"Missing" Grand Final DVDs

[HorseHead]

I was looking at a list of the VFL/AFL Grand Finals available on DVD and noticed that neither the 1963 or 1964 Grand Finals have been released. Why is it so? You can get the 1965 Grand Final and I believe the 1961 game was just released. Any ideas?

 

[red+black]

If you click WEG Grand Finals up top, the earliest Grand Final that you can get from Sports Delivered is Essendon's 1965 win. This is odd because 1961 is available if you enter 1961 in the search box.

They do sell a box set of Grand Finals 1961-2004 with this proviso : (*Note: Does not include games from 1962, 1963 and 1964 as there is not enough footage available.)

However you can get "Grand Finals of the Sixties" which states: "For the first time on DVD relive footage from all the great sixties grand finals, one of football's golden eras, including the 62-63 & 64 Finals."

I thought I had seen some footage of the 1958 Grand Final too. Anyway if Geelong and Melbourne would just win one flag one day, then their supporters could own at least one DVD.

One could always try and locate a Night Grand Final DVD. Melbourne have won three (1971, 1987, 1989) and Geelong one (1961). I have Essendon's 1981 Escort Cup win on video, not sure how far back you can purchase these though.

 

[Stealth bomber]

Do those WEG DVD's consist of entire GF broadcasts or are they just a bunch of clips assembled as part of season highlight packages?

I'm more interested in entire GFs from start to finish without a whole lot of embellishment (i.e. interviews and over-narrating).

 

[red+black]

My understanding is that 1961 and 1965-2004 are complete Grand Final broadcasts. I really should look at adding Essendon's 1965 win to my collection.

I really miss the nostalgia of VFL Park and Night Grand Finals. Our 1993 win over the tigers will probably forever remain as the highest attendance for a night grand final, and I'd say that 2/3 were tiges supporters. Great to look back at old glories.

Any Fitzroy supporters should see if they can grab 1978 on DVD.

Does anyone recall why Brisbane were disqualified from the night series in 1990?

 

[Magpiespower]

My understanding is that 1961 and 1965-2004 are complete Grand Final broadcasts.

The glorious 2004 Grand Final DVD shows the complete game.

And you have a choice of three commentaries.

 

[HorseHead]

If you click WEG Grand Finals up top, the earliest Grand Final that you can get from Sports Delivered is Essendon's 1965 win. This is odd because 1961 is available if you enter 1961 in the search box.

They do sell a box set of Grand Finals 1961-2004 with this proviso : (*Note: Does not include games from 1962, 1963 and 1964 as there is not enough footage available.)

I have a DVD entitled Good Old Collingwood Forever that features a small snippet of footage from the 1964 grand final (namely, the late goal that sunk us that year). I find it positively bizarre that people working at Channel Seven at the time didn't have the foresight to record or keep hold of the recordings of the old Grand Finals. Or maybe the old matches are stored away in a warehouse somewhere, just waiting to be discovered again...

I thought I had seen some footage of the 1958 Grand Final too. Anyway if Geelong and Melbourne would just win one flag one day, then their supporters could own at least one DVD.

One could always try and locate a Night Grand Final DVD. Melbourne have won three (1971, 1987, 1989) and Geelong one (1961). I have Essendon's 1981 Foster's Cup win on video, not sure how far back you can purchase these though.

Hmmmm... I think Collingwood has only ever won one pre-season flag, back in 1979. As far as I'm aware, this is not available on DVD. Cheers for the info.

 

[red+black]

My advice to anyone is go to your club's merchandise shop, see what they have, they should also have a printed list of available videos and DVDs.

 

[red+black]

AFANA list the videos for the Escort Cup grand finals of 1979 (Collingwood d. Hawthorn) and 1980 (North Melbourne d. Collingwood), so that might be as far back as they go.

Someone here has compiled their Top 10 moments for night grand finals, a good read.

 

[HorseHead]

AFANA list the videos for the Escort Cup grand finals of 1979 (Collingwood d. Hawthorn) and 1980 (North Melbourne d. Collingwood), so that might be as far back as they go.

Video only, which doesn't interest me too much these days. I'll wait with baited breath for the dvd to come out...

 

[red+black]

Was just watching Fox Footy and they were showing highlights of the Melbourne v Collingwood 1956 grand final. I imagine that's the earliest one they have any footage of.

 

[mianfei]

Any Fitzroy supporters should see if they can grab 1978 on DVD.

According to Name A Game, the night grand finals of 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 are available, but 1977, 1978 and 1983 to 1986 are not. I know 1987 exists, but I am not sure about the next few (have seen 1997 in the store but it is not listed)and really only have interest in those where there were unusual scores, such as 1978 and also the 1986 game where Carlton kicked 5-3 of a total of 5-6 in the third quarter. I fortunately do know a source from which I can get the 1986 night grand final, but the quality I do not know.

 

[MightyMark]

I followed this up a couple of years ago for the old man. I spoke with channel 7 who said that they lost alot of the achieved footage in a fire during the 80's and 63' and 64' were part of the footage that was lost.

Still havent been able to find anywhere that has any footage, and according to the chick I spoke to at Channel 7, they are foever gone.

Hopefully thats not the case, would love to see them myself. I was not even a blip on the radar in 63'.

So if anyone does manage to track them down, I would be much appriciated.

 

[Collingwood 4 eternity]

I followed this up a couple of years ago for the old man. I spoke with channel 7 who said that they lost alot of the achieved footage in a fire during the 80's and 63' and 64' were part of the footage that was lost.

Still havent been able to find anywhere that has any footage, and according to the chick I spoke to at Channel 7, they are foever gone.

Hopefully thats not the case, would love to see them myself. I was not even a blip on the radar in 63'.

So if anyone does manage to track them down, I would be much appriciated.

I think that the "fire" that they speak of is when Skase bought channel 7 in 1987.

A lot of tapes of everything was sent to the tips because it took up to much space to store it all , or pay to put it in offsite storage.

Just imagine what they threw out. Shakes head

 

[MightyMark]

I think that the "fire" that they speak of is when Skase bought channel 7 in 1987.

A lot of tapes of everything was sent to the tips because it took up to much space to store it all , or pay to put it in offsite storage.

Just imagine what they threw out. Shakes head

No wonder so many people tried to extradite him

 

[mianfei]

No wonder so many people tried to extradite him

What's worse is that there was no consultation about what needed to be kept and what was not so critical. In that sense, 1960, with Collingwood kicking its lowest score since 1900 (no typo there, and that is the fourth year of the VFL) with only four effective scoring shots would be far more valuable to preserve if it was in full anywhere. I do no that no television coverage was permitted in 1960 and so that year's Grand Final may never have been filmed in full, but the existence on YouTube of a non-silent last four minutes suggests otherwise.

 

[GetAroundHim99]

My understanding is that 1961 and 1965-2004 are complete Grand Final broadcasts. I really should look at adding Essendon's 1965 win to my collection.

I really miss the nostalgia of VFL Park and Night Grand Finals. Our 1993 win over the tigers will probably forever remain as the highest attendance for a night grand final, and I'd say that 2/3 were tiges supporters. Great to look back at old glories.

Any Fitzroy supporters should see if they can grab 1978 on DVD.

Does anyone recall why Brisbane were disqualified from the night series in 1990?

Brisbane wasn't disqualified, I believe that they were unable to play due to the fact that when Christopher Skase fled to Majorca, It left the club with no funds and the club had a huge probability of going under.

 

[joe444]

Keep in mind that recording of live broadcasts was pretty difficult, and networks did not always keep them. Early shows were recorded onto film. From about 1963, video recording (clearer, smoother) was possible, but only Channel 7 did it.

1957 - final quarter live by 7, 9 and ABC. No copy remains.
1958 - final quarter live by 7, 9, ABC. Channel 7 copy remains (Tony Charlton).
1959 - final quarter live by 7, 9, ABC. No copy remains.
1960 - final quarter replayed by 7, 9, ABC. ABC copy remains (Graham Cope & 'Roy' Wright).
1961- 7 granted right to telecast complete game due to sellout. (Michael Williamson)

*from 1962 7, 9 and 2 all provided a full match replay.
1962 - complete match replay by 7, 9, ABC. Channel 9 copy of final quarter remains. (Tony Charlton, Ian Cleland)

** Channel 7 switch to "videotape" recordings
1963 - Channel 9 copy of second half remains. (Tony Charlton, Ian Cleland, Jim Taylor, Don Hyde)
1964 - final minutes of Channel 9 coverage only available.
1965 - 7 coverage destroyed in warehouse (ahem) "fire" 1987. ABC TV coverage available

** from 1966, the ABC and & 7 copies are available in full except for the ABC coverage of 1977. Notes:
ABC continued to record in lower quality film until 1974, but had more cameras.
The Channel 7 video coverage of 1971 was destroyed in warehouse fire. All that remains, literally, is someone filming it off a television screen.
The 1973 Channel 9 coverage was test-broadcast in colour, and the full recording has recently been rediscovered and posted to YouTube. (Ted Whitten, Alan Gale, Wes Lofts).

 

[Gasometer]

Of the modern era I am missing 74, 76, 78 and 98, and full seasons of 2020, 21, 22 and 23.