1966 ABC Grand Final broadcast. Full game.

[kosifantutti]

It’s well worth checking out Rhett Bartlett’s YouTube site Rhettrospective.
He’s featured in the Footy Record tomorrow with other custodians of the game’s history. Including at least one who posts here occasionally.

[perfectionist]

Ken Dakin was the main commentator. Special comments from Doug Bigelow.

I can't recognise the voice of the other commentator. I read on You-tube that it's Dick Mason, but it doesn't sound like him. Could be Noel Bailey.

[SaintPav]

It was interesting to realise that we are very lucky to even have one flag after watching the last quarter a few years ago.

It’s going to take a momentous effort and a lot of luck to get another shot again.

The chips are stacked against us!

[perfectionist]

It was interesting to realise that we are very lucky to even have one flag after watching the last quarter a few years ago.

It’s going to take a momentous effort and a lot of luck to get another shot again.

The chips are stacked against us!

The captain led from the front in the last quarter. Today, he would be an on-baller - and played that role from about half through the last quarter.

[Sebastian Tombs]

This is better

[Sebastian Tombs]

This is better

[SaintPav]

It’s not better. It’s different.

I like listening to the game on the radio. A totally different experience.

[B.M]

Hate to say it, but how poor were the skills compared to today’s game! Half of the players couldn’t even kick, and some couldn’t handball!!!

They were pretty good marks though, contested marking was a lot more common place back then as they kicked to packs. And all you did at school was jack in the pack!

Thought Cooper was BOG
Cowboy, Stewart, Seirakowski
Played well

Thompson was a giant in that era

[St Plugger]

Hate to say it, but how poor were the skills compared to today’s game! Half of the players couldn’t even kick, and some couldn’t handball!!!

Not quite right there re skills. If you watch closely, many were very adept at using their left foot and of course could kick drop kicks at ease, often on both sides, gaining maximum distance. They were also very good at using the stab pass as well. Handballs though were only a get out of trouble skill back then and the drop punt was yet to be used in any meaningful way!

[King Max]

This is better

Not if you want to watch the whole game.

[B.M]

Really St Plugger

Looked fkn scrappy to me, with awkward kicking styles and handball technique. And the game was basically scrub the ball forward. Hate the way Baldock used to be able to throw the ball away when getting tackled and then get a free for holding the man. In fact the number of frees was ridiculous! It was 14-12 at qtr time.

Goals missed from 10m out - kicking torps or flat punts.

It looked like a game of AFLW with bigger and stronger players.

The increased use of the drop punt in the late 60s changed footy imo and players were able to pass the ball more accurately.

Also the increase use of multiple handballs created running footy as opposed to kick mark footy

[Baz_Kitchner_Wall]

Thank you so much Kosi for the link. Appreciated.

You all make some valid points about the game. My father played in this era for the Saints, and he has nothing but admiration for the current skill level.

Just to put in perspective -

- Pre-season started end of Jan back then
- 3 Months they did nothing except their own weights program
- They did not do weights during the season
- They only trained twice a week after working a full day
- Interesting, the gym at our club had one set of dumb-bells and one barbell

[loris]

Thank you so much Kosi for the link. Appreciated.

You all make some valid points about the game. My father played in this era for the Saints, and he has nothing but admiration for the current skill level.

Just to put in perspective -

- Pre-season started end of Jan back then
- 3 Months they did nothing except their own weights program
- They did not do weights during the season
- They only trained twice a week after working a full day
- Interesting, the gym at our club had one set of dumb-bells and one barbell

We supporters could go onto the ground at three quarter time during H & A matches to listen to the coaches’ address & it was common to see a player or two puffing on a cigarette during the break