VFA/VFL reminiscences (split from NEAFL thread)

[Meg]

Thanks from me too KSAS. Great video, great song. Gee Skilton’s kicking was superb and the way he danced around opponents delightful.

Also a touch of nostalgia with the packed crowd standing in the outer behind a picket fence, and the goal umpires wearing white lab coats and white hats. Ah the old days!

[KSAS]

All the credit goes to the person who compiled & uploaded this video as it contains footage I hadn't seen before. Love Bobby's trade mark smile when on the MCG dias receiving the Brownlow medal sporting 2 black eyes! That in itself reveals everything about the man.

I also couldn't help noticing the courage & passion both he and Paul Kelly similarly displayed in the way they attacked the footy. So fitting they both wore no.14.

[Nico]

All the credit goes to the person who compiled & uploaded this video as it contains footage I hadn't seen before. Love Bobby's trade mark smile when on the MCG dias receiving the Brownlow medal sporting 2 black eyes! That in itself reveals everything about the man.

I also couldn't help noticing the courage & passion both he and Paul Kelly similarly displayed in the way they attacked the footy. So fitting they both wore no.14.

Oh for a Paul Kelly right now. Our centre clearance work hasn't been the same since he retired.

[Thunder Shaker]

1982 VFL Night Grand Final VFL Park Waverley - Swans vs North Melbourne

[KSAS]

Interesting interview with Bob Skilton back in 1981 when he was selected as rover in Ch 7's 25 years hall of fame team (1956 - 1981):
Bob Skilton - 1981 Channel 7 Hall of Fame Team 1956-1981 25 Years of Football - Rover - YouTube

[dejavoodoo44]

Interesting interview with Bob Skilton back in 1981 when he was selected as rover in Ch 7's 25 years hall of fame team (1956 - 1981):
Bob Skilton - 1981 Channel 7 Hall of Fame Team 1956-1981 25 Years of Football - Rover - YouTube

The fact that almost the first thing he did, was to bag the club's administrators, makes me feel grateful, that for most of the time that I've been following the Swans, the club appears to have been very well run. There's actually a nice article today on the club site, about retiring club physio, Rob Spurrs. Some of the background details point to how well the club is administered.

Although it was nice to hear Skilton talk about how much the jersey meant to him: especially since he originally wanted to play for the Demons.

[Blood Fever]

The fact that almost the first thing he did, was to bag the club's administrators, makes me feel grateful, that for most of the time that I've been following the Swans, the club appears to have been very well run. There's actually a nice article today on the club site, about retiring club physio, Rob Spurrs. Some of the background details point to how well the club is administered.

Although it was nice to hear Skilton talk about how much the jersey meant to him: especially since he originally wanted to play for the Demons.

Believe me, South were a bit of a shambles for many years, making them vulnerable to being sent interstate. It is only in this century that the administration has been outstanding.

[Aprilbr]

The fact that almost the first thing he did, was to bag the club's administrators, makes me feel grateful, that for most of the time that I've been following the Swans, the club appears to have been very well run. There's actually a nice article today on the club site, about retiring club physio, Rob Spurrs. Some of the background details point to how well the club is administered.

Although it was nice to hear Skilton talk about how much the jersey meant to him: especially since he originally wanted to play for the Demons.

I was interested to hear that he initially wanted to go to the Ds. Luckily, he soon came to love the Club thanks to Ron Clegg. I had never heard that story before so thank you for sharing it.

Good administration is so important as he highlighted. I was at a Swans dinner function many years ago in Melbourne. I happened to be seated next to the late Gentleman Jim Cleary. I asked him about why he thought that we had been so unsuccessful in the post- War period and he cited poor administration. We obviously had a bunch of amateurs running the show during the period of the 1950s to 1980s. It made us so vulnerable to a merger or move interstate. Luckily, the move to Sydney eventually paid off after a mostly tough first 13 years.

[Sandridge]

1982 VFL Night Grand Final VFL Park Waverley - Swans vs North Melbourne

I was there that night! It was fantastic!
Certainly didn't think it would be another 23 years before we won a "real" premiership!

[Mark26]

1982 VFL Night Grand Final VFL Park Waverley - Swans vs North Melbourne

What a ripper game. Thanks for posting!

I don't know where to post this as I'm after help with details of a past match, but it doesn't hark back to our VFL days. I wonder if the brains trust can help me.

I recall watching a Sydney game where we were down by roughly 10 goals at 3/4 time against the Dees. I thought we were cooked, but we ended up winning!

Does anyone else recall that game? I'd love to watch it again.

[Industrial Fan]

What a ripper game. Thanks for posting!

I don't know where to post this as I'm after help with details of a past match, but it doesn't hark back to our VFL days. I wonder if the brains trust can help me.

I recall watching a Sydney game where we were down by roughly 10 goals at 3/4 time against the Dees. I thought we were cooked, but we ended up winning!

Does anyone else recall that game? I'd love to watch it again.

without looking it up, round 5 2003.

It’s in my memory because it was the start of Roos reign and a watershed moment. Jason Ball was at the back of the 3/4 time huddle stretching. My bay would often signal him as stretching at later points to indicate a big quarter coming up.

- - - Updated - - -

Note the game I mentioned we scored 10 goals in the 4th but were maybe 5-6 down at 3/4 time

[Mark26]

without looking it up, round 5 2003.

It’s in my memory because it was the start of Roos reign and a watershed moment. Jason Ball was at the back of the 3/4 time huddle stretching. My bay would often signal him as stretching at later points to indicate a big quarter coming up.

- - - Updated - - -

Note the game I mentioned we scored 10 goals in the 4th but were maybe 5-6 down at 3/4 time

Thanks Industrial. This community is gold.

[Ruck'n'Roll]

without looking it up, round 5 2003.

It’s in my memory because it was the start of Roos reign and a watershed moment. Jason Ball was at the back of the 3/4 time huddle stretching. My bay would often signal him as stretching at later points to indicate a big quarter coming up.

- - - Updated - - -

Note the game I mentioned we scored 10 goals in the 4th but were maybe 5-6 down at 3/4 time

It was the first AFL game I ever took Mrs R'n'R to.
Sydney born and bred, she was curious about the devotion displayed by my father and I to our fortnightly pilgrimage to the footy. She joined us with the air of an anthropologist investigating the behaviour of some primitive (but amiably deranged) tribe - she even brought a book in case she got bored.
We smuggled her into the members area, our "neighbours" didn't make a fuss, rather they were welcoming to the visitor. Even helping me explain the rules as the game started.
To this day, it's the most dramatic conversion I've ever heard of (forget Paul on the road to Damascus) - By halfway through the final quarter she was barracking like a maniac, and became a member the next season.

She wasn't the only person who was inspired by the Swans performance either, I distinctly remember the Telegraph had a double page full colour spread, detailing each of the 10 last quarter goals, in addition to the match report - A big turn around to the Swans having to buy a quarter page in the sports pages between the greyhound racing and the soccer.

PS - There's a lot about the current crop of young cygnets that lead me to hope that 2021 may emulate the '03 Swans team.

[Sandridge]

What a ripper game. Thanks for posting!

I don't know where to post this as I'm after help with details of a past match, but it doesn't hark back to our VFL days. I wonder if the brains trust can help me.

I recall watching a Sydney game where we were down by roughly 10 goals at 3/4 time against the Dees. I thought we were cooked, but we ended up winning!

Does anyone else recall that game? I'd love to watch it again.

There is a DVD of our 2003 season highlights with the game you mention featured. The DVD looks like this:

Sydney Swans Season Highlights (AFL) Movies, DVD | Sanity

It may be hard to get now. I have this DVD and, if you're able to copy it, I'm happy to send it to you. Would need it back, though!

[dejavoodoo44]

These are the stats for that game.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2003/111620030425.html

Down 20 at 3/4 time against the Demons and kicked 10 in the final quarter to win by 24. And yes, the core of the 2005 premiership side was there.