Their tackling was fiercer, their kicking direct and, most of all, they outpaced the Magpies.I thought Carlton’s run had ended when it trailed by 17 points at the last change. A split-second decision at half-time by coach Ron Barassi “fired” Carlton to the 1970 VFL premiership on Saturday.Carlton staged a miracle recovery to defeat Collingwood by 10 points after trailing the Magpies by a massive 44 points at the half-way mark.At half-time, Barassi and the selectors had decided to wait five minutes into the third quarter before replacing any players because of poor form.Rover Bert Thornley, who had won only two kicks, was to be given five minutes to show form or he would be taken off.But, just before the team returned to the ground, Barassi changed his mind.“Get ready, Ted, you’re in,” he roared at 21-year-old Ted Hopkins, who has become a near-permanent reserve in the Carlton side.In three minutes of the third quarter Hopkins kicked two goals and became an instant hero. The payers left a smear on the proud Collingwood tradition of fighting to the last gasp.It was a great match after half-time, and one which kept the 121,636 fans right on the tips of their toes.I must admit I was one of the many people at half-time who thought of leaving the MCG after Collingwood’s annihilation of the Blues in the first half.I could see Collingwood winning by a street, and could picture myself driving along Geelong Road listening to the last half on the radio.Collingwood had no weak links and every man was playing his part to perfection. And Carlton had begun the blitz which carried the side to its second premiership in three seasons.But the victory belonged to Barassi… and his change of mind.I cannot find any excuses for Collingwood.
Carlton defeats Collingwood at MCG Grand Final Saturday, 26th September 1970 AFL match statistics Wayne Richardson, in particular, was magnificent, and I thought he would win it off his own boot.But Ron Barassi delivered the tactical address of the day when he spoke to his players at the interval.From what I have heard, he instructed them to handball at all costs, and although this looking foolish at time, it was the play which won Carlton the pennant.Carlton had nothing to lose by approaching the game in this way, and the introduction of handball created a loose man every time.The Blues carried out their instructions to the letter, even as far as trying some silly things like handballing on the backline.Carlton is a well-disciplined side, and it is a credit to Barassi that his players tried their hardest to put his thoughts intro practice, although they sometimes fail.They don’t go down without a fight, and if they lose they can still hold their heads high.Young Ted Hopkins, the best bench-warmer in the business, gave the Blues a new lease of life they needed when he came on.His blonde head kept bobbing up around the goals, and when he was on the ball he could be seen stirring the other players towards victory.Brent Crosswell, who played well all day, Kevin Hall, Syd Jackson, Alex Jesaulenko, David McKay and Adrian Gallagher all played their part in lifting the Blues out of the doldrums.Every Carlton player lifted his game and more than matched Collingwood in all departments. But when the Blues got a run on again the Magpies looked a very tired side.From the Archives, 1970: Carlton's miracle VFL grand final winCarlton captain John Nicholls holds the premiership cup as Carlton laps the MCG.Alex Jesaulenko marks for the Carlton Blues in the 1970 Grand Final against Collingwood. A split-second decision at half-time by coach Ron Barassi “fired” Carlton to the 1970 VFL premiership on Saturday.
South Melbourne ended the second-longest finals drought in league history (twenty-four seasons) by finishing fourth, making the finals for the first time since 1945. Never have I seen a Premiership tossed away so blatantly.There was just not enough heart in the Collingwood side. Grand Final, 1970 Blueseum - History of the Carlton Football Club | Grand Final, 1970 Grand Final, 1970 A miracle unfolded when Carlton stormed home from 44 points down to beat Collingwood in front of 121,696 at the MCG. The 1970 VFL season was the first in which three full-forwards (Alex Jesaulenko, Peter McKenna, and Peter Hudson) kicked at least 100 goals in a home-and-away season. Carlton staged a miracle recovery to defeat Collingwood by 10 points after trailing the Magpies by a massive 44 points at the half-way mark. Grand Final 1970 AFL vfl collingwood beats carlton - YouTube