I can remember when I was a kid in the 70's watching the VFA football on TV. For those in NRL states, VFL was the major league, VFA was a smaller secondary league.
Games were always action packed, such as the one below, the 1976 Grand Final between Dandenong and Port Melbourne. Unlike Dandenong today, there was no Sudanese in the team
There was no other place where at least 4 fights would happen at once, and the umpire blows the whistle because a dog runs over the mark. King hits, players punching runners and trainers, umpires having to break up the action......it had it all.
Look Here -> |
I think the wheel has turned and more people are appreciating grass roots footy then maybe 10-15 years ago. WAFL crowds aren't getting lower any more, even if they are low. And for the second year in a row ABC radio Perth are calling the A grade amateur grand final this weekend.
We all grew up with a simple, exciting and addictive game that has been MADE complicated and difficult to understand by the f*cking AFL....thats just the way it's gone.
IMHO it's not a patch on what it was, even if the athletes are fitter and better conditioned....
The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.
Mos of the modern players wouldn't get sent off, they'd run off because someone touched them. If it started to rain, they'd all go home because they might get their hair wet. Time was when, at the end of a game, you' really had to know who was calling for the ball before you passed it, in case that blob of mud in front of you was the opposition.
I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...
What a classic. You don't see advertising for "Craven Mild" at the footie any more.
admin (18-09-17)
Just a little bit of footy broke out every now and then between brawls, now that's entertainment.
Cheers
Ted (Al)
enf (16-09-17)
I'm not condoning the violence as it was ridiculous at times back then in the VFA. Occasionally players would punch on with spectators. Some of the king hits were appalling.
What concussion rule ? We are just reviving him, he will probably be back on later.
Collingwood Player goes beserk (ignore the added end). He got suspended for 10 years, 6 on appeal.
enf (17-09-17)
Anyone remember the "Battle Of Britain?"
Or "fabulous" Phil Carmen...
Or St kildas Robbie "the mad dog" Muir .....there were so many.....
The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.
I remember Jacko back in the 80s
enf (17-09-17),mello yello (16-09-18)
Yeah, that Battle of Britain was just plain nasty.
Even VFL (now AFL) was rough as hell in the 70's. I can remember as a kid, must have been about 8 or so, my old man had the brilliant idea of taking me and my sister to our first VFL game.
I am presuming my old man was clueless, but as we were mad Richmond supporters he took us to see Essendon V's Richmond..........at Windy Hill !
Fark me, what a riot ! A seriously dangerous place, spectators drunk and punching on all through the game. Swear words that me and my sister had never heard before, we all got coated in beer that was getting thrown about and after dodging all sorts of projectiles for a quarter and half we were forced to leave as the crowd got worse.
I went back a second time when I was about 15 or so with a couple of mates by ourselves on public transport and it wasn't much better.
Not watching much (if any) aerial ping pong here in NSW I didnt realise they got as 'low down and dirty' as they did in League but then AFL doesnt have the scrums and tackles that allows the players to punch each other out less visibly.
The little we saw on the newsreels (pre TV days) only showed players running up backs of others try to reach the ball as the rest was incomprehensible to a non VFL audience.
Last edited by gordon_s1942; 18-09-17 at 04:20 PM.
I stand unequivicably behind everything I say , I just dont ever remember saying it !!
For any ex-pat sandgropers, abc perth are broadcasting the ammo grand final Scarborough vs CBC. Available online.
enf (15-09-18)
At least it was sport back then... not the thinly-disguised big-bucks business it is now.
The fact that there's a highway to hell and a stairway to heaven says a lot about the anticipated traffic flow.
mkhannah (15-09-18)
enf (15-09-18)
Don't worry about Fred Cooke, Pt Melb full forward, he did not feel any pain, great anesthetic cocaine!!
Last edited by allover; 17-09-18 at 08:30 AM.
There is a fine line between "Hobby" and "Madness"
I thought you said this was football ?
Funny you'd make this thread admin.
I've spent the last few weeks watching old games and interviews of passed players....
Some very interesting info to come out of the interviews.
As you say, VFL used to be a spectical.
With today's AFL;
There is no more Full Forwards
No more characters
Just runners that can kind of kick straight sometimes.
Anyone interested look up the Mike Shearan interviews with Warwick Capper and Mark Jackson
Last edited by ol' boy; 16-09-18 at 10:32 PM.
If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!
Bassendean oval can bar strikes again
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