The 1976 Flag - The Bittersweet Premiership

[The BIG X]

Bump - a great read.

2026 will be 50 years on

 

[RustyHawk]

50 Fifty years!

Don't remind me...

I feel old now...... where did I put my glasses...

 

[Roddy]

One of the twelve flags I’ve seen in my lifetime.

 

[stemline]

There'll be a new book published next year for the 50 year celebration, The Story of the '76 Hawks.

Similar to the 61 and 71 books.

 

[grumbleguts]

Bittersweet is right when you read the first post, and the great man that wrote it.

 

[parsons nose]

I doubt there would have been a game in the history of footy, that required less motivation to get the result. On top of Megsy’s declining health was a poor showing in 1975 GF, prompting Kanga to inform the players of a persistent rumour in the wider football community that we ‘rolled over’. Something he had no hesitation using in his pre match address to players to provide an extra spur.

 

[Foomtball]

Long before my time, but would love to hear from some hawks fans who were alive and kicking.
Was there a public awareness at the time of the grand final that Crimmo was terminally ill?

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

Just before my time as a footy fan. Though from the moment I started following the game and the Hawks in about 1980, I almost immediately became aware of the legacy of Peter Crimmins, and the famous photo of some of the players bringing the cup around to him 3 days before he dies.

Congrats to the original posters here who paint a very vivid picture of the game and the era - with context, an eye for detail, wit and humour.

 

[moginie]

Long before my time, but would love to hear from some hawks fans who were alive and kicking.
Was there a public awareness at the time of the grand final that Crimmo was terminally ill?

If you read through the thread you'll get several first hand perspectives. Some of those posters unfortunately are no longer with us.

 

[grumbleguts]

Long before my time, but would love to hear from some hawks fans who were alive and kicking.
Was there a public awareness at the time of the grand final that Crimmo was terminally ill?

I was 11, and yes it was well known that the great man was dying.

I grew up in Tonga in the 70s with no electricity, I listened to the 1971 season on battery operated tape recordings recorded off the radio by my grandfather, 2 months behind. 1976 was the first year where I got to see the game on tv. (I did see a match live at the ground in 1969, but Carlton kicked an all time (then) record score against us of 30 30 210. (I went home happy because Crimmins, my hero, kicked 2.)

 

[Foomtball]

I was 11, and yes it was well known that the great man was dying.

I grew up in Tonga in the 70s with no electricity, I listened to the 1971 season on battery operated tape recordings recorded off the radio by my grandfather, 2 months behind. 1976 was the first year where I got to see the game on tv. (I did see a match live at the ground in 1969, but Carlton kicked an all time (then) record score against us of 30 30 210. (I went home happy because Crimmins, my hero, kicked 2.)

Is he still your all time favourite?

 

[grumbleguts]

Is he still your all time favourite?

He'd be up there. I was small and slight (I was still 117 cm tall in Year 11 and weight 30 kg.) so seeing someone relatively small and slight excel in a sport for larger men was important in my mind.

 

[Foomtball]

He'd be up there. I was small and slight (I was still 117 cm tall in Year 11 and weight 30 kg.) so seeing someone relatively small and slight excel in a sport for larger men was important in my mind.

thanks for sharing mate

 

[MazHawk]

My dad still tells me the story of his first live game against South Melb at Glenferrie when his favourite player Crimmo came streaming out of the centre to kick the first goal of the game.

 

[Satchel]

thanks for the bump - excellent read, especially as not super focussed yet being back at work after the festive season