It is every young boy’s dream to step onto the `G on Grand Final Day and be part of that famous lap of honour, with the iconic cup. To say that you have achieved that aim, is something to tell your grandchildren, boast to friends and gives you an excuse to watch the replay, over and over again...
1970 was the final year that I was able to legitimately use my grandfather’s ladies’ ticket on Grand Final day without having to justify my age versus height to the custodians of the turnstiles.
And what a glorious day it was - for a Carlton supporter!
1971 saw me in the outer for the first time and, thanks to an all-night bender of Channel 7’s football marathon, sleep seemed more important than quarters two and three in a match where my team was not competing.
The Grand Final of 1972 was something different. Again in the outer, but this time I was at the city end with my father, just next to the fence that separated the members from ‘the others’.
The expectations prior to the match were that Richmond were too strong, too fast, too experienced, too everything and that they would leave the Mighty Blues in their wake.
As history would recall, `Big Nick' John Nicholls and the boys in blue had been plotting the demise of the cocky Tigers for a number of weeks prior to the last day in September and put into place a number of boom or bust strategies, that definitely ‘boomed’ on the day.
`Percy' Jones took over the No. 1 ruck position while the Blues loaded up the forward line with Jesaulenko, Walls, Keogh, Jackson and Nicholls himself. While Jones worked tirelessly in the ruck, the Blues piled on eight goals in the first quarter, 10 in the second, seven in the third and three in the last to accumulate the score line of 28.9 (177) to win by 27 points.
As the result became inevitable, I decided that it was time to implement a plan that I myself had devised while sitting in the members section years beforehand, but never had the courage to execute it. It is amazing what two years can do to accelerate bravery.
I had always observed that the ring of security personnel at the end of the Grand Final, standing just inside the boundary line, extended all the way around the ground, except in front of the MCC Smokers’ Stand.
It was the weak link in the chain, the only vulnerable section in the whole stadium.
At the 20-minute mark of the last quarter, I left my seat in the outer, exited the ground and ran around to the Members entrance where the gates were wide open and disgruntled patrons wearing ‘Yella and Black’ were leaving in droves.
Challenge 1: To enter into the MCC Members Pavilion - accomplished.
The next part of the strategy was to identify the lowest fence line between the Smokers’ Stand and the rest of the Members’ Pavilion. I then had to make sure I was there when the final siren blew, because at that exact time, there is a very small window of opportunity when everyone is distracted and ‘the jump’ can occur.
Because it was Grand Final day, the standing room section in front of the old members stand was packed, thus providing some sort of protection once ‘the jump’ had been successfully executed.
Challenge 2: The Jump - accomplished.
Once over that fence, it was the ‘don’t look back, head for the boundary fence’ time. The assumption was that the area was so crowded, that by the time any security within the pavilion had identified the intruder, it was near on impossible for them to weave through the crowd to apprehend them.
It worked to perfection.
The final, and possibly the riskiest part of the operation, of actually stepping onto the arena, was almost the easiest. The ‘boundary fence jump’ needed to occur away from the dividing fence as the on ground security personnel were stationed near there.
Once I knew that I was not in their line of sight, I simply jumped the boundary fence……..and ran!
The first couple of minutes of mingling and looking as if I belonged, were nerve-racking to say the least, as I was waiting for that firm hand to grab me the shoulder and drag me away. It didn’t happen.
I wandered around embracing people I had never met before and have never seen since. I remember shaking John O’Connell’s hand and telling him what a great job he’d done, but I also recall shying away from Bruce Doull (although I had the chance!), because, well, he’s Bruce Doull.
The victorious captain/coach actually left the field and went into the stands to collect the cup (a strange occurrence) and when he returned, it was time for us - yes us - to complete our lap of honour!
Unlike today, the lap was completed in double quick time, but I still had the chance to soak up the atmosphere, have a chat to Andy Lucas and run next to Wallsy for about quarter of the lap.
On the `G, after a Grand Final, mixing it with my heroes, looking back into the stands to see those tens of thousands of faces, feeling the energy that only a post Grand Final crowd can provide, life doesn’t get much better than that!
Unfortunately, it all ended far too quickly, but thanks to the Channel 7 replay, from the two hour and 16-minute mark to two hours and 20 minutes, that dream of being on the 'G on Grand Final day, can be relived over and over again - and the game is worth watching too!!
Paul Walsh has a relationship with the Melbourne Cricket Club that spans over 55 years. From the days when he would have a Ladies Ticket pinned into the inside of the pocket of his trousers (“Don’t lose this or your grandfather will never forgive you!”) to today when he is responsible for his own membership card and can enjoy the excellent facilities with his three MCC membered children. An avid Carlton supporter, Paul has many great memories of his team performing on the hallowed turf, but probably none more special than October 7, 1972.
1972 Grand Final
Carlton 8.4 18.6 25.9 28.9 (177)
Richmond 5.4 10.9 15.15 22.18 (150)
GOALS
Carlton: Jesaulenko 7, Walls 6, Nicholls 6, Keogh 3, Jackson 2, Hall, Gallagher, Chandler, Dickson
Richmond: Balme 5, Sheedy 3, Richardson 3, Cumming 2, Hart 2, McMillan 2, Stewart, Hunt, Sproule, McLean, Morris
Crowd: 112,393