the Old MCG

[brad]

Just been watching some old matches from the year 2000 and even earlier (needing my footy fix in this final footy free weekend).

Looking at the MCG packed to the rafters (2000 GF, ANZAC Day, Rd20 2000 Essendon V Carlton etc) I believe the MCG looked better appearance wise with the old Members Stand, old Northern (Olympic) and Ponsford Stands full to the brim right up to the very back and top, in comparison to it what it looks like today.

I'm not saying the MCG isn't as good with it's facilities as that is clearly not the case. More seats are undercover, there are now escalators in the new stands, probably better variety of food and more bars etc.

BUT with the old MCG I believe it had more charm, appearance and a uniquness that doesn't match up today.

Anyone agree or remember what it was? Those damn metal seats and wooden planks in the Ponsford.

What are your memories of the old G?

 

[tandino]

Just been watching some old matches from the year 2000 and even earlier (needing my footy fix in this final footy free weekend).

Looking at the MCG packed to the rafters (2000 GF, ANZAC Day, Rd20 2000 Essendon V Carlton etc) I believe the MCG looked better appearance wise with the old Members Stand, old Northern (Olympic) and Ponsford Stands full to the brim right up to the very back and top, in comparison to it what it looks like today.

I'm not saying the MCG isn't as good with it's facilities as that is clearly not the case. More seats are undercover, there are now escalators in the new stands, probably better variety of food and more bars etc.

BUT with the old MCG I believe it had more charm, appearance and a uniquness that doesn't match up today.

Anyone agree or remember what it was? Those damn metal seats and wooden planks in the Ponsford.

What are your memories of the old G?

There's no doubt that the MCG has lost a bit of it's character with the demise of Ponsford, Members Stand and Olympic Stand, but that's life I guess.

Waverley, Windy Hill, Moorabbin, Whitten Oval, Victoria Park etc. all had character as well.

 

[FootyJunkie]

Hate the fact that when I now watch an MCG game on telley during a sunny day, half the ground (city half) is already in shade at the first bounce (2:10pm). It just seems wrong. On GF day for example, I want that sun to shine all over that lush grass.

But you are right....the old brick Ponsford Stand had a more traditional feel to the place. Now the MCG is just that more sterile, but not as sterile as the Dome.

 

[The Karma Bus]

The old side was great and gave a good feel to the mcg.. Its lost character just like any oval does when new parts replace the old but thats progress.. It had to happen one day and in the end its better for it.. Be glad youre not stuck with aami stadium, especially its location

 

[carrben12]

Every true footy fan needs to know what it feels like to be sitting in a cold downpour in the Ponsford (or any crappy stand for that matter) while their team is getting thrashed by 80 or so points. It builds character, and gives some relativity against which to measure the great times.

 

[The Sultan]

Every true footy fan needs to know what it feels like to be sitting in a cold downpour in the Ponsford (or any crappy stand for that matter) while their team is getting thrashed by 80 or so points. It builds character, and gives some relativity against which to measure the great times.

or sit out at waverly pouring rain and minus 10 whilst the rest of melbourne is enjoying a nice 25 degree day. and sitting that far way from the ground you need binoculars to see what is happenning on the other side of the ground.

 

[huggy_b]

I just remember sitting in the rain on shitty uncomfortable seats. Has that improved?

 

[fraser25]

its never been the most picturesque ground, it's just comfortable nowadays.

waverly was hell.

 

[dave_27]

Every true footy fan needs to know what it feels like to be sitting in a cold downpour in the Ponsford (or any crappy stand for that matter) while their team is getting thrashed by 80 or so points. It builds character, and gives some relativity against which to measure the great times.

Come off it mate, your a dee's fan. You would of sat in the members under cover with a tartan blanket on your legs.

 

[Hawkk]

From a character point of view, the MCG lost its charm when it knocked down the old Smokers and Ladies Stand and put up the Ponsford and Olympic Stands.

I've got a pic of the G from the 1956 Olympics, now that was a stadium, its hard to imagine even then it could fit 100,000 people

 

[brucetiki]

Thank goodness for the redevelopment.

The first game I went to at the MCG (2001 EF Carlton v Adelaide), I sat in the old Olympic Stand. It was a joke of a facility. It was dilapidated and falling apart. The specator facilities were awful and it was so dark and dingy underneath. And I've heard all the horror stories from the Ponsford stand. Thank goodness they're gone now.

The new facilities are fantastic. Escalator up to the higher tiers. Padded seating in the middle tier. Facilities nice, modern and spacious. You don't think that the whole things simply going to collapse around you.

The old MCG was horrible.
The new MCG is great.

 

[maroon and blue]

Must admit the new Ponsford stand is awesome. It is world class.

 

[Stats Man]

The old MCG, I loved that place.

The new one's great, too.

But the old 'G had that rustic charm to it, very homely, very Melbourne. Loved those old wooden seats, the colour of the ones in the Olympic also stand out in the mind, getting there early once for the C'wood v WB clash in round 19 2001.

And the way the goalposts used to be shifted at about round 10-14? And the way goals would then be kicked into the ramp? Haha. Remember the day we started Monkhurst out of the square v Adelaide (v Ian Downsbourough?), R14 1998. He had the short, sharp haircut.

It holds special memories for me, for different reasons. 2002, the last year of the old Ponny, was the best of my life (how selfish), so That Was the Season That Was 2002 holds plenty of special memories when viewing it, ie: Barnard's four against the Hawks in R12 (split round), and Barlow's posters at the other end? Or the windswept R16, Coll v Rich, when the Pies struggled in the first half kicking to the Ponsford Stand/Main scoreboard/City End, before 'Freeborn scoops it out to Betheras hands off to Tarrant who kicks his first! To the City End!' - E.McGuire.

By the way, prior to the 2002 Grand Final, Quarters tells us that 'Michael Voss has won the toss and Brisbane will be kicking to the Main Scoreboard End' - why don't we say that anymore? Yeah yeah both scoreboards = the same nowdays, but I still like calling the Ponny the Main S'board End.

What really irks me about the MCG nowdays is the horrendous shadow the northern/western stands cast. As mentioned above, it'll be game time on a Saturday afternoon and half the ground is in shadow! Looks horrible.

In 2003 we had the other extreme, no coverage at all from the western side, meaning that on a sunny day the grass used to glow, like Jason Cloke's hair it had a golden tinge...unfortunately it reminds me of the 2003 GF...

In 2002 and previous years, the literal balance between the light and the shade was in place. Ah well, can't complain too much, the MCG absolutely owns any other ground going around in the world.

 

[Professor Knowall]

From a character point of view, the MCG lost its charm when it knocked down the old Smokers and Ladies Stand and put up the Ponsford and Olympic Stands.

I've got a pic of the G from the 1956 Olympics, now that was a stadium, its hard to imagine even then it could fit 100,000 people

In fact , the crowd for the 1956 Grand final (Collingwood v Melbourne) was 115,902 - a record that stood until after the completion of the Ponsford Stand in 1968 (116,828 for Carlton v Essendon).

Keep in mind that nearly a third of those crowds were crushed into standing room areas (which took up much less room), and also there were no corporate boxes taking up viewing areas.

 

[maroon and blue]

What I like about the new Ponsford stand is the ability to move around. The seat restrictions are not as controlled as those at the Dome. Plus it is a beautifully architectuered space. The blue coats are friendly and seem to be in tune with the football fraternity.

 

[Geoffa32]

What I like about the new Ponsford stand is the ability to move around. The seat restrictions are not as controlled as those at the Dome. Plus it is a beautifully architectuered space. The blue coats are friendly and seem to be in tune with the football fraternity.

but you cant stand behind your seats if you have the last row.

The new Ponsford "stand" (second level) is quite good though. For GA price you get a nice comfy padded seat and no need to be in the elements, unless you smoke.

 

[maroon and blue]

but you cant stand behind your seats if you have the last row.

The new Ponsford "stand" (second level) is quite good though. For GA price you get a nice comfy padded seat and no need to be in the elements, unless you smoke.

I guess it depends which game you go to but for me the Ponsford and Olympic stands are just football heaven.

 

[dave_27]

Thank goodness for the redevelopment.

The first game I went to at the MCG (2001 EF Carlton v Adelaide), I sat in the old Olympic Stand. It was a joke of a facility. It was dilapidated and falling apart. The specator facilities were awful and it was so dark and dingy underneath. .

The new facilities are fantastic. Escalator up to the higher tiers. Padded seating in the middle tier. Facilities nice, modern and spacious. You don't think that the whole things simply going to collapse around you.

The old MCG was horrible.
The new MCG is great.

Are you serious?

Bar the leg space between seats and a roof what the ---- more did you want?

From the early 90's onwards when the olmypic and ponsford were slightly refurbished, the facilities in those stands were more than adequate.

And I've heard all the horror stories from the Ponsford stand. Thank goodness they're gone now

And what would they be?

 

[maroon and blue]

How could you critisize the New MCG? Beggars belief. It is a brilliant stadium as it was yesteryear. Perhaps it's about fond memories that leads to people to thinking that the old is better than the new. But the fact remains it still is a magnificient stadium.

 

[Butane]

As much as the old MCG has left with me some great memories the new one is spectacular. So clean, so many toilets i hardly have to find them, i just start walking and aiming. Brilliant.

 

[damochandler]

i rekon the mcg back in the day was great. but the new look is better. more games that are played at the mcg should be played at 2 pm. just look at the the games played back than. the 1995 semi final essendon v richmond. anzac day 95. last year geelong v collingwood. the atmosphere would be better during the day than at night

 

[Mr Smiff]

Hate the fact that when I now watch an MCG game on telley during a sunny day, half the ground (city half) is already in shade at the first bounce (2:10pm). It just seems wrong. On GF day for example, I want that sun to shine all over that lush grass.

But you are right....the old brick Ponsford Stand had a more traditional feel to the place. Now the MCG is just that more sterile, but not as sterile as the Dome.

Well, that may be true, but if you watch some of the old footy and cricket matches at the MCG, you'll always find that shadow. ....albeit in the late afternoon. The new stands were necessary to accomodate the new public. I wouldn't like to see the times change because of it, either.
However, if you compare it to that stupid Testra stadium, it wins hands down, as the TS has players shielding their eyes at the first bounce. TV wise.......it takes a little adjusting. God knows how spectators at the ground handle it.

 

[mighty tiges]

MCG 1967 GF: Richmond vs Geelong (Crowd: 109,392)

 

[Flashhh]

Every true footy fan needs to know what it feels like to be sitting in a cold downpour in the Ponsford (or any crappy stand for that matter) while their team is getting thrashed by 80 or so points. It builds character, and gives some relativity against which to measure the great times.

I remember one game against St.Kilda in 2000 (pretty sure) when we were getting killed 80points plus, and it was absolutely pooring with rain. With the likes of Mark Bradly running around in the wet... it was hell.

 

[Geoffa32]

I guess it depends which game you go to but for me the Ponsford and Olympic stands are just football heaven.

dont get me wrong I love the G....wish they could somehow transport it over here...

It is the HOME of Footy.