Waites number. Just before halftime I was barracking forlornly when a middle aged Collingwood supporter told me to have a look at the scoreboard. Just after that Jezza took that great mark, but it didn't mean much at the time.
At halftime I can still remember thinking that at least I'd seen the 1968 grand final. In 1970 I'd seen us at Vic Park get flogged, scoring only 2 goals so I gave us no hope. The main impressions of the rest of the game are V Waite charging through anything Collingwood after half time. Actually my brother had a seat in the Northern Stand (he barracks for Melb so I don't know how he got the only family seat). Anyway C'wood had a halftime banner and the Carlton players ran around it except Vinnie who ran straight through it. Didn't see it myself but that's what my bro reckons.
Other post half time impressions, Syd Jackson kicking the best goal ever kicked in the third quarter.Big John's last quarter mark. He was just left standing woth the ball tucked under his arm and C'wood playeers spread around him - or so it seemed. And Twiggy Dunne's free kick and shot in the last minute. I thought if he kicks it they'd only be five points down. We could still lose.
And Crosser was great. I remember writing the club a furious letter when he left for North. If they gave retrospective Norm Smith's he'd have two for 70 and 75 when he won North their first flag.n Actually Swan McKay was pretty good too.

As great a grand final as there's been and 1970 syndrome still effects C'wood who constantly look for excuses when they fail. 1972 gf is overshadowed by 1970 but was just as great.
PS Gave it to the middleaged C'wood supporter as he beat a hasty angry exit at the final siren.

I was 7 years old and went with my Dad and my brother.

We were sitting a few bays to the right of the Collingwoord cheer squad at the Punt Rd end. I don't remember much, but I do remember very clearly they were drinking champagne and celebrating at half time.

I asked my Dad why they were doing that and he said, "they think they've won ". I asked him, "have they?"... and he said ... "it's not looking good."

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Number 17 - come on down!

I was there guys.............slept outside the MCG for two days to get my ticket.
That mark gy Jezza was right in front of me.Its as vivid today as it was then.It was like it was in slowmotion.
But heres the part that really shits me.Went to the dunny at halftime.Just had to go.BUT......the queque was a mile long.And so.......when i finally got back i'd missed the Teddy Hopkin's onslaught that brought us back into the game.But we were still behind and had a lot of catching up to do.Anyhow,we bridged the gap and were bolting away from in the finish.The most thrilling game i have witnessed.You have to remember that the game of footy in those days was a completely differant caper.In those days handball was rare.It was get it on to your boot as quick as you can.Barassi changed the basic fundamentals of footy that day.As far as i am concerned,Barassi was the architect of the modern game of footy that we all witness today.

PS........agree with the comments RE Brent Crosswell.On his day,the most mercurial Carlton footballer i have seen.Also agree RE Big John Nicholls.I have the utmost respect for Sticks, BUT .......Big Nick was THE MAN.The most feared man in footy.I remember being at Victoria Park when Big Nick sent Len Thompson off on a stretcher.Right in front of the Collingwood Social Club.They booed him for the rest of the game.But Big Nick was unflappable and didnt blink an eyelid.

This football club has a magnificent history and without doubt,John Nicholls is the GREATEST player to pull on the old dark navy blue.

You cant go back in time.But really,every young bloke brought into this great club needs to be given a history lesson and reminded that is an HONOUR to represent this great club.I just want the pride brought back to the place.Thankfully with MrPratt leading the way,its happening again.

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All my dangerous friends

Just on Nicholls (and I posted this elsewhere a while back), my dad, who started going to the footy in 1940 when he was 7, and who still goes every week, says that Nicholls was by far and away the best captain he has ever seen.

He said that if a team mate was down on form, Nick would go out of his way to get the ball to that teammate to bring him into the game and build his confidence. He would do this consistently.

I've been watching footy for 32 years, and I've not seen a captain of any club who has been renowned for doing that on even an irregular basis.

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Mens sana in corpore sano.

Bring back the laurel wreath logo!!!

My memories:

Jezza's mark - he just seemed to soar forever!
Standing Room in the old southern stand - on the old Melbourne Bitter beer cans (they were steel and twice the size of cans these days) so I could see over the heads
Big Nick carrying the cup around the ground - none of the fanfare of today
The squeeze on the footbridge leaving - it took 45 minutes to get over it!
The chanting of the crowd before the game from both collingwood and carlton fans. The roar and sounds were deafening.

Geez, I can still remember the crowd figure - 121,696. That record will never, ever be beaten and to think I was there!

I wasn't born for this GF but my dad went. He told me it sucked.

And I believe him.

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SIDE BY SIDE
COOOOOLLLLLIIIINGWOOOOOOOD

I too was at that replay session.

Not quite as good as hearing George Harris make that immortal quote about beating Collingwood back at the ground in '79 though.

In 1970 we had seats on the fence in the Northern Stand, just an outstanding day.Watching the ABC replay the other day saw the kids cringe as their dad was again seen making a fool of himself on the ground at match end.

I was never the most nimble of footballers but i did manage to evade the cops in 1968,1970 and 1972 and and join the players on the ground.

Various newspaper photo's , videos etc attest to my deft ability to be in the right spot at the Cup Presentations!

I was listening to a radio at a friends house im Maryborugh. Was so upset at half time I went out and played cricket with a mate. Came back with 5 mins to go .. and went crazy. Glued to the tv that night.

I remember Uncle Teddy (Whitten) asking me how I enjoyed the GF the next week after the game.

I told him it was the most exciting day of my life. I was really upset at halftime, yet excited by the occasion. I told him the crowd, the atmosphere and final score were great.

He called me a traitor, my jaw dropped, but was always nice as usual after that.

He never invited me to a Footscray function at Western Oval again...so I started playing soccer to shit him.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

The previous board/administration cocked up a lot of things but one of the few things they got very right was to allow John Nicholls the privilege of walking of with the final ball at Princes Park in our final home game there.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Well in my opinion this is one of the best threads ever to grace the pages of TalkingCarlton. The memories expressed here are in a word magnificent (I am so jealous of you guys).

I reckon this thread deserves a bit of immortality so there is now a 'memories' link to it at the bottom of the 1970 GF page on the Blueseum.

http://www.blueseum.org/cfc/tiki-index. ... al%2C+1970

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|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

Of course the previous administration has everyhting to do with memories of the 1970 grand final. Glass half empty right.

Pity Carlton won that grand final, they could have tanked for draft picks - oh they weren't around.

BTW, 1970 GF was fantastic.

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I love spinach