It happened on the afternoon of Saturday, September 12, 1981, in the second semi-final against Geelong at VFL Park, when “The Buzz” lunged to smother Ian Nankervis’s clearing kick, then goaled over the shoulder from deep in the forward pocket.
That one act of genius prompted a standing ovation from Carlton supporters perched in the pocket - the first and last time this reporter has seen such a response to any “I was there the day” moment at League level.
Bosustow, with typical exuberance in a recent interview for the series of Our History podcasts, recalled that the goal was in keeping with the David Parkin edict.
“This was something Parkin had drilled into me - you had to be desperate, keep the ball in the forward line . . . ,” Bosustow explained.
“I just dived from 60 metres away . . . it was actually five metres but it gets better with age . . . and I just threw a wild boot at it. You wouldn’t believe it, but it’s just spun around the post and I thought ‘Gee that’s a good goal’.
“It was just one of those things I thought I had to do for the side, and it came off in spectacular fashion . . . and (Geoff) Southby often said to me that that was the catalyst for getting us going.”
