Great memories here Weissy. I am obviously much older but one of my favourite memories was the Queen's Birthday weekend victory over the pies in 1981 - Just under 93,000 fans - they were literally standing in the aisles - we got there early and got seats up the back of the stand on the outer wing. And that's when we only had 12,00 members!!! And what a victory. Also the day Huddo flew in from Tassie and kicked 8 before half time in 1973. I cried the day he went down at Glenferrie in Round 1 in 1972.
One dispute I must raise with you - yes Waverley was freezing regularly and I endured many of those days on the outer wing but I was also at the famous Canberra snow game - Maaaaaaate, that was way colder!!! Come on! Never been so cold at the footy in my life!
Weissy, by sitting in the members you missed one of the great traditions at Waverley being the walk to the other end during the breaks around the centre concourse to be at the end where Dunstall was. When Plugger, Ablett or Modra were playing there was the meeting of opposition supporters about half way around. Also, living in Glen Waverley as a kid you could dash out there and get in for free at 3/4 time. Great memories.
Love the article, and I am also an Arctic Park veteran.
A couple of memories that I would add include that night final when the lights went out and that image of fans walking around the boundary line carrying the behind post on their shoulders.. Also, that other night game against an interstate side when the sprinklers came on. There was also that bitterly cold night game, when the TV coverage went to the bench in a hail storm, showing players with their hands in buckets of hot water. I think the ground comments man was Doug Wade and he began his report with...'I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains...!"
I cannot leave out the Peter Crimmins benefit match that Hawthorn played in October, 1976 against an All Star Team-I think the only reason we lost was because Peter Hudson played for the All Stars.
only went to Waverley twice - helluva long way from both my childhood home and my adulthood home. first time to see the windies play the Aussies in WSC and it was washed out. second time saw Dermie run through the Essendon huddle. that was enough for me. (just like the only time I watched a match at windy hill was to see Hudson kick seven - sometimes you gotta know when enough is enough.
Really nice read. So many great memories. I used to make the pilgrimage every weekend from the Northern suburbs station of Jacana. Two trains and a bus.
I was glad I was able to take my kids to see training there last year on a recent trip back to Australia before the final curtain call.
My greatest memory is Dunstall kicking 17 goals. My brother actually marked the ball he kicked for his 17th goal. If only we'd shoved it under our shirt and taken off!
I miss the ‘Give me a H’ Hawthorn chants on the wing 😢
What’s that spell???
Great memories here Weissy. I am obviously much older but one of my favourite memories was the Queen's Birthday weekend victory over the pies in 1981 - Just under 93,000 fans - they were literally standing in the aisles - we got there early and got seats up the back of the stand on the outer wing. And that's when we only had 12,00 members!!! And what a victory. Also the day Huddo flew in from Tassie and kicked 8 before half time in 1973. I cried the day he went down at Glenferrie in Round 1 in 1972.
One dispute I must raise with you - yes Waverley was freezing regularly and I endured many of those days on the outer wing but I was also at the famous Canberra snow game - Maaaaaaate, that was way colder!!! Come on! Never been so cold at the footy in my life!
Fair enough - maybe it's the recency bias or lack of it in this case... but Canberra was absolutely FREEZING for sure!!
Weissy, by sitting in the members you missed one of the great traditions at Waverley being the walk to the other end during the breaks around the centre concourse to be at the end where Dunstall was. When Plugger, Ablett or Modra were playing there was the meeting of opposition supporters about half way around. Also, living in Glen Waverley as a kid you could dash out there and get in for free at 3/4 time. Great memories.
Love this Andrew!!
Love the article, and I am also an Arctic Park veteran.
A couple of memories that I would add include that night final when the lights went out and that image of fans walking around the boundary line carrying the behind post on their shoulders.. Also, that other night game against an interstate side when the sprinklers came on. There was also that bitterly cold night game, when the TV coverage went to the bench in a hail storm, showing players with their hands in buckets of hot water. I think the ground comments man was Doug Wade and he began his report with...'I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains...!"
I cannot leave out the Peter Crimmins benefit match that Hawthorn played in October, 1976 against an All Star Team-I think the only reason we lost was because Peter Hudson played for the All Stars.
Thanks Andrew, an enjoyable read.
Has anyone checked the weather patterns of Dingley? It's not that far from Waverly...
only went to Waverley twice - helluva long way from both my childhood home and my adulthood home. first time to see the windies play the Aussies in WSC and it was washed out. second time saw Dermie run through the Essendon huddle. that was enough for me. (just like the only time I watched a match at windy hill was to see Hudson kick seven - sometimes you gotta know when enough is enough.
Really nice read. So many great memories. I used to make the pilgrimage every weekend from the Northern suburbs station of Jacana. Two trains and a bus.
I was glad I was able to take my kids to see training there last year on a recent trip back to Australia before the final curtain call.
I was very skilled at the AFL Members post game exit derby!
Some great memories there.
It was cold and also wetter than any other ground.
But the Hawks always played well there, even before becoming tenants.
A 66% winning record is hard to beat.
My greatest memory is Dunstall kicking 17 goals. My brother actually marked the ball he kicked for his 17th goal. If only we'd shoved it under our shirt and taken off!