Page 13: MCG Gatting pig prankster steps forward 37 years on

Just who was behind a prank that caused an international cricket furore when a pig was tossed over the fence on to the MCG turf in 1987 has never come to light — until now.

Blokes in pubs have long pigged out on the porky-pies told about the MCG Gatting pig.

Blokes in pubs have long pigged out on the porky-pies told about the MCG Gatting pig.

Just who was behind the prank that caused an international cricket furore when a pig was tossed over the fence on to the hallowed turf of the MCG during the 1987 one-day match between Australia and England has never come to light.

The black piglet with the name of the similarly rotund English cricketing captain Mike Gatting, daubed on its side flashed across TV screens around the world.

It took some fancy footwork from then Australian all-rounder Greg Matthews to capture the porker as it evaded chasing cops and cricketers.

No one was ever caught or charged, but 37 years after that hot summer’s day in Melbourne, Mark Kitto says it’s time to fess up.

The 64-year-old super fly fisherman’s tall tale has been shared over a few pots and pints across the journey but the few who knew kept quiet.

Until now.

It took some fancy footwork from then Australian all-rounder Greg Matthews to capture the porker as it evaded chasing cops and cricketers.

Someone squealed and Page 13 got Kitto chatting about that time in the summer of ’87 when he was up in Moulamein over the NSW border fishing for carp.

After catching a decent haul, a then 28-year-old Kitto took some over to a shearing contractor mate for him to use as yabby bait.

“Kev had a trailer out in his yard,” Kitto said. “There were about eight little feral piglets in there. Someone had shot the mum or something.

“I still don’t really know why I thought of it, but on the spot I just said could I have one?

“I said, I’m going to take it to the cricket and Kev said go for your life.”

Mike Gatting.

Kitto put the piglet in a potato sack and fed him on a diet of Vita Brit crackers in the backyard for a week until he put his plan into action.

Somehow, he still doesn’t know why, he got the idea to stencil Gatting’s name across the piglet’s side. He and a mate used white-out.

“That was the only time the pig complained and did a bit of squealing,” Kitto said.

“Gatting was the captain and a chubby bloke although I didn’t really have anything against him.”

Greg Matthews at the MCG in December 1986.

Kitto says he’s an animal lover and claims from animal welfare groups that the piglet was drugged in the cricketing furore that followed were wrong.

“A lot of people don’t know that if you put a pig in the dark they just go to sleep.”

So he put the piglet in a sports bag and headed for the MCG. Kitto was sweating going through gate, hoping the security guard wouldn’t ask to see inside.

“They used to check your bags back then for alcohol and stuff. I walked up to the gate and they let me straight through. The pig was just asleep in my bag.”

Kitto put the piglet in a potato sack and fed him on a diet of Vita Brit crackers in the backyard for a week until he put his plan into action.

Finding a few mates at the ground, Kitto got to the fence and waited for his moment.

“I was going to wait till Gatting came out to bat. But it was a pretty hot day and I didn’t want the pig to wait in the bag too long.”

“But before I could do anything my mate had thrown it over the fence. The pig just started eating the grass and nothing happened at all.

“Finally the pig looks around and goes what’s going on I’m no longer in the backyard, walks around sees all the people and basically just bolts into the middle of the MCG.”

The pig might have thought it was a game as it dodged the mob chasing it until Matthews grabbed it.

After being looked after by animal welfare, the now famous piglet was adopted and kept as a pet named Tim.

“So that was the last of it. I didn’t really think any more of it until on the Monday I was driving to work and they were talking about it on the radio.

“I pulled up to the next servo and there it was on the front page of the paper and there was a cartoon with the pig and a policeman chasing it.”

Turns out Kitto did that feral piglet a favour. After being looked after by animal welfare, the now famous piglet was adopted and kept as a pet named Tim.

He lived a happy life on an old lady’s couch in Berwick.

As for Kitto, he never returned to the MCG. “It was the only cricket match I’ve ever been to and I’ve never been to one since.”

He prefers fish to pigs. “Trout’s me main thing, I just like to fish.”

Howzat!