Grand Final # 9 – 1977

[LaurieHolden]

and if John Greening had not been 'assassinated at Moorabbin in 1972...

From what I read and been told about Greening, for those that saw him live, it seems we lost a generational player that would have changed the fortunes of the finals series we participated from '72 on and been in his absolute prime by '77.

[Pete 70]

Thanks again Harrysz these are just sensational posts. I watched the 77 GF a few weeks ago on Foxtel, and felt gutted particularly for P Moore. That first goal of the last is massive. I think if we kick that we win. Also a bit gutted for Tommy Hafey who was clearly a great coach and a really decent man. I wonder if we’d have won in 77, with the monkey off our back how 79 and 81 in particular might have gone. Again, I’ve really enjoyed these posts. Particularly given this is the longest preseason ever.

[Harrysz]

Thanks for your kind words Pete.

In the radio commentary, when Twiggy took the mark Harry Beitzel declared - "Twiggy Dunne can end this game if he kicks the goal." Ross Dunne was a good player for Collingwood and he shouldn't be too heavily criticised for missing that shot. But the reality is he missed, North swept the ball away, Darryl Sutton marked over Doug Gott, he goaled and North started blitzing.

[LaurieHolden]

Pies 2016 - Doug Gott was badly injured when Darryl Sutton flew over him to take a mark early in the last quarter. He then kicked North's first goal since the first quarter.

I hadn't read about Doug Gott previously. I was going through some of our players whose careers were cut short through injury.
As you point out, his leaving the field was at a critical moment.

https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/players/doug-gott/

For those that saw him play, whom might he have resembled in playing style of our modern era?

[R.Barham]

So much pain reading about 1977 GF especially when a player who could have been anything (Phil Carmen) was sitting in the stands for such an indiscretion. Carmen plays and we win, it was that simple

Success winning the ultimate certainly has been few and far between for the beloved Magpies.
Thank goodness I was able to see us Live 2024.