VENUE: MCG
DATE: Saturday 26 September
CROWD: 89,060
UMPIRE: McMurray
PRE-MATCH The momentous victory at Kardinia Park in Round 14 which ended the Cats record run of 23 straight victories (unbeaten for 26) was the turning point for Collingwood in 1953. After the Kardinia Park epic, the emboldened players galvanized their will to avenge the previous year’s Grand final defeat to the superior Cats.
Leading the Magpies’ charge were Bob Rose (second in the Brownlow), Neil Mann (third) and 19 year-old speedster Thorold Merrett (who also finished in the top ten). The leadership of Lou Richards and Phonse Kyne, in addition to a rock solid team ethic, part way bridged the gap in class of their Cat counterparts.
Collingwood further cemented their claims with a five goal victory over Geelong in the Second Semi final. Countering their new found belief, Collingwood entered the decider weakened by injury, its backline decimated by the loss of key defenders Lucas, Hamilton and Tuck. Such was the dire situation, George Hams was selected despite a hand injury that essentially failed (selector) Jock McHale’s vigorous handshake test at training. Lingering concerns remained that the Cats would rise to the occasion when it counted.
The action started early on Grand final day, 1953. The stage was set before play started when thousands jumped the fence, defying police. Simply, the MCG was bursting – hundreds of the 89,000 demanded a refund when they found they couldn’t see. A remarkable 25,000 people were estimated to be waiting in line when the gates opened at 9am. The gates were closed by 12.30pm, and even then the Health Department capacity limit was broken by 510 spectators.
THE GAME In an even first quarter Healey, Bob Rose and Merrett showed the way for the Magpies. Collingwood’s early hold on play failed to bear fruit on the scoreboard though, just a goal to Healey for their efforts. McMaster soon equalized for Geelong and after fifteen minutes the game was deadlocked. Then Rayson’s aim was precise following Tresize’ handpass, and the Cats cranked into gear. The battle intensified as both sides tested each other physically. A late Magpie goal won a two-point margin at the break. Players continually crashed into the hordes of spectators lining the fence, forcing boundary umpires to throw the ball in from inside the field of play.
Bill Twomey kicks for goal
Healey and Merrett combined to allow Bob Rose to goal early in the second term. The Cats then proceeded to fritter away numerous chances, made all the more frustrating given they had the benefit of a light breeze. From fewer opportunities Collingwood scrounged 3.2, whilst Geelong mustered just 1.7 to slip to a half time deficit of nine points.
The game was broken open by Collingwood in the third term, a five goal quarter extending the margin at the final change. Lou Richards, Healey, Bob Rose and Batchelor (2) kept the scoreboard ticking, benefiting from the ascendancy gained by the rucks and wings. Another pivotal factor of this decisive quarter was centre half forward Waites. He exploited Cat star Hyde’s leg injury by running him around, and in the process won plenty of the ball himself.
An unrelenting Geelong threatened to overhaul the tiring Magpies in the final half hour. The Cats made some desperate changes, and early goals had them in with a chance. A 26 point deficit was cut to15 with plenty of time remaining. A young Murray Weideman entered the fray off the bench, regularly finding the ball, or as he later recalled, more so the ball found him! At 17 years 222 days, Weideman was in the midst of becoming the youngest Premiership player of all time. Yet Bob Davis loomed as the most important player on the ground when he booted a couple goals and set up other opportunities for the Cats. Bert Worner took advantage of opponent Des Healey’s cramp, also using his speed to great advantage. Geelong’s last ditch attempts should have brought them even closer, but chances were squandered. Pre-game, Phonse Kyne had implored his men to get up and keep going when they felt they had nothing left, and with these words ringing in their ears, some dog-tired Magpies pushed themselves beyond the pain barrier. Ron Richards aided a steadying goal by Bob Rose which appeared to be the clincher. Still the Cats came, but thankfully so did the final siren. Delirious fans invaded the ground and players rejoiced a Flag many doubted possible earlier in the season.
Ron Richards put on a star turn
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Ron Richards may have lived in the shadow of his larger-than-life, multi-media megastar brother Lou, but he was a more than serviceable player in his own right. When it counted, Ron stepped up on Grand final day 1953, in a best on ground performance. Usually a half forward or rover, Richards played the game of his life on the wing, a move instigated by Jock McHale.
The crucial moment of truth in Geelong’s last quarter flurry came when Ron Hovey, fresh from the bench, missed two sitters from just 20 metres out. In fact, one of the resultant kick-ins ended with a Collingwood goal and a two goal turnaround. In Hovey’s defence, the intense pressure of the situation wasn’t aided by spending an hour and a half seated in a dressing gown.
AFTERMATCH
The 1940’s was an inconceivably barren decade, for the first time not a single Grand final appearance to be had. The scenes after the game – thousands of spectators rejoicing on the field with triumphant captain Lou Richards hoisted aloft, epitomized the emotion and relief of the Collingwood masses. A fancy dress party was to be the unusual, if not quaint post-match celebration.
Some writers of the day saw fit to detract from Collingwood’s gutsy win, suggesting the team had about ten class players and the rest merely ordinary battlers – a stretch given they had defeated Geelong three times in the one season. Ron Richards, Des Healey and Bob Rose deservedly won kudos as the standout players on the day, however Bill Rose and Terry Waites should not be forgotten. Neither player enjoyed careers of great notoriety or longevity, however their blanketing jobs on Geelong stars Bill McMaster and John Hyde proved crucial. Typically, Collingwood was greater than the sum of its parts, and coach Phonse Kyne proved a more than worthy replacement for Jock McHale.
THE HERO Bob Rose (Collingwood)
Just as it was for the three Twomeys and two Richards brothers, it was a good year for the Roses; Bob the driving force behind the 1953 Premiership, with Bill alongside successfully undertaking a vital tagging role. This was Bob Rose’s best season, and on the most important day he was the team’s heartbeat. The description of his playing style by noted writer Hec de Lacy of The Sporting Globe draws close parallels with Nathan Buckley, the closest rival for the mantle ‘best ever’. ‘Rose intelligently links rovers, centres and forwards. He can be likened to a man who posts letters and then races ahead to accept delivery.’ Also, ‘the greatest team builder in Australian football – Bobby Rose. Rose has the happy knack of making Muldoons play like champions. He vitalises defences, rucks or attacks as the occasion demands.’
Rose was rewarded at the end of the season with a record fourth Copeland Trophy, but the Brownlow Medal eluded the favourite. He did finish second, but not in the contest that really mattered to him.
POSTSCRIPT The 1953 Grand final was a thrilling game – certainly not for the feint-hearted. For legendary Collingwood figures Jock McHale and John Wren, the gut wrenching last quarter appeared to be their undoing. It is recorded that Wren, at this stage struggling physically, slowly made his way around behind the goals to which Collingwood was kicking in the last quarter. A sad postscript to the stirring triumph was the unfortunate demise of McHale, who suffered a heart attack just the day after, and died a week later aged 71. Wren, whose heart also gave out a day after that, expired a month later aged 82. They would have passed on satisfied the worrying drought of 17 years, including four Grand final losses and another three Preliminary final defeats, had been arrested.
The Club expected bigger things in 1954 but it wasn’t to be. The injection of the injured players of 1953 did not have the anticipated effect, and the Magpies failed to even make the finals. Meanwhile Geelong, disappointed by the upset defeat, reached an end to their dominant era. The emergence of Melbourne as a superpower served to stifle the aspirations of the Black and Whites, and other contenders, for years to follow.
WHAT THEY SAID
Jack Finck
“Bob Rose must be acclaimed as one of the greatest, if not the greatest player ever to wear the black and white uniform.” Words that still ring true today, spoken by someone who should know; player/coach from 1902-49 Jock McHale.
“Don’t wish me the best of luck. You see that flag pole on top of the stand? Put your head down and I’ll kick your flaming head right over it.” Collingwood skipper Lou Richards in his inimitable style as he prepared to toss the coin with Geelong captain Fred Flanagan. Even Lou later regretted this outburst.
“Collingwood on Saturday applied with ruthless efficiency a plan of masterly frustration to crush Geelong’s deadly pace. That plan demanded that every Collingwood player should gallop along at his opponent’s elbow – bumping, jostling and blocking. Each Magpie applied himself to the task with such tigerish energy as to dislocate smooth teaming and stud the game with frenzied individual tussles for the ball.”
The Argus’ Hugh Buggy gets to the nitty gritty of how the game was won.
“That win was a turning point. We felt that if we could beat them down on their own ground we could beat them any time.”
Lou Richards harks back to the famous Round 14 victory over Geelong.
COLLINGWOOD B Sharp Finck Gooch HB Parker Waller Kingston C Healey W Twomey R Richards HF Merrett Waites P Twomey F L Richards Batchelor M Twomey FOLL Mann, W Rose, B Rose RES Weideman, Hams COACH Kyne
GEELONG B B Smith Morrison Herbert HB S Smith Hyde Williams C Reed Turner Worner HF Rayson Flanagan Davis F Swarbrick Renfrey Tresize FOLL McMaster, Sharp, Pianto RES Hovey, Palmer COACH Hickey
BEST
COLLINGWOOD – Healey, Mann R Richards, B Rose, Merrett, L Richards, Waites, Batchelor GEELONG – B Smith, Williams, Renfrey, Turner, McMaster
GOALS
COLLINGWOOD – Batchelor 4, B Rose 3, Healey 2, L Richards, M Twomey GEELONG – Davis 3, Rayson 2, Hovey, Tresize, McMaster
The momentous victory at Kardinia Park in Round 14 which ended the Cats record run of 23 straight victories (unbeaten for 26) was the turning point for Collingwood in 1953. After the Kardinia Park epic, the emboldened players galvanized their will to avenge the previous year’s Grand final defeat to the superior Cats.
In an even first quarter Healey, Bob Rose and Merrett showed the way for the Magpies. Collingwood’s early hold on play failed to bear fruit on the scoreboard though, just a goal to Healey for their efforts. McMaster soon equalized for Geelong and after fifteen minutes the game was deadlocked. Then Rayson’s aim was precise following Tresize’ handpass, and the Cats cranked into gear. The battle intensified as both sides tested each other physically. A late Magpie goal won a two-point margin at the break. Players continually crashed into the hordes of spectators lining the fence, forcing boundary umpires to throw the ball in from inside the field of play.
The game was broken open by Collingwood in the third term, a five goal quarter extending the margin at the final change. Lou Richards, Healey, Bob Rose and Batchelor (2) kept the scoreboard ticking, benefiting from the ascendancy gained by the rucks and wings. Another pivotal factor of this decisive quarter was centre half forward Waites. He exploited Cat star Hyde’s leg injury by running him around, and in the process won plenty of the ball himself.
An unrelenting Geelong threatened to overhaul the tiring Magpies in the final half hour. The Cats made some desperate changes, and early goals had them in with a chance. A 26 point deficit was cut to15 with plenty of time remaining. A young Murray Weideman entered the fray off the bench, regularly finding the ball, or as he later recalled, more so the ball found him! At 17 years 222 days, Weideman was in the midst of becoming the youngest Premiership player of all time. Yet Bob Davis loomed as the most important player on the ground when he booted a couple goals and set up other opportunities for the Cats. Bert Worner took advantage of opponent Des Healey’s cramp, also using his speed to great advantage. Geelong’s last ditch attempts should have brought them even closer, but chances were squandered. Pre-game, Phonse Kyne had implored his men to get up and keep going when they felt they had nothing left, and with these words ringing in their ears, some dog-tired Magpies pushed themselves beyond the pain barrier. Ron Richards aided a steadying goal by Bob Rose which appeared to be the clincher. Still the Cats came, but thankfully so did the final siren. Delirious fans invaded the ground and players rejoiced a Flag many doubted possible earlier in the season.
Bob Rose (Collingwood)
The 1953 Grand final was a thrilling game – certainly not for the feint-hearted. For legendary Collingwood figures Jock McHale and John Wren, the gut wrenching last quarter appeared to be their undoing. It is recorded that Wren, at this stage struggling physically, slowly made his way around behind the goals to which Collingwood was kicking in the last quarter. A sad postscript to the stirring triumph was the unfortunate demise of McHale, who suffered a heart attack just the day after, and died a week later aged 71. Wren, whose heart also gave out a day after that, expired a month later aged 82. They would have passed on satisfied the worrying drought of 17 years, including four Grand final losses and another three Preliminary final defeats, had been arrested.
The Club expected bigger things in 1954 but it wasn’t to be. The injection of the injured players of 1953 did not have the anticipated effect, and the Magpies failed to even make the finals. Meanwhile Geelong, disappointed by the upset defeat, reached an end to their dominant era. The emergence of Melbourne as a superpower served to stifle the aspirations of the Black and Whites, and other contenders, for years to follow.
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