The 1st and Still the Only Senior Flag for the Saints.
They might only have that one Flag,but the Grand Final was one of THE most Famous Grand Final Victories in the VFL/AFL Competition.
1 point Victory against then Eternal Bridesmaids,Collingwood.Winning point by Barry Breen was cheered Wildly,as the crowd knew there wasn’t too much time left.Collingwood had one last sorty,but was denied by a Saints Mark at Centre Half Forward,just before Ted Whitten famously declared,“Hit the Boundary Line’”
One kick later,the Siren blows and the Saints erupt into Huge Celebrations.Little did they know then,that success was Nowhere to be seen.A couple of Night Flags eventuated,but 5 Day Grand Finals since,delivered an Agonising Near miss Draw.
A book was released a few decades back,called The Point if it All. Wonder what the authors think now?
This again highlights what a farce that supposed “elite national comp” is when sides like St Kilda & also Footscray are involved and what a joke it was by WCE to jump into it in 87.
Could only win 1 premiership in over 100 years involvement in what was just a Melbourne suburban comp.
As Swandog has posted before if only you could go back in time and start up a proper national competition from scratch with the best clubs from ALL OVER AUS and not the VFL with a few other sides tacked on!
Just as I hope Our Clubs and Competition will not be not be about to disappear.
Our Real Arguement is to convince the AFL Executive that Our Competition is worth a great deal more Time and Investment,than what they give us credit for.
If it’s good enoughfor them to Shore up the poorer clubs of the AFL,it should follow you put greater support into State Leagues and other competitions,without putting silly conditions or brand AFL on it and undermining the Competitions,especially our’s.
But for now,At the very least,please let the Saints Fans reminisce about this special day?
This again highlights what a farce that supposed “elite national comp” is when sides like St Kilda & also Footscray are involved and what a joke it was by WCE to jump into it in 87.
Could only win 1 premiership in over 100 years involvement in what was just a Melbourne suburban comp.
As Swandog has posted before if only you could go back in time and start up a proper national competition from scratch with the best clubs from ALL OVER AUS and not the VFL with a few other sides tacked on!
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Makes me wonder why I barracked for a Melbourne club instead of just Claremont. Also why did most top WAFL players want to play for a Melbourne club. It was because the old VFL was the top grade & players got paid what they where worth.
Next we will want the Perth Cup as Australia’s premier two mile race.
This again highlights what a farce that supposed “elite national comp” is when sides like St Kilda & also Footscray are involved and what a joke it was by WCE to jump into it in 87.
Could only win 1 premiership in over 100 years involvement in what was just a Melbourne suburban comp.
As Swandog has posted before if only you could go back in time and start up a proper national competition from scratch with the best clubs from ALL OVER AUS and not the VFL with a few other sides tacked on!
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Makes me wonder why I barracked for a Melbourne club instead of just Claremont. Also why did most top WAFL players want to play for a Melbourne club. It was because the old VFL was the top grade & players got paid what they where worth.
Next we will want the Perth Cup as Australia’s premier two mile race.
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From your previous posts I have noted you are a little wet behind the ears but just from your post above-
a) the VFL clubs were feckin broke and were offering money to WA players they couldn’t afford (Swans are still waiting for the transfer fees for Beasley, Narkle & Sidebottom from SK & F 35 years later)
b) the Perth Cup is run over 2400m which is actually only a mile and a half not 2 miles
Anytime you would like a history lesson on that era of footy and or racing feel free to give me a yell champ. :whistle:
Beasley Hutton wrote:
This again highlights what a farce that supposed “elite national comp” is when sides like St Kilda & also Footscray are involved and what a joke it was by WCE to jump into it in 87.
Could only win 1 premiership in over 100 years involvement in what was just a Melbourne suburban comp.
As Swandog has posted before if only you could go back in time and start up a proper national competition from scratch with the best clubs from ALL OVER AUS and not the VFL with a few other sides tacked on!
Getting back to the Flag in question,2 guys from Collingwood must have Nightmares about this GF.
Des Tuddenham and Colin Tully.
Tuddy had a chance to put the Pies in front late in the Final Quarter,was on target,until the breeze took the ball through for a point.Could he have run in closer before shooting on goal?Did he have enough space?
Then in the Dying minute,with the Saints 1 point up,Tuddy collected the ball from the Full Back kicking out,went for a couple of bounces,kicked long,but was denied by a Saints Mark.A few seconds later,the siren goes and Tuddy is on his knees,ruing what could have been again.
Colin Tully,got grabbed and the loose ball went to BREEN for the Winning point.Mal Brown mentioned in his book,that Tully copped Flak for possibly costing the Pies a Flag,but I couldn’t remember what Grand Final Tully copped the blame for,be it '64,'66 or 1970.
A bit unfair if the blame stemmed from just one incident.But Glory or Blame can be saddled on many a sports player,for just 1 act in an important game.Happened to a Cleveland Indians closing pitcher,when he couldn’t close the Marlins down in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.Victory would have meant the end of a 49 year drought and endless fame.Defeat created criticism and eventual acrimony between embittered team mates and a continued search for an Elusive World Series.