Just thought that during the lockdown I might start a new topic.  

What is your favourite Footscray game you have attended?

My number 1 is a game I have commented on here before,  Footscray v Carlton at Princes Park in Round 22, 1976.  Footscray had to win to make the five.  If they lost and Melbourne beat Collingwood at Victoria Park, Melbourne would take Footscray's place.  1976 was the first year that Collingwood "won" the Wooden Spoon and Melbourne kept their end of the bargain and won.

It was a beautiful sunny day at Princes Park and the Dogs seemed to be in control most of the day.  It was the only time I have attended a VFL/AFL game on my own which was a different experience.  I stood under the old press box on the northern wing.  The game came down to a pulsating finish with plenty of drama near the end.  Footscray "hung on" despite Carlton coming home strongly with the home crowd behind them.  The game ended in a draw which was enough for Footscray to make the Five. Poor old Melbourne had to wait another eleven years before they made the finals - the year Jim Stynes ran across the mark in the Preliminary Final.  

Another game I recall was at Moorabbin in late 1992 against StKilda in the mud.  After a tough slog all day Footscray got home by a couple of goals in the last 10 minutes.  StKilda were favourites on their own ground after playing finals for the first time the year before since 1973.  As it turned out the Dogs and the Saints would meet again that year in the finals at Waverley with Footscray winning easily.

Wonder who else has some favourites.  Would love to hear from anyone who attended the 1997 Preliminary Final and had a good view of Tony Liberatore's shot for goal in the last quarter that was adjudged a point.

G'day Caveman,

This is the first time I have read through this post properly.  That is an amazing job you've done - it must have taken hours of research to come up with these gems.  

I think it is about time you wrote a book mate - it will be a bestseller.  The amount of research you have put into the various topics on this website is incredible.  

Hope you are surviving the lockdown and lack of footy OK.  It will be interesting to see how the season eventually pan out when it starts.

Keep up the good work.

Just thought of another game I'm sure you would love to see the entire footage of, Caveman -

Round 22, 1976 - Carlton v Footscray at Princes Park.  I know it is a favourite of your's and many Footscray supporters for obvious reasons.

And what about if we had today's technology to properly see Tony Liberatore's snap at gaol late in the '97 Preliminary Final against Adelaide?   P.S. - Any Footscray supporters out there reading this board who were at the game and had a good view of it?

Just following on from above re old footage.  If there was the facility to be able to obtain footage from days gone by, are there any in particular you would like to see?

From a Footscray perspective -

Footage of Merv Hobbs' mark in the 1961 1st semi;

Full replay of Ted Whittens 300th game against Fitzroy in 1969 and his last game against Hawthorn in 1970;

Footscray v St.Kilda 1st semi 1963;

Any other full game of EJ apart from the 1961 Grand Final.

Other than Footscray -

Vision from all the suburban grounds, particularly grounds like Coburg, Punt Road and Brunswick Street of which there is very little.

Footage of the likes of Coleman, Pratt, Bunton and Reynolds. (Other than the small snippets that are around).

Some of the old footy panels that had the likes of Norm Smith, Reg Hickey, Bill Twomey, Phonse Kyne and Jack Mueller.

What do you think Caveman?

Hi Caveman,

Yes my email has changed - I'll get it to you.  

The only footage that I think I have seen of North Melbourne at Coburg is a minute or two on the North Melbourne History tape.  It shows some silent footage of the game against Carlton played in the mud.  I wonder how many of the 9 North Melbourne games at Coburg were replayed on Channel 7, 9 or the ABC in 1965.  Once again one of those frustrating things for those of us who love history that there doesn't seem to be any footage of the Coburg days.  I guess in fairness to the TV stations at the time they probably didn't realise that North would only have the one year there, unlike Richmond and StKilda who had very successful moves in the same year.  

Cheers, Caveman and I will be in contact. 

Not sure if anyone has ever tried purchasing footage from the National Film and Sound Archive.  I was having a browse on their site recently.  Although it was not a Footscray game I noticed that they have listed the full last quarter of a 1966 Round 8 match between Hawthorn and Fitzroy at the old Brunswick Street oval.  I found this interesting because in 1966 both clubs finished very low on the ladder and it was the last year Fitzroy played at the Brunswick Street oval.  I don't think I have seen a broadcast of a match played at the Brunswick Street ground.

I know Caveman has put up the last ten minutes of the StKilda/Footscray match at Moorabbin from the same year.  It gives hope that there still might be some gems out there.  Anyone dealt with the NFSA and know about availability and prices etc.

Shoutout to Caveman, too.  Keep up the good work mate.