I used to stand on about the 4th or 5th tier of the terrace, lined up with the centre circle. I always got there before the gates opened so I could guarantee getting to the same spot & also it was a chance to see the full reserves game as well.
I was sitting with my soon to be wife. The terrace of the Social Club with a perfect side on view of the grab. Who was the Geelong player underneath? I'm thinking the ruckman Mossop. It'd be even better if it Jumpin' Jack Hawkins
Log in to remove this Banner Ad
Definitely John Mossop.I was sitting with my soon to be wife. The terrace of the Social Club with a perfect side on view of the grab. Who was the Geelong player underneath? I'm thinking the ruckman Mossop. It'd be even better if it Jumpin' Jack Hawkins
And don't mention Neil Daniher, Stan Magro and Darren MilburnI was also sitting in my usual seat on the wing when Malcolm Blight kicked THAT goal after the siren.
I had a perfect view of it sailing through the goals.
At the other end of the Heatley, the change rooms. When I first wandered in there it was an open space with the lockers along the wall nearest the park. Naturally, navy blue, with numbers and names. As an 11 year old I was awe struck. At 14, the u19 coach, Bill Hoogan, invited me to have a training run. I jumped at it and trained with the boys for a couple of months. I remember Curly Austin was there and making his way to the seniors. As a very skinny 16 year old, I was invited on a permanent basis. At this stage, the locker room was enclosed. Another room I was familiar with was the physio's room. I remember being in there getting treatment on an ankle. Me on one table, Mike Fitzpatrick on the other. It must have been a hammy. He was reading 'The Age', what else! I suspect it was the Finance Section. The showers and baths were huge, the hot water worked and you didn't have to fight for a shower. We trained on the ground outside, no. 2 oval but often shared the rooms with the senior boys. Pranks were common. Having a nice hot shower could be interrupted by a bucket of cold water, Jezza, a loud explosion courtesy of a penny bunger and Percy Jones was laughing his head off
To this day it is the ugliest reaction from a crowd I have ever witnessed. Closest thing to seeing someone kill Bambi ever!!
When some of those reserves games were close in the last quarter the growing crowd used to get right into the game. For some players it was probably the best crowd atmosphere they experienced.How good were the reserves games? Nowadays I have to be honest and say I could not really care less if the Northern Blues win or lose but back then you were as passionate about the reserves as the seniors. The atmosphere around three quarter time in the two's was great, the big crowd starting to reach it's capacity and there was a genuine buzz and interest in the result!!
Happy days!
I must admit I was scared that day. Fights were breaking out everywhere in the crowd & I even saw a couple of blokes who were watching the game together (one a Carlton supporter & the other a Collingwood supporter) start throwing punches at each other.To this day it is the ugliest reaction from a crowd I have ever witnessed. Closest thing to seeing someone kill Bambi ever!!
