This is your chance to be at the MCG and see if Carlton can attract a crowd in excess of the Blues record home crowd attendance of 91,571 that flocked to the ‘G’ in round 20, 2000 for the Carlton home game against the Bombers. This is a challenge for both Carlton and Collingwood supporters to be a part of the record.
It will be more than the rivalry and pride the teams will do battle for in front of up to 90,000 people at the ‘G’ on Sunday. The teams will be playing for the Richard Pratt Cup, a tribute to the late Richard Pratt who passed away 12-months ago. The Richard Pratt Cup is more than a tribute to the man and the enormous contributions he made to the Carlton Football Club, to football in general and the community, it is about raising the awareness of prostate cancer.
L-R - Ted Hopkins, David McKay, Peter Jones, Ron Barassi,
Robert Walls, John Goold, John Nicholls, Syd Jackson,
Sergio Silvagni, Bert Thornley, Adrian Gallagher, Barry Gill
The rivalry was celebrated at a special luncheon on Friday afternoon. Not only the rivalry but the 40th anniversary of the most famous Grand Final of all time, the 1970 Carlton victory over Collingwood, a great way to start the weekend.
The 1970 Premiership flag and cup were on display as was the Richard Pratt Cup and funds from luncheon will go to the Richard Pratt Fellowships in prostate cancer.
As the current team prepares for a blockbuster at the MCG on Sunday, members of the 1970 Carlton premiership team and guests enjoyed a look back 40 years to that most famous premiership. The one person who enjoyed the luncheon but was not delighted about ‘looking back’ was former Collingwood great Des Tuddenham, who played for Collingwood in the 1970 Grand Final.
The 1970 season culminated in what many still consider today to be the greatest Grand Final of all time. One thing that is not in question is that at the MCG on Saturday September 26th, 1970 a world record crowd of 121,696 witnessed the greatest ever comeback in Grand Final history when Carlton came from 44-points down at half-time to defeat Collingwood by 10-points.
Not only was it the Greatest Comeback in Grand Final history it was possibly the most influential game of the era, the birth of the modern game with handball here to stay. Ron Barassi confirmed at the luncheon that Len Smith was the man responsible for bringing handball into the game and he said Carlton had used handball during the 1970 season. However there is no doubt it was the 1970 Grand Final that ensured handball was here to stay.
Many believe it was the official birth of the ‘Colliwobbles’ and of course it was the game that saw the greatest mark of all time; Alex Jesaulenko’s screamer over Collingwood’s Graeme Jenkin late in the second quarter. That mark introduced a phrase that is still heard today when players take a big mark; “Jesaulenko, You Beauty!”
Four goals in eight minutes to start the third quarter and seven goals in twelve minutes was the start of the comeback. Then John Nicholls two goals to start the final quarter set the Blues on the path to a memorable victory and a tenth premiership.
Coach Ron Barassi, Captain John Nicholls were joined by 1970 premiership players Barry Gill, Robert Walls, Bert Thornley, Syd Jackson, Sergio Silvagni, Peter Jones, David McKay, Ted Hopkins, Adrian Gallagher and John Goold at the luncheon at the Park Hyatt.
Adding to the walk down memory lane, the band “Creedence Clearwater Recycled” performed a number of Creedence Clearwater Revival hits from 1970. It was a year when CCR had the number one album “Cosmo’s Factory” with a number of huge hits including of course “Down on the Corner”.
In 1970 while people were listening to Creedence, The Beatles, Johnny Farnham and The Mixtures the 1970 VFL season was unfolding:
• Waverley Park was opened
• EJ Whitten broke the VFL games record
• Bobby Skilton played his one and only final
What a great start to the weekend, for Carlton supporters we hope it is the start of a memorable weekend for the Blues.
