There is a bit of hoo-haa on the other boards about Essendon's comeback from 69 points down and how it may have been the best game ever, etc.
I would be interested to hear of other people's memories of the best comebacks in SANFL, WAFL or other leagues.
I'll start:
15th of March, 1986. Glenelg v Sturt in an Escort Cup night match. Sturt ran circles around the Bays for the entire first half, leading by 10 points at quarter time and 24 at half time. In the third quarter Sturt held Glenelg scoreless while piling on 5.5. IIRC at 3/4 time the score was something like 11.6 to 2.7 in Sturt's favour, give or take a few points. Only in recent years have I seen the Bays on the arse end of a thumping like that.
I was there, 14 years old, with a couple of mates. At 3/4 time we went to McDonalds for some food (and I do use the term loosely). After munching our burgers we were walking back, debating whether or not to jump on a bus and go straight home. We heard a yell from the stadium and decided to see what was happening before leaving.
We re-entered footy park to discover that the quarter was 5 minutes old. Glenelg had kicked 2 goals and as we entered they were nailing another. Encouraged, we climbed back up to the undercover terrace behind the northern goals.
The Bays were alight - heaven knows where they had been for the last 3 quarters, but they'd gotten a sniff and were lifting all over the ground. The likes of it I have never seen - I'd almost believe they'd each taken a hit of speed at 3/4 time. I would further believe that Sturt had been taking Valium. Where they had run circles around the Bays in the first 3 quarters they now looked lethargic - and as the quarter grew older, shell-shocked.
Glenelg piled on 9.3 to 0.3 during that quarter, and with each goal the crowd was getting more and more worked up. We were going ape**** in the stands - couldn't believe what we were seeing. When the siren went Sturt was still in front but unfortunately for them, big Jim West had grabbed a mark in the forward lines just as the siren sounded. We didn't even hear the siren for all of the yelling. Westy nailed the Tigers' 10th goal, putting them a point up - and it was only then that we realised the siren had gone as every person wearing black and gold - players and trainers - covered the length of the ground to swarm on top of Westy. We were over the moon. Tore out of footy park hollering at top volume, screaming all the way home on the bus.
To date, I've never seen a better comeback by any team anywhere. I also learned a good lesson: never leave a game early, no matter how bleak the prospects. Even if the Bays had gone down, I'd still have missed a good fightback.
Right - now lets hear what the rest of you remember. I recall a Sturt match at Glenelg Oval were the Bays blew a 40-point lead at half time to lose by almost as much in the early '80s; you Sturt fans might remember that one. No doubt Macca will bring up the '94 GF again but surely there are a few other notable Port comebacks? And how about something from the WAFL fans?
I would be interested to hear of other people's memories of the best comebacks in SANFL, WAFL or other leagues.
I'll start:
15th of March, 1986. Glenelg v Sturt in an Escort Cup night match. Sturt ran circles around the Bays for the entire first half, leading by 10 points at quarter time and 24 at half time. In the third quarter Sturt held Glenelg scoreless while piling on 5.5. IIRC at 3/4 time the score was something like 11.6 to 2.7 in Sturt's favour, give or take a few points. Only in recent years have I seen the Bays on the arse end of a thumping like that.
I was there, 14 years old, with a couple of mates. At 3/4 time we went to McDonalds for some food (and I do use the term loosely). After munching our burgers we were walking back, debating whether or not to jump on a bus and go straight home. We heard a yell from the stadium and decided to see what was happening before leaving.
We re-entered footy park to discover that the quarter was 5 minutes old. Glenelg had kicked 2 goals and as we entered they were nailing another. Encouraged, we climbed back up to the undercover terrace behind the northern goals.
The Bays were alight - heaven knows where they had been for the last 3 quarters, but they'd gotten a sniff and were lifting all over the ground. The likes of it I have never seen - I'd almost believe they'd each taken a hit of speed at 3/4 time. I would further believe that Sturt had been taking Valium. Where they had run circles around the Bays in the first 3 quarters they now looked lethargic - and as the quarter grew older, shell-shocked.
Glenelg piled on 9.3 to 0.3 during that quarter, and with each goal the crowd was getting more and more worked up. We were going ape**** in the stands - couldn't believe what we were seeing. When the siren went Sturt was still in front but unfortunately for them, big Jim West had grabbed a mark in the forward lines just as the siren sounded. We didn't even hear the siren for all of the yelling. Westy nailed the Tigers' 10th goal, putting them a point up - and it was only then that we realised the siren had gone as every person wearing black and gold - players and trainers - covered the length of the ground to swarm on top of Westy. We were over the moon. Tore out of footy park hollering at top volume, screaming all the way home on the bus.
To date, I've never seen a better comeback by any team anywhere. I also learned a good lesson: never leave a game early, no matter how bleak the prospects. Even if the Bays had gone down, I'd still have missed a good fightback.
Right - now lets hear what the rest of you remember. I recall a Sturt match at Glenelg Oval were the Bays blew a 40-point lead at half time to lose by almost as much in the early '80s; you Sturt fans might remember that one. No doubt Macca will bring up the '94 GF again but surely there are a few other notable Port comebacks? And how about something from the WAFL fans?
