SouthSwans' Swannies Classics

[Doctor J.]

Unreal. I didn't think i'd ever find anyone else who was there. I have fond memories of walking around the outer after the game watching the Collingwood fans with tears in their eyes.
One of the absolute highlights of my childhood.

Doctor J (long time poster) has often spoken of that game when the discussion gets around to the best swans games attended. He was there.

Yep I was there. Unbelievably I remember everything about this game. The comeback from nowhere to pinch a win we all thought was gone. The massive crowd. Was the biggest crowd I have ever witnessed at the Lake Oval (was probably only 20,000 but as a 10yo hey it was massive), The 1970 season is one I remember so much about, such a pity that the next 5 years were wasted years for all those talented players who were part of that side. Take a look at the ages of the players who played in the 1970 semi final if you can ever get a list of them. Apart from Sir Bobby Skilton, not too many of them are over the age of 25 and many of them have less than 50 games.

[aardvark]

Hey Doc, there were 35000 there, the biggest game of the round. You are right about the ages. Skilts was 31 Bull Richardson was 28 and Johnny Rantall and Freddy Way were 26. Everyone else was younger. They really should have been more successful in the following years

[chuckie]

Stevie the rat Hoffman kicked two of the last 3 goals.
I tried getting the footage of this game years ago but had no luck, I tried channel 7 and 9 both no good didn't try ABC they might be worth a try.

[aardvark]

Stevie the rat Hoffman kicked two of the last 3 goals.
I tried getting the footage of this game years ago but had no luck, I tried channel 7 and 9 both no good didn't try ABC they might be worth a try.

Footy replay was on 7 at the time although i seem to remember replays on all 3 stations (could be wrong). It would be a real shame if all that footage has been destroyed.
Stevie was only 18 at the time

[Bloody Hell]

I think 2006 Qualifying Final vs West Coast is my favourite - great stuff, muchly appreciated.

[ItsAllGoodes]

Take a look at the ages of the players who played in the 1970 semi final if you can ever get a list of them. Apart from Sir Bobby Skilton, not too many of them are over the age of 25 and many of them have less than 50 games.

South Melbourne Match Stats Career
# Player Age Games
4 Baskin, Keith 24y 264d 57
11 Bedford, Peter 23y 147d 61
31 Bennett, Stuart 23y 336d 53
7 Brice, Gary 21y 333d 23
17 Cook, Russell 22y 347d 84
27 Gleeson, Reg 20y 127d 18
8 Haenen, Tony 24y 134d 80
26 Hoffman, Steve 18y 349d 19
15 Jacobs, Graeme 26y 183d 93
33 Lambert, Greg 23y 188d 62
37 Luke, Richard 22y 111d 39
25 McAuliffe, Haydn 24y 113d 81
29 McLeish, David 20y 196d 31
6 Murphy, John 25y 236d 20
21 Pitura, John 19y 349d 35
5 Rantall, John 26y 270d 130
14 Skilton, Bob 31y 301d 218
20 Sudholz, John 24y 127d 84
10 Walsh, Wayne 24y 121d 41
30 Way, Fred 26y 208d 61

[Nico]

South Melbourne Match Stats Career
# Player Age Games
4 Baskin, Keith 24y 264d 57
11 Bedford, Peter 23y 147d 61
31 Bennett, Stuart 23y 336d 53
7 Brice, Gary 21y 333d 23
17 Cook, Russell 22y 347d 84
27 Gleeson, Reg 20y 127d 18
8 Haenen, Tony 24y 134d 80
26 Hoffman, Steve 18y 349d 19
15 Jacobs, Graeme 26y 183d 93
33 Lambert, Greg 23y 188d 62
37 Luke, Richard 22y 111d 39
25 McAuliffe, Haydn 24y 113d 81
29 McLeish, David 20y 196d 31
6 Murphy, John 25y 236d 20
21 Pitura, John 19y 349d 35
5 Rantall, John 26y 270d 130
14 Skilton, Bob 31y 301d 218
20 Sudholz, John 24y 127d 84
10 Walsh, Wayne 24y 121d 41
30 Way, Fred 26y 208d 61

Keith Baskin - running half forward - loved a bounce. Exciting on his day.
Peter Bedford - fairly handy Brownlow Medalist. As brilliant as they get.
Stuart Bennett - bean pole ruckman
Gary Brice - Tough, hard, uncompromising wingman forward. An all time fav with the boys in the outer.
Russell Cook - Ruckman/forward with size 16 or bigger boots. Feet like flippers.
Reg Gleeson - left foot half back, another fav
Tony Haenan - handy ruckman
Steve Hoffman - Rover, played some cracker games
Graeme Jacobs - ex Melbourne forward, had some good games
Greg Lambert - pacy wingman who excited with his runs
Richard Luke - another who liked to run and take a bounce
Haydn McAuliffe - rover - was famous for kicking out on the full. A lot of his torps went off the side of the boot.
David Mcleish - half back who hardly played a bad game.
John Murphy - I think from WA. On ball utility who if I recall correctly kicked the goal that put us in front against the Pies at the Lake Oval. I think that was the day "we arrived". Fantastic game that was close all day.
John Pitura - Booming kick off half back who had a lot of class. Lost his way when he defected to Richmond.
John Rantall - Half back flanker - a legend who was rarely beaten. All time great of the Swans.
Bob Skilton - they don't come any better. How anyone could say Matthews was better than him is pure folly. Had class, respect, guts, style, dedicated, leadership skills dripping off him versus a thug. For the time Skilts was super fit compared to most others.
John Sudholz - Sudsy was a barrel chested full forward who kicked 60 goals, the most at the club since Bob Pratt. If he held on to the ones that bounced off his chest he would have kicked a ton.
Wayne Walsh - ex Richmond player who was a brilliant half back and underrated. Not by swans fans though.
Fred Way - Ruckman - the great white hope from the bush. Took years to come down but didn't disappoint when he did. Pity he didn't come earlier. Could have been anything.

Not mentioned

Bill Mitchell - club masseur, sports doctor miles ahead of his times. Was a master with manipulation and the story goes: Russell Cook went in at half time in a game after badly damaging ankle ligaments. Ran out after a bit of twisting and tweaking that put the ligaments in place and played like he had never had an injury. He could feel ligaments and muscles through a telephone book. No jabs in those days.

[Foreign Legion]

Some great memories and thanks South Swans for those videos.

My old man used to say Round 1 1959 was the best game he saw.

Collingwood unfurled the Premiership flag at Victoria Park....and that was the last moment of joy for them!

Info I can find:
Round: 1 Venue: Victoria Park Date: 18-Apr-1959 2:10 PM Attendance: 40,125
Collingwood 1.4 3.8 6.13 7.18 60
South Melbourne 5.4 8.9 12.11 14.17 101

Crowd incredible for that joint and score even better. Skilton and McGowan killed 'em apparently. Fred Goldsmith kicked 4 as well. Would love to have been there!

[31 hard at it]

1970 - Also mention Norm Smith as Coach.
Coached (as they all did) from a box on the sidelines.
As we hit the front at the 32 minute mark he stood on the boundary waving the Swans forwards to run down and cover the Collingwood forwards.
It was the first time I saw a flood put into play !
Misfired when we got a free from the ballup and there was no one to kick it to !!!

I spoke to my Dad about it earlier today.
He says he can remember everyone around us (old cricket club stand) yelling and then shaking hands to congratulate ourselves as if we had achieved the result !!
Great day indeed

[aardvark]

Not much would top 2005 but the crowd reaction was pretty special. It was like we had won the war.

[goswannie14]

I still have a copy of the footy record from the first semi final vs St kilda from 1970. One of my most prized posessions. Our first finals appearance since 1945 and The chimps only finals appearance

That was the first game of footy that my Dad took me to. I was 8 and had to stand on a box to see as we were in standing room.

[goswannies]

This item often appears on eBay for anyone that wants one