Nice article by Rob Walls in the Age http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/b ... 75812.html

For those of us chronologically challenged enough to have been there (I was 12) , we witnessed the birth of our greatest era. My memories of the game are that it was a foul windy day, we couldn't buy a goal in the last to seal it, despite lots of shots. Keka could have kicked 8 had he kicked straight (as it was he got 4 out of 7). Neil Chandler in the number 47 came on to replace Bill Bennett and had a blinder in the very tense last quarter. To paraphrase George Harris, what's better than beating the Dons by 3 goals....

I can still remember the team as selected and all their numbers, shows how ingrained footy is when you are young. If only I'd been that attentive at school. To the young TCers hopefully the Blues are on the verge of delievering another golden era

Shivers down the spine stuff!

Thanks for posting that gerry.

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I particularly liked the comment Bucks made about playing in a Premiership for the Port Adelaide Magpies.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

It was my first GF - and of course, the first of EIGHT (that is 8 for all those Filth & Aints supporters) premierships that I have seen live.

I was on the wing in the second back row of the old Southern Stand with my dad and neighbour. My memory of the actual game is less vivid than my memory of the emotions throughout that last quarter.

The things I do remember are Chandler coming on in the last and the fantastic game played by Gary Crane (super player).

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

my first too and that barber Wallsy mentions was my grandfather. Mum went all teary went I called her about the article. Pop never really spoke about those days as barber to the lads.
He also featured in the old Bluey and Curly comics. My brother has the prints of those.

Pop was the reason we are all mad bluebuggers - dad was from tassie and didn't really have a strong allegiance - Pop took him along to the games of a sat arvo and the rest, as they say, is history.

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Don't remember a lot of about it directly (as I was only 6 years old) but for you old codgers it must have been pretty satisfying winning that one after 21 years without a flag.

I do remember our next door neighbour she barracked for Essendon* and remember she was pretty filthy when I went over to play with her son the next day - it might have had something to do with the Carlton Jumper with Number 2 on the back that I was wearing - my parents must have had a wicked sense of humour . I can still remember her saying something about we must have cheated to win by 3 points that they kicked more goals than us and it wasnt fair.

So I thank that next door neighbour for my early grounded hating of "The Scum".

In a funny turn of events I actually am a close neighbour of Ted Fordham who played for Essendon* in that game and a nicer bloke you would ever wish to meet - he has described that game as particularly gut wrenching.

Neil Chandler is a very interesting player for us - he never really established himself as an out and out regular player for us but played in those 3 Premierships of 68, 70 and 72 - and was a key contributor in all of them.

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

Winston Churchill

Great article that brought the memories flooding back.

I was fortunate enough to be there and what a dour struggle it was.

To share the front page of the Sun with the Cup and Big Nick was an added bonus.

Great article by Wallsy. (warm & fuzzy )

I was there. I was so nervous during the whole game & I couldn't believe it when we won.

Wallsy was right about Big John. He was amazing. Such a strong ruckman you would ever wish to see. I think he was about 6'2".

And Barassi, what a coup is was getting him. In 1964, our Centenary year we sank to about 10th. I think it was the lowest we had ever been.

Barassi came along in 1965 & turned the place around. The rest is history

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Thanks for that insight Gerry. I played a few years of footy under Billy Bennet as my coach. He was very demanding at training, on the field and especially on the end of season footy trip drinking marathons. I didn't know he got dragged in the 68 GF, so thanks for giving me some ammo to razz him next time we catch up.

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“Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile a way and you have their shoes."

got it on video

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"You don’t get much more Navy Blue than Stephen Kernahan" - Marc Murphy

That was my first year of following Carlton - all because of Brent Crosswell. I remember listening to Dick Mason's call on ABC radio in Launceston as a 13yo. Wonderful game and memories.

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

Dick Mason (R.I.P.) was a great commentator on the ABC and a mad Carlton Fan.

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Cheats never prosper (except in the AFL)

Listen to all the old timers in this thread!

Some ripping yarns though.

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Like Gerry, GNB and Dannyboy it was my first of 8 premiership experiences. I was in standing room in the old Northern Stand and when the final siren went I jumped up so high that I ripped my jeans (got them caught) on the wire fence dividing the standing and seating areas. A small price to pay in witnessing the start of a dynasty.

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"IF YOU FAIL TO PREPARE, YOU'RE PREPARED TO FAIL" - Mark Spitz

Yes another old codger here getting almost teary eyed over those almost long forgotten memories as a 12 year old.

The 2 things i remember most vivdly were the enormity of the crowd, and bespectacled Geoff Blethyn having a couple of chances to pinch it off us but spraying them everywhere. Still he probably had sore gonads at the time after spending the day dicing with Wes Lofts all day.

Totally agree with Neil Chandler, seemed to always lift in the really big games and seemed destined for bigger things, but think he had a chronic knee problem ???

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I wore number 25 on the back of my jumper 40 years ago..... yes, pre Marchesani !!

You guys are making me jealous!

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Yes, I was there behind the goals Punt road end.
You had to que up all night outside the MCG for a set of finals tickets in those days.
Remember Geoff Blethyn and Wes Lofts and No 32. Bryan Quirk.

I was standing under the old southern stand, and 2 things stand out in my memory.
Brent Crosswell's kick from about 55 metres that travelled dead straight, landed in the unattended goal square, and bounced at right angles across goal and was cleared by Daryl Gerlach.
In the last hectic minutes, Wes lofts giving Geoff Blethyn a shove about 40 metres out from Essendon*'s goal that wasn't paid.
Very nerve wracking, but wonderful result.

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

This might sound dumb.

But for those of you who were actually there do you actually remember the 1968 GF in colour.

The reason I ask is I was at the 1972 Grand Final and for me it was a fantastic match and experience for a 10 year old boy - but because I have seen it so many times on video and DVD - my memories of it are now clouded in black and white.

Has this happened to anyone else??? Or is it just me.?

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

Winston Churchill

I DO remember the 1968 GF in colour, but you are right. I've seen the 1970 GF on video that many times that I can't for the life of me remember IT in colour. In fact whenever I picture Jezza's mark from where I was standing in the Southern stand, it still seems like Mike Williamson yelled out "You Beauty" over the MCG loud speakers.