The 1976 Flag - The Bittersweet Premiership

[Adelaide Hawk]

As some may realise from earlier threads, in the 1970s I was still very much worshipping Hawthorn from afar. I enjoyed everything about Hawthorn, but never really considered going over to see a match live, much less a Grand Final. My love affair with the Hawks was limited to watching the Winners on ABC2.

In those days the SANFL GF was played on the same day, so I was at Football Park, first of all to watch my club Norwood win the Reserves GF, followed by Sturt downing Port Adelaide in the big one. For those unfamiliar with the culture of SANFL, it was always a rare treat to watch Port Adelaide defeated in a GF

However, I had my trusty transistor with me and was eagerly listening for scores. Even though still haunted by the 1975 result, I was quietly confident of a victory ... then again I always am .. I wouldn't hear of us losing the 2008 GF.

The scores were coming through and I was scribbling them into my GF Football Budget. So come 3/4 time, Norwood had won the Reserves, the Hawks had got up over North, and Port were going down right before my eyes. Life rarely gets much better than that

Once again I hurried home to watch the replay and cheered each goal as if it were happening live. I have to admit when talking of the 1976 & 1978 GFs, I get them a little confused with each other, same opposition, many of the same players, etc. I always seem to think we won the 76 GF by less than in 78, but not so.

Living in SA, I hadn't kept up with the information regarding Peter Crimmins. I knew he was unwell but hadn't grasped the gravity of his situation until I picked up the paper one morning and saw the (now) famous photo of all the Hawks players with Crimmo and the cup, and the unbelievable story that the "Little Fella" had passed away.

I was shocked, I couldn't comprehend that this brilliant, extremely fit athletic was no longer with us. Having thought a football match was so important a couple of days earlier, I wondered if at times we get our priorities a little askew.

The memories that are indelibly etched in my memory from the 76GF was the superb marking and field play of the great Peter Knights. I often feel this player is very much under-rated when discussing past champions of VFL/AFL. For my money, he'd be in the best 20 players I've ever seen.

But, how lucky was I? The Mighty Hawks had won our 2nd flag since I "adopted" them in 1968. I wondered ... would I be lucky enough to see them win another one?

[houdinihuddo]

Peter Crimmins was one of the most sensational young men you could ever know. He was always a cheeky, chirpy and positive character who was full of life. He was a courageous player who was quick, read the play very well, always handled the ball cleanly, had very good foot disposal skills and was a great leader.

In 1975 Crimmo played 7 games in the firsts, I think the first 7 games, before his illness. He played in the reserves towards the end of the season including one of two finals games. Due to his great courage and ability he played well.

A lot of pressure was placed on the selectors to select Crimmo in the GF team however due to concerns about his health and well being he was overlooked. Before the GF Crimmo arrived in the rooms carrying his footy gear just in case someone couldn't play at the last minute and a number of players were shattered and could not hold back their tears.

Extracts from the 1975 Annual Report read:
"We regret to report that in his second season as captain Peter was unable complete the season due to illness. However in the matches in which he was able to appear, Peter inspired the whole team with his tremendous courage, skill and tenacity.

He worked extremely hard to overcome his illness and regain his fitness through pure dedication. This in itself is a credit to this very popular Club member and leader".

The last time I spoke to Crimmo was mid year in 1976. I was walking along Little Collins Street outside David Jones when he greeted me. At first I did not recognise him because he had lost so much weight and looked very sick however he cheered me up with his cheeky grin and positive outlook.

I have teared up writing about one of the most inspiration people anyone could be privileged to know.

At every BHH training session I love looking at the wonderful photographs of Crimmo in the HFC gym. Crimmo was a truly great person and a champion footballer.

[Linda Crescent]

[grizzlym]

Originally Posted by houdinihuddo

I have teared up writing about one of the most inspiration people anyone could be privileged to know.

HH, I can understand your emotions re Crimmins.

I was asking my father about him on the weekend and he clouded over. I remember my grandmother - his mother - used to tear-up when the Little Fella was mentioned. His name and the 1976 flag were always associated with sadness for me; a sadness that pervaded through the club and continues to be felt to this day. My father and grandmother’s reactions, even your post HH, are proof of that.

The Crimmin’s legacy is compounded by his heart-wrenching omission for the 1975 Grand Final. But something immense was forged that Grand Final Day in 1976 – where the combined will of great champions responded to the heart-felt words of a legendary coach and ‘won it for the Little Fella’. While the sadness was/is profound, the Hawthorn spirit was infused with that of its dying leader that day in September. That legacy lives on to this day.

I was a young fella in 1975-76, and therefore, I have no memory of seeing Crimmins play. I know I did though. Yet for as long as I can remember, I felt like I knew the Crimmin’s story . Unfortunately, for me though Crimmins was always dead or dying, never playing footy – I’m just of that era, I guess.

I do remember the 1976 Grand Final Day though, because my family flew back into the country to watch the hawks play. To explain: my father’s work had shunted the family on an around-the-world trip at the start of 1976, which was supposed to last for the whole year. But as the reports of the Hawk’s great season coupled with Crimmin’s declining health gradually filtered through, Dad started making plans to get back. He didn’t have to convince Mum too hard though, as she was starting to crack it living in hotels while he swanned around.

We left London - flying back on British Airways I think - and landed on Grand Final Day. My memory is probably fallible here, but we went directly from the airport to the MCG (mum headed home with my brother), where my grandmother was waiting for us with tickets.

The spectacle was overwhelming for a jet-lagged young tacker like me. The game itself was a blur. To be honest I thought I had scant few memories, but Rusty’s account stirred visions of Knights and Mathews. Anyway, we won. I remember that.

I also remember going down into the rooms after the game, lots of hugging and Dad buying me a Weg poster on the way home. That poster stayed on my bedroom wall for years, and along with the Crimmins’ sadness, were constant reminders of that game. One faded, the other just continued to grow.

As the years went by, there were constant reminders of the ‘Little Fella’. For one of my father’s birthdays my grandmother gave him Peter Knight’s book, ‘Knight in Shining Armour’. It contained a very sad chapter about the death of Crimmins, including that iconic photo taken around Crimmin’s bed. It was, to my young eyes, a very sad photo. Unjust. It shows a grinning, healthy Peter Knights with his beaming teammates holding the Premiership Cup. They are gathered around a gravely ill Crimmins who looks like he’d staggered out of a concentration camp; a desiccated husk of man.

My father used to tell me stories about Peter Crimmins. He also told me about how Crimmin’s number was retired. To which I invariably asked him, ‘will they retire other numbers when players die?’ His reply was always something along the lines of, "no, that's just for Crimmo". He would also tell me that, “if one of his sons plays for us… that’s the only way you’ll see the number 5 on the back of a Hawthorn jumper, son.”

Crimmin’s had that effect on people - well he did on my dad. And obviously on you too, HH.

I carry the sadness, but I also know that it made our club stronger. While playing, Crimmins inspired his teammates. When he was fighting for his life, his courage inspired not only his teammates to win the 1976 flag, but many others too. And in death, Crimmins continues to inspire our club.

While I have nascent memories of Crimmens and this era, and many of the posters on this board might have only heard his name, it's important to know the place he holds in our club's history. That's what these threads are all about. Because Premierships, like clubs are built on people.

As a postscript: my father was very pleased when Andy Collins wore the number 5. He thought the Little Fella would of liked Collins, and the way he played the game.