Would you pay this mark?

[RememberMe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YRaXVR4gI&mode=related&search=

I have always had my doubts about whether Ablett had enough control of this to call it a mark. Many consider it one of the greatest marks of the 20th century, but hmmmm...

 

[Mooney_d'King]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YRaXVR4gI&mode=related&search=

I have always had my doubts about whether Ablett had enough control of this to call it a mark. Many consider it one of the greatest marks of the 20th century, but hmmmm...

Yeah I reckon he just held it long enough. I suppose there could be a bit of leniency for the effort too...

 

[dumesny1]

You can't really say he had control of the ball, but there are a lot of marks like that, that have been allowed.

 

[RememberMe]

It would be interesting to see if it would get paid today. I really only posted it to get the cats fans' blood rushing though.

 

[jim boy]

He went up and the pill came down with him, the ball being somewhat obscured from view. At first view in regular speed it looks fine. Maybe on close examination it technically wasn't, but the right decision was made.

 

[Asty]

looking at that replay I reckon he controlled the ball down till he impacted the ground so I would say yes but it is subjective

 

[Turbocat]

Would I pay the mark? Would anyone pay the mark? People always miss the point on this mark , the umpire made the call on the day it was therefore a mark and only if you were standing in the middle with the whistle can one really judge what one would have done. Looking at it on video is not a fair way to judge if it a good call? What everyone has to understand is that the umpire out on the field is human and like any human he , they, can occasionally be effected by the circumstance rather than technical accuracy. Id be very much surprised if the umpire didn't get overcome by the supreme effort of Gary because nearly all at the ground certainly were.

It was Mothers Day and the same day Tony Locket went berserk at the SCG bringing them back from nowhere to win against his future side. Meanwhile at the G , Geelong were ahead but feeling the pinch and I had just started to get that feeling. Any Geelong supporter would know that feeling , you know the one where we are ahead and have created a lead that should have ensured victory but the other side has somehow roused itself and is making its presence known. Its only a matter of time before we , yet again , cave into shameful mess. But it was then that Gary seemed to sense that something was needed and he too roused himself , to me it was like he closed the door on another shameful loss with one supreme effort. It didn’t matter that he missed the goal, Collingwood were dead in the water, there was no way they were going to win after that fantastic effort. The crowd went ballistic , is was jaw dropping. It was like watching the high wire act at the circus with no net but only if the circus performer had to throw himself to the floor after the catch.

I know I left the ground that day higher than just a normal win would elevate one. I was buzzing , it was the type of situation that makes our game , the game I love . So would I have paid the mark , probably , because looking thru emotion distorted eyes he held the ball as long as needed. Of course looking at it in the cold light of day….

 

[Rosso]

Well said Turbocat. I was there at the G that day, sitting behind the goals up the top level, when Gaz flew for that amazing grab.

Although it looks as if it could go either way on the replay, being there and the way the match was panning out, the ump was always going to pay it. Heck, if he didn't blow his whistle he may not have made it home that night.

Just one of those rare highlights that don't seem possible until it actually happens.

Don't forget that Disco Roach (80's) and SOS (90's) were awarded mark of the year for their grabs when the umpire could have gone either way. You just tend to get caught up in the moment.

 

[Shell]

Ahhhh, thanks for the flashback RememberMe!

I was there front row centre of the Olympic Stand and it was definitely a mark!!

What I remember after the mark, was the thousands of seats flipping up, coz everyone was getting to their feet. Even tho Gary missed the goal, that mark, imo, gave us back the momentum and we managed to hold off a fast finishing Collingwood.

Anyway, great memory. One of the best from Gary.

 

[scottydeewah]

Can someone count the number of words Turbocat has posted on BF for me...geezush

 

[borgy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YRaXVR4gI&mode=related&search=

I have always had my doubts about whether Ablett had enough control of this to call it a mark. Many consider it one of the greatest marks of the 20th century, but hmmmm...

Look closely and you see he only really gets one touch on it, IMO its no mark. But good attemp never the less

 

[krisholio14]

the ball was in his control until he hit the ground, at which point it came out. that means its a mark.

 

[RememberMe]

Speaking of marks that should have been paid.... I still believe the umpires robbed us in 1997 by not paying the mark to Colbert...

 

[krisholio14]

Speaking of marks that should have been paid.... I still believe the umpires robbed us in 1997 by not paying the mark to Colbert...

one of the most blatantly poor decisions ever dished up in league footy. it might not have cost us the game, but we were in front at the time and it definately halted our momentum.

 

[Shell]

Speaking of marks that should have been paid.... I still believe the umpires robbed us in 1997 by not paying the mark to Colbert...

And chuck in the other million 50/50 desicions that went Adelaides way that night. I watched that game at my mates 18th (lucky her family were all Geelong supporters, so I pretty much spent the whole night in front of the TV)... and without a doubt that mark that wasn't paid literally broke my heart. Knew we were gonna lose it from there.

 

[nananana catman]

History says its a mark. Another classic Ablett moment.

 

[Taffy the Cat]

I was there that day too. Always nice to spank Collingwood! I recall Damian Houlihan played well for the Pies and did a lot to bring them back into the game before Gazza's mark. Houlihan's career fizzled out a year or so later.

From my vantage point in the Olympic Stand it looked a mark. Ablett tapped it with one hand and was more or less holding it to his chest with the other when he hit the ground. I'll concede that the umpire was generous in his interpretation of "controlling" the ball, but he paid it so that's that. Wish we'd had the same umpy in Adelaide a couple of years later instead of....Levens wasn't it (later research tells me it was actually Vernon TTC)??

After the Collingwood game as I was leaving I heard a familiar voice behind me expressing the view that he didn't think the mark should have been paid....Ian Robertson (Robbo) from Ch 7. Anyway it's good to have something like this to debate over summer.

Apart from Gazza's many efforts the best marks I personally witnessed for the Cats were two by Bill Ryan (final against St Kilda in 1968 and h and a against North at Coburg in 1965) and Doug Wade's mark against Hawthorn at Kardinia Park in 1969. Ah memories!

 

[jules101]

He went up and the pill came down with him, the ball being somewhat obscured from view. At first view in regular speed it looks fine. Maybe on close examination it technically wasn't, but the right decision was made.

If it wasn't the great man and he didnt jump so high it wouldnt be a mark. He didn't control it... If it was a no name I doubt it would have been paid.
7 used to have it in there ending of a football telecast but would never play the whole mark.

 

[gregWAllan]

Apart from Gazza's many efforts the best marks I personally witnessed for the Cats were two by Bill Ryan (final against St Kilda in 1968 and h and a against North at Coburg in 1965) and Doug Wade's mark against Hawthorn at Kardinia Park in 1969. Ah memories!

Oh my. Wasn't that something. Better than Ottens effort this year. By a long way.

 

[PetePop]

Ablett is god of coarse it was a mark

 

[Micksy]

If I remember correctly, play stopped and Gaz had a kick at his leisure...

...i guess that means it was a free kick or a mark.

(Maybe it was a free kick for being the best player EVER!!! )

But yes. It was a mark.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Shell]

If I remember correctly, play stopped and Gaz had a kick at his leisure...

...i guess that means it was a free kick or a mark.

(Maybe it was a free kick for being the best player EVER!!! )

Well if my memory serves me correctly he was pretty hurt after the mark. Didn't he go to the bench and play no further part in the game?! Hocking ended up kicking a few goals??

And how was it a free kick? If anything Pert should have gotten one, for the major embarrassment he suffered, being used as a step-ladder. Poor guy.