For four decades they’ve suffered in silence - the crestfallen Collingwood footballers who somehow grasped the most improbable of Grand Final defeats from the gaping jaws of meritorious victory.
Now, after 40 years, three key members of Bob Rose’s vanquished Grand Final team have resolved to cleanse their souls and say what actually happened on that fateful afternoon of Saturday, September 26, 1970 - at a 40th anniversary luncheon commemorating Carlton ’s most famous premiership.
Collingwood hard man Des Tuddenham, full-forward Peter McKenna (who later saw the light and joined the Blues) and the man on whose back “Jezza” jumped, Graeme “Jerker” Jenkin, have agreed to front a panel of black and whites at the 1970 Comeback Luncheon to be convened by the Spirit of Carlton Past & Present.
Carlton’s heroes of that one day in September - Barry Gill, Ian Robertson and the game’s most famous benchwarmer Ted Hopkins - will also recount their memories of that compelling drama played out before a sea of humanity - 121,696 people no less - on the vast expanses of the mighty MCG.
Carlton’s 1970 Grand Final win over Collingwood - masterminded by coach Ron Barassi and ably led by captain John Nicholls - is heralded as one of the greatest comeback wins in League history. With Hopkins running amok in the third term, the Blues managed to reverse a 44-point half-time deficit to get up by ten, in what Channel 7 commentator the late Alan “Butch” Gale declared “the gutsiest performance I have ever seen in my life”.
Barassi and Nicholls, together with the club’s 1970 goalkicking centurian Alex Jesaulenko and its best and fairest player Adrian Gallagher, will also be in attendance at the 1970 Comeback Luncheon, with “Big Nick” to deliver the keynote address.
It was Nicholls himself who recently said of the encounter: “If we’d have played anyone bar Collingwood we wouldn’t have won”.
The inherent “never-give-in” attitude of Barassi’s heroes of that Grand Final will not be lost on the current contingent of Carlton footballers in the lead-up to September, as they too will be in attendance at the 1970 Comeback Luncheon.
For supporters, the 1970 Comeback Luncheon serves as a rare chance to mingle with the heroes of the conquest - a chance to say thankyou to the men who, by their extraordinary deeds, ensured that the 1970 Grand Final would be forever etched into football folklore, and ignite the game’s fiercest rivalry.
David McKay, the 263-game, four-time premiership player and the only Carlton footballer in 114 seasons to represent his team in three Grand Final victories over Collingwood, will be amongst the 17 of the 19 surviving members of Carlton’s triumphant 1970 team in attendance at the 1970 Comeback Luncheon.
Those interested in attending the luncheon can contact Bob Lowrie on 0438 271947 or via email, rjlowrie@tpg.com.au.
1970 Comeback Luncheon
date: Thursday, August 12, 2010
time: 12 noon
dress: Lounge suit
venue: The victory Room, Etihad stadium, Docklands
cost: $175.00 per person (all inclusive)
RSVP: Friday, July 30
CLICK HERE to download booking form.
About the Spirit of Carlton Past & Present
The Spirit of Carlton Past & Present was established four years ago to represent past players and officials, current players and passionate Blues supporters in preserving and building the spirit of Carlton on and off the field. It was also founded to raise funds to assist current players in on-field performance and to help meet the health and welfare needs of its past players.
