Dandy's day — eventually
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A Sunday footy feast
In early 1967 Austarama Television (ATV) Channel 0 Melbourne announced it would commence live coverage of Victorian Football Association (VFA) matches starting in April. Having commenced transmission in August 1964, ATV 0 screened Victorian Football League replays in 1965 but abruptly pulled the plug on its League commitments mid-season in 1966. Eager to add live sport to its weekend timetable, the move to abandon the almighty VFL and throw its lot in with the state’s oldest Australian Rules competition was bold. Audacious. Risky. Call it what you like, the move proved wildly successful for both parties.
Interest generated by live coverage parlayed into increased attendances at both First and Second Division matches. Suddenly the Association had morphed from stodgy to sexy. Well, sorta.
For its efforts the Nunawading based broadcaster had a point of difference from its commercial rivals HSV7 and GTV 9. Over the following 15 winters the Channel 0 commentary team of Phil Gibbs and Ted Henrys would become as celebrated as its competitors' higher profile VFL pundits. Prior to its audacious move Sunday afternoon television consisted of sandal and sword epics, religious programs and the Frank Packer sponsored right-wing rants of the National Civic Council.
Suddenly any Melburnians who happened to be housebound on the Sabbath were spoilt for choice. Hercules or Harold Martin. Billy Graham or “Bustlin'” Billy Barrot. Bob Santamaria or Bob Profitt. Traditional Sunday venues of worship such as St Patrick's and St Peter's now faced stiff opposition from less spiritual, more ecumenical meeting places such as Skinner Reserve, Toorak Park and North Port Oval.
Bullants and Redlegs
Two clubs whose rise to prominence coincided with the competition's renaissance were Preston and Dandenong.
Prior to its Second Division premiership in 1963, Preston’s trophy cabinet remained bare. Relegated the following August, the Bullants reclaimed a place amongst the VFA’s elite by virtue of another Division Two triumph in 1965. The arrival of former Hawthorn ruckman Alan Joyce in 1966 ushered in a golden period for the club. Joyce’s immortality was guaranteed when he delivered a well overdue First Division title in 1968, courtesy of a 14-point victory over Prahran in the season finale. The 'Ants repeated 12 months later, dropping just one of their 20 contests across the 1969 schedule. A two-goal triumph over Dandenong in the season's ultimate contest saw the 'Tonners bid the "swinging '60s" adieu in style.
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Admitted to the VFA from the Federal League in 1958, Dandenong didn’t take long to make an impression. The Second Division pennant captured in 1962, the club's first season at Shepley Oval, proved to be the catalyst for a period of sustained success throughout the remainder of the decade. The ecstasy of capturing the 1965 First Division minor premiership was brief, a straight set exit crushing any hopes of an inaugural Division One flag.
The less than satisfactory eighth place finish a year later prompted an aggressive recruiting campaign. Acquiring the services of Jim Miller, Hugh Mitchell and Alan Morrow, the latter as captain-coach, the Redlegs were primed for a premiership push. On September 24 1967 in front of Punt Road Oval crowd of approximately 17,000, Morrow’s men delivered when it mattered most. In a bruising, spiteful, controversial decider Dandenong defeated Port Melbourne by four goals. Over the following 11 seasons Dandenong qualified for the First Division finals on nine occasions.
1971
Both teams were denied an invitation to the September soiree in 1970; however the blip proved temporary. The Bullants with 13 wins and a draw across the '71 Home and Away program topped the table six points clear of the 12-win six-loss Redlegs. The one/two finish set up a Second Semi-Final contest with automatic progression to the season finale on offer to the victor.
The minor premier would have felt confident it had the measure of its fierce rival. Having triumphed in their two previous encounters that year — a tight four-point home victory in June and a 14-point triumph at Shepley Oval in the final regular season fixture — Preston were 7-0 against Dandenong since July 1969. Dandy coach Hugh Mitchell (pictured below right in his Essendon days) had a problem, his team’s inability to overcome the Cramer Street crew meant the monkey on the back now resembled a red and white clad Mandrill.
Whatever Mitchell said to his troops prior to the start of the Second Semi-Final worked wonders. Dandenong burst from the gates slamming on four goals in the opening six minutes of play. By the end of the opening term it wasn’t a question of if, but by how far, they would prevail. The quarter time score 12.2.74 to 1.2.8 illustrates how devastating Dandy’s opening half hour blitzkrieg was.
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The loss of the ever reliable George Schickert with a thigh injury inside the first 10 minutes exacerbated Bullants' coach Kevin Wright’s already throbbing headache. Matching their opponent across the final three quarters provided cold comfort for Wright, and Dandy progressed barely breaking sweat 24.11-155 to 11.15-81. For the victors Jim Miller made the most of his 13 kicks, Frosty’s 10-goal haul taking his tally for the season to 94. Ian Abraham (27 kicks) was a rock in defence, onballers Danny Hibbert and Rod Evans were busy all day. For the vanquished Jack Green (four goals) provided a target in attack. Laurie Hill, who had collected his second Liston trophy a week earlier, and Mick Dowdle were honest toilers for the 'Ants.
Preston rebounded to defeat an inaccurate Sandringham by 14 points (17.17.119 to 14.21.105) in the Preliminary Final a week later. For the second time in three seasons the VFA’s “New Firm” would slug it out for the ultimate prize. As expected the Redlegs’ starting 16 was unchanged from a fortnight earlier. Preston’s solitary alteration to the squad that stopped Sandy was adding the brilliant Peter Weightman in place of Ron Moylan. Despite a six-goal haul against Dandenong in the Round 18 clash Moylan endured a subpar September and started the decider on the reserve bench with Bob Baird.
The big day
The entrée consumed it was time for the main course.
Preston’s modus operandi was basic: stop Miller and, by extension, restrict their opponent from posting a winning score. With 94 goals to his name for the season, Frosty had torched the 'Tonners for 20 goals in their three 1971 clashes. His double-figure haul a fortnight earlier still fresh in the minds of the Bullants brains trust knew an average day for Frosty would not only guarantee a century of goals, it would in all likelihood stifle their premiership aspirations.
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George Schickert’s inability to overcome the strained thigh muscle injury he sustained in the Second Semi-Final saw Wright subpoena Barry Leslie to stand Miller at the opening bounce. The consequences of handing the least sought after assignment on offer to VFA defenders to the 25-year-old Leslie would cause reverberations and heartburn amongst many of the protagonists almost half a century later.
A pre-siren sensation
The cost of videotape in the early 1970’s prevented both commercial and public broadcasters from cultivating an appropriate archive of our earliest televisual memories. Fortunately the advent of YouTube and subsequent 'finds' in attics and garages across the country has led to the discovery of gems that were previously assumed perished. Such is the case with the 1971 VFA First Division Grand Final.
The footage that survived is grainy and sadly doesn’t include the all-important incident that led to field umpire Jim McMaster’s swift, some may suggest premature, adjudication. With the opening bounce imminent McMaster believed he had seen Barry Leslie hit Jim Miller (above). McMaster ran to the Fitzroy Street end of the arena and handed the ball to Miller who then calmly slotted his 95th goal of the season and give his team the perfect, if somewhat unorthodox, start to its quest for premiership glory.
But, there was a problem. The opening siren hadn’t sounded. Phil Gibbs and Ted Henrys, calling the game for ATV 0 were stunned with what they’d witnessed. Gibbs prophetically opined , “That’ll be one talked about for a long, long time.”
Henrys, whose stellar playing career in the Red and White of Preston included a Liston Trophy in 1953, the same season he won all Australian selection, seemed resigned to the finality of McMaster’s actions, informing the viewing audience, “It’s on the scoreboard anyway."
Gibbs added, “McMaster likes a sensation or two”. Had Gibbs imagined just how extraordinary the ramifications that would manifest over the following 24 hours would be, he may very well have departed the arena there and then.
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The explosive opening could have easily rattled the Bullants. It didn’t. They quickly composed themselves and remarkably grabbed the lead midterm, courtesy of a pair of six-pointers off the boot of 19-year-old Ray Saltmarsh (right). Dandenong quickly reasserted its superiority kicking the final four goals of the quarter and had it not been for inaccuracy in front of the sticks the 28-point-lead they enjoyed at the first interval (7.8.50 to 3.4.22) would’ve been greater, perhaps insurmountable.
Quarter time: Dandenong 7.8.50 v Preston 3.4.22
Mitchell's men hold firm
With the breeze at their backs the Bullants managed to eat into the deficit and Saltmarsh’s third major for the afternoon halved the quarter time margin. Miller’s second goal pushed the margin to 22 points and left Garfield’s favourite son a meagre four short of a season century. Terry Reid added another but the 'Ants responded with goals from Dick Telford and Allen. When the half-time siren sounded Dandenong led Preston by 14 points.
Half time: Dandenong 10.8.68 v Preston 8.6.54
Knowing the Redlegs had outscored their opponent across the second half of all three contests that year would have heartened Mitchell and his coaching staff. Any complacency would have been offset by the loss of star rover Danny Hibbert. Having succumbed to a thigh injury early in the second quarter the one-time Collingwood onballer would take no further part in the game.
Preston could take succour in the fact they had recovered from the extraordinary opening, had chipped away at the quarter time lead and remained a huge chance to capture their third pennant in four seasons.
As rain continued to sheet across the scenic, now sodden St Kilda setting, scoring shrank. Miller edged closer to the magical three-figure mark with a pair of majors during the term, but just as importantly the Redlegs' defence kept their opponents to just a solitary goal for the quarter. With half an hour remaining in season ’71 Dandenong turned for home with a handy, if not decisive, 21-point lead
Three-Quarter time: Dandenong 12.12.84 v Preston 9.9.63
Miller’s fifth goal for the afternoon took him to within a single six-pointer of the magical 'ton'. The 'Ants hit back, and when Bob Ireland and Phil Ashmead induced two flag responses from the goal umpire at the Fitzroy Street end the margin was less than a straight kick. As the clock ticked toward the 22-minute mark the bespectacled Ashmead belted the ball long into the Preston forward zone and found Harold Martin.
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Martin, who would serve the 'Ants admirably across 142 games and later coach the team to Grand Final appearances in 1978 and 1981, gathered the ball, played on and unleashed a right foot snap. Far from aesthetically appealing, Harold’s 'Hail Mary' somehow eluded the milling throng in the goal square. All clear. Preston were in pole position and mere minutes from pinching a premiership leading 13.14.92 to 13.13.91.
Dandy responded and forced the ball forward. Grabbed without possession of the ball, the elusive Pat Flaherty received a free kick. 20 metres from goal, no angle to speak of. Flaherty held his nerve, steered the wet ball through and the pre-match favourites were back in front. Preston surged but couldn’t penetrate the determined Dandy defence.
With 28 minutes expired Flaherty was awarded another free kick. Rather than kill the contest, Flaherty fluffed his chance. Dandenong now led Preston 14.14.98 to 13.14.92. A six point margin. With time now the enemy, a desperate Barry Leslie brought the ball back into play. Rather than find a team mate the saturated object of desire was intercepted by David Sheehan, but before Sheehan could steady himself for a shot on goal the siren sounded.
Whether it was the relief at the conclusion of hostilities or perhaps an outpouring of emotion, the diminutive Sheehan hurled the ball to the heavens in celebration.
Full Time: Dandenong 14.14.98 v Preston 13.14.92
Best for the (interim) winners was centreman Rod Evans (29 kicks). Ray Davies (22 kicks), Ray Orchard and Peter Stedwell played their part. With five goals Miller fell one short of his second 'ton' in three seasons. September 26 1971 proved quite a dramatic day in the life of James Joseph Miller. Apart from being front and centre in the most explosive incident in the 95-year history of the Victorian Football Association, “Frosty” was reported for striking Bert Thornley in the third quarter.
For the vanquished none were better than the brilliant Peter Weightman (24 kicks). Thornley (23 kicks) and Bernie McCarthy were standouts. Ray Saltmarsh (four goals) led the Ants' scorers. Spare a thought for the 29 year old Thornley. Exactly a year after he had replaced by Ted Hopkins at half time in the Greatest Grand Final, the native Western Australian would endure another afternoon of mixed emotions.
Preston's post-premiership protest
“There it is, the sirens gone, Dandenong are premiers for 1971.” – Peter Sharp, ATV 0 commentator.
Sharp, whose media work would see him inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame three decades later, may have been a little hasty in announcing the '71 pennant was headed to the burgeoning south-eastern suburbs. When the good folk of Melbourne opened their morning newspapers the next day they weren’t compelled to turn to the back page for a wrap of the previous days gripping showdown. Unexpectedly, the Victorian Football Association was front page news:
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Dandenong kicked a goal before the siren signalled the start of the VFA Grand Final yesterday – then went on to win the premiership by a goal. Angry Preston officials say the result of the match should have been a draw.
— Beaten before the Bounce by Terry O’Halloran, The Age, Monday 27 September 1971
O’Halloran reported that Preston officials would seek to have Jim Miller’s opening goal disallowed. If upheld, the result of the Grand Final would be a draw, thus necessitating a replay.
Preston Football Club will lodge a formal protest with the VFA today over field umpire Jim McMasters handling of the start of yesterday’s Grand Final. Preston secretary (Mr Alf Rowe) said last night the club will protest about McMaster’s decision to award Dandenong Full Forward Jim Miller a free kick before the ball had been bounced.
Mr Rowe stated “The club has directed me to lodge the protest about the goal awarded to Dandenong on the ground that it was an invalid decision”. Preston officials informed the VFA secretary Mr Fred Hill and the umpire’s advisor Mr Alan O’Neill about their decision after the game. Preston protests on Miller goal – When did the match start – Terry O’Halloran, The Age Monday 27 September 1971
The Bullants would base their protest on Rule 6(b) of the rules of the Australian Football Council. The rule relates to the commencement of a match and states: The ball shall be in play as soon as the ball is bounced, and once the ball touches the ground in the act of bouncing players are permitted to enter the circle.
Faced with the prospect of a rematch the following Sunday, Dandenong secretary Lionel Farrow came out all guns blazing. “As far as we are concerned the game has been played, finished and won, and we don’t appreciate any complaints from the losers. If they are going to argue about this, I think a valid point is that one of our players decided not to take his kick after the final siren.”
The player Farrow was referring to was, of course, David Sheehan. It’s unlikely the diminutive 5 foot 6 inch Sheehan would’ve skimped on the antacids post Grand Final/pre protest. On the eve of the all-important hearing, Sheehan shared his inner most thoughts in the Melbourne morning tabloid:
“Everyone is asking me why I didn’t kick it. I don’t know why. It was a natural reaction”
— Why didn’t I kick the thing – Murray Hubbard – Sun News Pictorial, Wednesday 29 September 1971
Flag or no flag?
The all-important meeting of the Victorian Football Association Board of Management (BoM) would commence at 8.00pm on Wednesday 29 September. Earlier in the week VFA secretary Mr Fred Hill received permission from St Kilda Cricket Club secretary Gordon Tamblyn to stage a replay the following Sunday (3 October) should Preston successfully appeal the result.
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The BoM heard evidence from a number of officials from both sides.
Neither of the timekeepers, Len Herman of Preston and Graham Way of Dandenong, heard Umpire McMaster blow his whistle to commence proceedings, Way claimed McMaster “appeared to do this” and “neither timekeeper at the time made any comment about any irregularity in the start of the match”¹ Herman said that McMaster had oscillated from his customary practice to start a match. “Usually he holds the ball aloft to signal to the timekeepers he is about to commence the match. I was watching him carefully — he did not check that the timekeepers were ready.”¹
Opposing captains Laurie Hill of Preston and Peter Stedwell of Dandenong provided conflicting evidence. Hill said “He [McMaster] usually holds the ball and signals to both captains. He didn’t do this on Sunday.”¹ Stedwell’s version differed: “When I took up my position the umpire indicated to me if I was ready to start the game. I acknowledged him and assume he did the same to the opposing captain.”¹
Ultimately Preston’s success or failure would be determined by the evidence given by field umpire Jim McMaster, who told the specially convened assembly that he “raised the ball and saw two players jostling at the Dandenong goal end. I had the whistle in my mouth, blew it, and much to my amazement, the siren didn’t go off. I looked back and saw player Miller hit so I blew time on. The umpires’ advisor O’Neil has told us to pay free kicks for infringements before the bouncing of the ball – you do not have to bounce the ball to start the game.”¹
McMaster was following Rule 17(a) which stated “All breaches of the laws must be penalised whether the ball is dead or in play.” He added “The siren first sounded when I handed the ball to Miller for his free kick. I’m quite certain I did the right thing. I would do it again under the same circumstances.”¹
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In summation Dandenong secretary Lionel Farrow recommended the delegates think very carefully about the decision they were about to make. “The very future of the VFA lies in this decision tonight. If we challenge the umpires' statements we undermine completely the authority the VFA has given to these men to carry out their onerous tasks”¹
Farrows’ counterpart Alf Rowe was less flowery but just as firm, saying, “The game hadn’t been started in accordance with the laws when the free kick was awarded. Therefore the game was invalid”¹
After digesting all the evidence presented the 44 delegates delivered their decision. 39 voted to dismiss the protest; a mere five believed a replay necessary. Alf Rowe, bitterly disappointed by the resounding defeat read a statement that said “On behalf of my club we are somewhat disappointed with the decision and further state that my club will never concede that it lost the 1971 Grand Final.”¹
Lionel Farrow, relieved that his team wouldn’t be forced into a rematch, was succinct with his response to the decision saying “I expected the result. I am pleased with the delegates' decision”¹
After the verdict
So, after 90 home-and-away matches, four finals and a history making mid-week Board of Management meeting, Dandenong were crowned First Division premiers for 1971.
When the two sides clashed in the opening round of the 1972 season Dandenong celebrated unfurling its precious 1971 pennant with a resounding 27-point victory, 8.16.64 to 5.7.37, in front of a Shepley Oval crowd of approximately 5,000. Preston would extract a sliver of revenge when the two sides met 10 weeks later at Cramer Street. Despite having one less scoring shot the Bullants cruised to a comfortable 59-point victory, 21.9.135 to 9.22.76, over the reigning champs.
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The fierce rivals would not renew acquaintances in a First Division final until September 1976. Battling for the right to meet Port Melbourne in the season decider seven days later, Dandy led from start to finish winning by 62 points (20.16.136 to 11.8.74) to consign the Dick Telford coached 'Tonners to a straight set exit. The 1976 Preliminary Final would be the last time the two sides would meet in the post season.
Despite a 13-5, fourth place finish in 1994, mounting financial problems saw the Redlegs withdraw from the VFA at the end of that season. Preston’s back-to-back premierships in 1983-84 were the final successes enjoyed by the Cramer Street outfit under the auspices of the Victorian Football Association.
Following the completion of the 1981 VFA season ATV 10 (it moved frequency in January 1980 from Channel 0) ended its coverage of the competition's home-and-away season, but continued telecasting the finals series from 1982 to 1986.
Click here to view details of the 1971 VFA season.
Footnotes
1. "Dandenong’s Flag – No Replay. Preston’s protest dismissed" by Peter McFarline and Terry O’Halloran, The Age Thursday 30 September 1971
YouTube video courtesy of Gezza1967
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