The Day They Stole The Goal Posts

IT has been 50 years since they stole the goals, and the game that has gone into Tasmanian football folklore is still vivid in the minds of the North Hobart players there that day.

In 1967, North Hobart full forward Dickie Collins prepared to take his kick, about 10 yards from goal. Then 3000 of the crowd watching the Tasmanian State football final between North Hobart and Wynyard swarmed on the ground and tore down the goalposts. One of the goalposts is carried away by the crowd.

IT has been 50 years since they stole the goals, and the game that has gone into Tasmanian football folklore is still vivid in the minds of the North Hobart players there that day.

The Demons gathered in Hobart for the 50th anniver­sary yesterday to relive that amazing game.

It was the 1967 state football final between the southern and northern champions.

Captain-coached by the great John Devine — these days a Legend in the Tasman­ian Football Hall of Fame — North Hobart played Wynyard at West Park in Burnie.

It was a close battle and just as Demons full-forward David “Dicky” Collins lined up in the final few seconds to kick the winning goal, Wynyard fans yanked the goalposts clean out of the ground. Collins couldn’t take his shot — there was nothing to aim at.

In the confusion that followed, the game was abandoned and North Hobart players were forced to hunker down in their changeroom until the crowd dispersed.

They came home empty-handed but with a moral victory­.

They did almost bring back a goalpost as a souvenir. They had it with them on the train, but the local police stopped them just in time.

In the 1967 football state final, North Hobart's Dickie Collins was lined up to kick the winning goal when Wynyard fans stormed the pitch and stole the goal post. The 1967 team are lined up at their 50 year reunion. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

The marks got bigger and the kicks longer at yesterday’s reunion, attended by 15 of the 20 who played.

Michael Hawkins, who went on to win the William Leitch Medal in 1977, played on the wing.

“What I remember most is John Devine’s contribution to the game,” Hawkins said.

“Not only was he our best player — he had more kicks and more handballs than any other player on the ground — he kicked five goals as a ruck-rover, which in itself is amazing­.

“With a minute to go, he was the bloke who found the will and desire to go in and get the ball and kick it up to ‘Dicky’.

“More incredibly than that, at the end of the game when we were underneath the grandstand, and emotions were running pretty high, John recognised that things were going to get out of hand.

“So he jumped up on the bench and settled them down and said thanks very much for your efforts, but if we go outside now there’s going to be a brawl.

“We got dressed and waited until the crowd died down, and it was an amazing display of John’s leadership on and off the ground.”