Jezza's demise: your stories

camel · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:10 am

Inspired by murraycray's comment in the SOS thread:

murraycray wrote:

My take, I don't like what's happened here, it reminds me of the night I sat in Festival Hall and watched Jezza's demise.
That said, this is Carlton, and Carlton is what Carlton does.
The club will rebound from this and become stronger, off and on field.
It always does.

From those who were there, or were more than 7 years old at the time, please share your memories. My only memories of Jezza's demise are from the day after when the newspaper headline outside our local deli in Mt Gambier made some reference to Jezza leaving Carlton.

I don't really have any recollection of George Harris either, so I'd love to learn more.

:beer:

jezzarules · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:09 pm **Posts:** 6526

Still here

camel · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:50 am

You beauty!

Pat's Fitztrick · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:53 am

As I saw it.

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_artic ... ticleId=87

AGRO · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:06 am

Well written piece Pat :thumbsup:

George Harris was ahead of his time regarding finding additional revenue streams for the football club, unfortunately the execution at the time was poor and some of the businesses were bizarre like the conjoined chopsticks :razz:

.

Unfortunately George thought he had the numbers to fight it off and Jezza backed him through loyalty - the members thought otherwise at the time.

Whether it robbed us of a potential 4 premierships in a row - we’ll never know.

But what it shows is the club is always greater than the individual even if that individual is a legend of the club like Jezza.

Something for all current day legends and would be legends to think about.

DocSherrin III · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:09 pm **Posts:** 17577

Too young to understand what was going on, but shed a few tears when Jezza left. Some nice insight from this thread from those in their 50's/60's+. If I could jump in the DeLorean and change/view events from 19 February 1980, I'd probably save Bon Scott's life than turn up to Festival Hall.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8899&p=244849&hilit=Festival+Hall#p244849

camel · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:25 am

Pat's Fitztrick wrote:

As I saw it.

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_artic ... ticleId=87

Awesome, thank you. :beer:

AGRO · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 11:26 am

And for those who believe in Messiah’s - a word to the wise most Religions of this world are still waiting for theirs.

bondiblue · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 2:59 pm

Well written piece.

I remembered that night when murraycray referred to it.
I was 18 going onto 19, frisky, political and pro Jezza.

I must admit there seems to be more to it than the article articulates.
It seemed Harris was considering floating the Carlton Football Club, and was going to make Carlton an enormous business.

Could not understand the support of Rice at the time.
Like most supporters, he seemed to be a bit of a toff, but I'm sure I was influenced to think that at the time.

I saw Jezza at his house about 5 years ago.
When I told him how I remembered that night, he said it was a long time ago.

Today I read posters thoughts about The Board and the so called Carlton Boys Club, and I'm sure they don't know what they are talking about, not being on the inside. But like back in 1979, perception is reality.

Well said AGRO, the club is bigger than the individual.

Today, I look still look at missed opportunities like '79,'86 '93 and '99, and every GF has its story as to why we shouldve won, but its gone as has shoulda coulda woulda.

Today, I see a different Carlton. We seem to have a strong focus on sustained success. The SOS conflict of interest was always going to be an issue one day. I wonder what the role was that MLG offered SOS when his contract for renewal was not going to happen....if there was another position offered.

Like when Jezza left in '79, success in '81 and '82 made that night a memory in the distant past. We need success at Carlton to make things 'normal' again...a club at the top of the heap. I feel success is coming with or without SOS, and we will always praise SOS if his list triumphs in the next few years regardless of what people believe today.

Those not on the inside don't know what really happens behind closed doors, so its wrong to point the finger without the right information,

Moral of the story .... dunno ...other than we live for the next Flag, and when that comes, we are all happy and on the same side...amd sing ... da da da dada...

GWS · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:56 pm

I was 9 when this happened.

I was so distraught at Jezza leaving I took off my CFC jumper with the 25 on the back and asked for a new one for my birthday with a 29 on it.

The new one was black with a yellow sash.

Early in 1981 I realised I couldn’t stay away from navy and returned.

By the end of 1982 I’d watched my team win 4 in a row. :lol:

SurreyBlue · **Joined:** Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:32 am **Posts:** 11317

Yep - I was 15 and I still haven’t recovered. Scarred for life.......couldn’t watch him in the Saints colors and now throw up every time Ratts is online......

DocSherrin III · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:09 pm **Posts:** 17577

GWS wrote:

I was 9 when this happened.

I was so distraught at Jezza leaving I took off my CFC jumper with the 25 on the back and asked for a new one for my birthday with a 29 on it.

The new one was black with a yellow sash.

Early in 1981 I realised I couldn’t stay away from navy and returned.

By the end of 1982 I’d watched my team win 4 in a row. :lol:

This sounds like something that's long been repressed and only recently came out in a therapy session...

The Blueseum · **Joined:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:02 am **Posts:** 1627

This is as real as it gets. Jezza's actual speech delivered on the night (with biro annotations).

GWS · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:58 pm

DocSherrin III wrote:

GWS wrote:

I was 9 when this happened.

I was so distraught at Jezza leaving I took off my CFC jumper with the 25 on the back and asked for a new one for my birthday with a 29 on it.

The new one was black with a yellow sash.

Early in 1981 I realised I couldn’t stay away from navy and returned.

By the end of 1982 I’d watched my team win 4 in a row. :lol:

This sounds like something that's long been repressed and only recently came out in a therapy session...

It’s true I hid it for some time but I told the story in here a few years back.

I think it’s the number 29 that’s most embarrassing... :lol:

TBWKTM · **Joined:** Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:49 pm **Posts:** 54

GWS wrote:

I was 9 when this happened.

I was so distraught at Jezza leaving I took off my CFC jumper with the 25 on the back and asked for a new one for my birthday with a 29 on it.

The new one was black with a yellow sash.

Early in 1981 I realised I couldn’t stay away from navy and returned.

By the end of 1982 I’d watched my team win 4 in a row. :lol:

You're a man after my own heart!! :lol:

I lived in Mildura and was 13 when this happened- traumatised enough to consider a swap to Geelong or North. Luckily, I told my best mate at the time (a mad Bluebagger) who stared me down and simply stated, "So you want to be a traitor?!" :lol:

The rest, as someone is won't to say, is bunkum :wink:

Sydney Blue · **Posted:** Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:40 pm

I was 15 didn't think Jezza's was going to go but in the end it was a blessing in disguise as we would never won 81 and 82 under Jezza.

I thought the side he took over even Bolton could have won the flag and the team under achieved in 76 77 and 78. The 79 team had 7 or 8 players from the 72 flag side and it was topped up with the likes of Maclure Fitzpatrick Harmes Sheldon Johnno just to name a few.
It was chock full of talent and Jezza flogged them to death.
Players I know who played under Parkin Jezza and Walls none of them rated Jezza.
Judging by Jezza's speech you could see Lofts didn't rate him either and was working in the background.

One of the greatest players ever and no one will ever take premiership coach away from him. But him going paved the way for success in the 80's IMHO

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

murraycray · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:46 am

On a lighter note.
I attended the Sunday morning rally held before the Festival Hall event. Most of the attendees stood in front of the Heatley and Social Club stands. It started with a PA announcement.
''Ladies and Gentlemen, the National Anthem.'' As Ian Rice, Wes lofts and Mark Maclure entered the arena the club theme song was played.
As I recall Ian Rice spoke first amid calls from the assembled punters to ''Give us Jezza''.
Mark Maclure's contribution with the mic was simply ''Jezza yes, George no''.
Ian Rice then called on Wes to speak.....As he stepped up, he was greeted with resounded booing.

Before Wes could speak, Ian Rice chastised the booers with a pearler. ''YOU WEREN'T BOOING WES WHEN HE WAS KICKING ALL THOSE GOALS''. Cue belly laughs all round.
Even from Wes !!

As I said, a lighter moment. :smile:

AGRO · **Posted:** Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:26 am

If only Graeme Smorgan’s presidency of high marks yielded similar results

:lol:

aboynamedsue · **Joined:** Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:09 pm **Posts:** 6163

The Blueseum wrote:

This is as real as it gets. Jezza's actual speech delivered on the night (with biro annotations).

That’s a fantastic piece of history :thumbsup:

DocSherrin III · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:09 pm **Posts:** 17577

Albeit rather vague over which Teasdale AND how many sandwiches and what was in them...

Jezza's demise: your stories

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