Magpies slay Demons in Grand heist

1958 Grand final

Collingwood   2.2.14  7.6.48   12.9.81   12.10.82
Melbourne     5.1.31   7.4.46  7.6.48   9.10.64

VENUE: MCG
DATE: Saturday 20 September
CROWD: 97,956
UMPIRE: Nash

PRE-MATCH

Murray Weideman and Thorold Merrett meet Aust Governor General Sir William Slim

After three successive Flags, Melbourne was on the verge of making history in 1958. It seemed no one could stop them from equalling Collingwood’s four in a row.  By the time the Magpies had won through to the 1958 Grand final their great ‘fifties rival had prevailed in the past ten successive clashes.  This included a long standing record home and away crowd of 99,000 earlier in the season, and a thumping in the Semi final two weeks earlier.  In that match the Dees thrashed a slow, top-heavy looking Collingwood by 45 points, whose only four goals came from snap shots out of packs.

Fans braved bitterly cold conditions

There was desperation in the Magpie camp to prevent ‘the Melbourne toffs’ from tarnishing their proud achievement but not even the most faithful supporters gave them much chance. Despite a solid win over North Melbourne in the Preliminary final, even the players knew it would take a massive effort.  Melbourne was simply bigger, stronger and better.  Carrying five teenagers into a Grand final was risky, if not unusual.  A further confidence buster was captain Frank Tuck braking down with a thigh strain in a last minute fitness test to satisfy coach Kyne that he was over the injury.  Tuck had virtually made it through the whole Thursday night session, but was to unluckily miss out again, as he had in 1953.  Also absent was champion veteran Bill Twomey.  However, according to ruckman Graeme Fellowes, the speech by Frank Galbally after training on Thursday night was the most inspiring he had ever heard.  It needed to be.

Melbourne also replaced two players; Carroll and Brenchley brought in for the unfit Case and Laidlaw – certainly not as sorely missed as Collingwood’s duo. Melbourne (3 – 1 on) was full of assurance, bordering on arrogance, vowing to not only equal but also eclipse the Magpies’ mark.

Familiar finals combatants, unfamiliar numbers

Due to a newspaper publishing the players with their numbers prior to the game, the VFL directed both clubs to reassign new numbers to players to protect the interests of the Football Record. There was confusion for spectators – who would ever recognize Ron Barassi in any Guernsey but his famous 31.  Would wearing number 2 strip him of his powers?

Pre-game, Phonse Kyne made another well-documented, rousing address to his charges. Kyne pulled out the history and tradition card, telling his men champion Collingwood teams had triumphed over teams of champion players in the past, and that the eyes of generations were upon them.  He told them to ‘bleed for Collingwood’ and to go harder than any other Collingwood player before them.  He also asked the players to play for their families and their friends.  By the time his emotive speech concluded, the players were ready to kill for Collingwood.

THE GAME
Opening up a three goal break at quarter time, things seemed to be running to the script for Melbourne. The Demons’ good start was due to their supremacy in the ruck, Mithen’s drive from the centre, and Barassi and Bob Johnson’s smart work around goal. The wet and sloppy conditions threatened to be a death sentence to the team that fell too far behind, no matter how early in the game.

A timely, aggressive fight back in the second quarter was mounted by Collingwood on perhaps the coldest Grand final day in history. The unexpected ferocity of their hard-hitting/hard tackling style shook Melbourne’s players to the core.  The Demons’ hesitancy inspired the Magpies to go even harder.  To compound Melbourne’s worries, two goals in two minutes by rover Bennett in the driving rain put scoreboard pressure on the Redlegs. The Magpies managed to edge ahead to a two point lead at half time, built on the back of some great play by wingman Ken Turner, and as a result of angry Demons taking their focus off the ball.  Collingwood’s battlers were pumped at half time with the scent of victory in their cold running noses.  But to those not privy to the mood of the Magpies’ changeroom, Melbourne would surely lift its game and fulfill their destiny?

Norm Smith’s half time plea to forget about the physical stuff and play the ball was only evident for a short period. Bill Serong reminded Melbourne why they had been so furious in the first place when he broke Ian Ridley’s nose, early in the third term.  This would be the beginning of the end for Melbourne.  Weideman and Harrison continued to initiate ‘spot-fires’ to which the Dees resumed their pointless quest for revenge.  With the margin 33 points at the last change, the game was all but over, and the Magpies on the verge of the upset of the century.  To illustrate the point, when Bill Serong remarked to his opponent Ian Thorogood half way through the quarter that he thought the Magpies had them, he agreed.  Ron Reeves cheekily said as much to Barassi.  The response was a little more disagreeable, but the look of resignation said it all.

Reeves and Sullivan held firm and maintained their brilliant defence in the last quarter. Collingwood scored just one point to Melbourne’s 2.4, but did enough for a comfortable three goal victory.  Magpie supporters were ecstatic as their heroes pulled off one of the greatest, most unexpected Premierships in VFL/AFL history.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
One of the key moments occurred at the selection table prior to the game when the Magpies stuck with the maligned Barry ‘Hooker’ Harrison through the finals, despite his limited ability. Harrison’s fierce determination in tagging Melbourne’s champion Ron Barassi in the Semi final had been effective despite the result, and he was told to double the dose in the Grand final.  That he did; Harrison carried out his instructions to bump, push, shove and harass ‘Barrass’ to the letter.  The Demons’ trump card had one of his poorer matches and would bitterly reflect on the day for years to come.

Collingwood’s tactics came into full swing during the second quarter when Harrison and Magpie ‘enforcer’ and acting captain Murray Weideman went on the rampage. Harrison hit Barassi on an eye wound already created by fullback Harry Sullivan and ‘the Weed’ introduced several Demons to the full force of his shoulder.  With stars such as Barassi and Mithen being targeted, Melbourne fell for the trap of ‘evening up’.  This was their undoing when the Black and Whites focused on playing football.

AFTERMATCH

Kyne, Coventry & co. at the final siren

Collingwood accepted the first Premiership cup in the game’s centennial year. Importantly the coveted record of four-in-a-row was intact, one that has endured for over 80 years.  The Club’s 13^tth VFL Premiership is still its finest hour – a boilover against massive odds.

Club committeemen lobbed in a total of £300 as a thank you for the players’ deeds. Supporters were also generous in their donations to ensure the barely semi-professional players were well rewarded.

THE HERO
Barry Harrison (Collingwood)

It could be argued that several teammates essentially played better games than ‘Hooker’, however his famous tagging job on Barassi is what most still recall as the decisive individual performance. Harrison was a late bloomer who at 22 came to The Club at the beginning of the year.  After good practice match form, he made his debut in Round 1 against Footscray.  Through the season he became an effective ruck-rover and sometime ruckman, feeding the ball out to teammates and doing much of the heavy work.  Harrison sacrificed his own game and perhaps the length of his career.

On Grand final day his ferocity and physicality, despite his wiry frame, was used to full effect. With no pre-conceptions as to Ronald Dale Barassi’s enormous stature, Harrison set about following him everywhere, niggling, holding, bumping, scragging, punching the ball away and giving the odd whack.  He was reported, but to pour salt on the Demons’ wound, merely received a reprimand.

Harrison has become part of Collingwood folklore, despite a brief four year career of just 55 games. On the flipside, the reputation he garnered from the game subsequently dogged him as opposition players and supporters, and umpires, paid him more than his fair share of attention.

POSTSCRIPT
It was to be ironic that Collingwood’s greatest win was not a base for further glory, but a rod for the club’s back. Herein the club seemed cursed, losing the next eight Grand finals it contested in every conceivable way.  The emphasis on tradition, which inspired the 1958 win, consequently devolved into an inability to adapt to modern ways, stifling a club with great inherent resources and support.

Meanwhile, the loss inspired Melbourne to seek its own retribution, which it did in winning the next two Premierships against Essendon and Collingwood.

WHAT THEY SAID

‘The Weed’ cops a heavy ball in the head

“Deep down I didn’t believe we’d ever beat them.”
A startling admission made by acting Collingwood captain, Murray Weideman

“When you are reaching the point of exhaustion, remember the eyes of generations are upon you.”
Phonse Kyne lays it on heavy. 

“Whatever the hell you’re doing, just keep doing it.”
Not exactly a scientific approach from Phonse Kyne at half time.

“I hate you bastards, but geez I admire you.”
Vanquished coach Norm Smith (who grew up idolizing the Magpies) mounted a rubdown table and a hush overcame the dressing rooms before he said his piece… and disappeared.

COLLINGWOOD
B         Reeves          Sullivan Gabelich
HB       K. Rose       Delanty         Lucas
C         Gray          Henderson   Turner
HF       Beers         Weideman        Serong
F           M. Twomey    Brewer          Bennett
FOLL Fellowes, Harrison, Merrett
INT     Smale, Greve
COACH  Kyne

MELBOURNE
B         Beckwith       Marquis            Wilson
HB     Carroll           Williams     Thorogood
C         McLean           Mithen            Dixon
HF       Tunbridge  T. Johnson     Brenchley
F           R. Johnson       Webb          Adams
FOLL Fenton-Smith, Barassi, Ridley
INT     Gleeson, Crompton
COACH  N. Smith

BEST
COLLINGWOOD – Merrett, Fellowes, Serong, Reeves, Gabelich, Bennett, Turner, Lucas
MELBOURNE – Beckwith, Williams, R Johnson, Adams, McLean, Tunbridge, Ridley

GOALS
COLLINGWOOD – Weideman, Brewer, Beers, Bennett, Merrett 2, M. Twomey, Fellowes
MELBOURNE – Barassi, Adams 2, Brenchley, R. Johnson, McLean, Ridley, Crompton