How I fell in love with Leichhardt Oval

[jadtiger]

Hooray up the Tigers Hear the mighty roar It's the team from Balmain, just watch them score!

Strongest memories from growing up watching Balmain in the 80s at LO, walking off down Glover St behind the scoreboard and back to my Grandparent's house 10 minutes away. We used to win often enough back then and they'd play the Balmain theme in victory, the loudspeakers still blaring as you walked off as an immensely satisfied young fellow.

And then the punters who didn't make it to the game, because it usually wasn't televised, would ask in the street who won.

Watching Junior's last game, or Tigers defeat Parra in the last Balmain match at the ground in 1999\. Blacklock with the last minute bloody chip-chase try to lose to the Dragons. David Vaealiki being buried in the turf. Jodie Rudd snapping his knee. Billy Slater stomping on Skando's head. Danny Williams king-hitting Buckets O'Neill. Benji's FG against the Sharkies in 2012.

Jackson Kaufusi's amazing two-try debut in 2001\. Nofo's last-minute try in the corner to beat Cowboys. Chris Lawrence lighting up the sideline off a scrum move to defeat Melbourne. Tim Simona setting up an amazing long-distance try in the wet. Ellery Hanley scoring the world's slowest try in his comeback season 1996\. Beating GFists Parra in 2002.

Dene Halatau destroying Sharkies by running all over Jarrad Anderson 2003\. MWZ last-gasp try against Manly 2017\. Being smashed by Raiders when playing for the finals 2016\. Penrith destroying Kyle Lovett at left centre. Mick Beuttner putting a chip kick into the Keith Barnes stand on the full. Johnny Simon setting up a try by accidentally passing off his boot. Siro's last game.

Etc. etc.

Olsen Filipana crunching Mick Pobjie (think it was Pobjie) in one of the hardest tackles I’ve ever seen.

I remember the tackle but not sure who it was on it was the best hit i have seen.John Davidson hammering 2 blokes who tried to fight him and then getting the penalty because they where the aggressors(very tough winger)

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Long may it hold footy games for the converted, and for others who appreciate and can see value in preserving some of the traditions and simplicity of the past.

Beaut post.
Two things that are near extinction in the world at large let alone RL: tradition and simplicity.
Long live LO: we may not be competing on a level playing field with the annointed NRL golden boys but we at least have something to envy…...the best home ground.

 

[Russell]

Long may it hold footy games for the converted, and for others who appreciate and can see value in preserving some of the traditions and simplicity of the past.

Beaut post.
Two things that are near extinction in the world at large let alone RL: tradition and simplicity.
Long live LO: we may not be competing on a level playing field with the annointed NRL golden boys but we at least have something to envy…...the best home ground.

Absolutely FtoB - and what a ground!

 

[newtiger]

Home of night footy with the Amco Cup and associated schoolboy games, so many great Sunday arvos on the hill, but being a local junior, the memories of playing the big end of season games or junior reps at your team's home are unmatched.

Despite the well past it facilities, lack of parking etc, etc, people still flock there, simply because it is great place to be part of when watching a game of footy.

In Bathurst we got the Amco Cup on a 1 hour delay telecast, couple of guys that I knew would listen to the games live, know the result and then go to a pub to watch it and bet schooners on the outcome.
They did it for years, before anyone caught on.

 

[Fade_To_Black]

Home of night footy with the Amco Cup and associated schoolboy games, so many great Sunday arvos on the hill, but being a local junior, the memories of playing the big end of season games or junior reps at your team's home are unmatched.

Despite the well past it facilities, lack of parking etc, etc, people still flock there, simply because it is great place to be part of when watching a game of footy.

In Bathurst we got the Amco Cup on a 1 hour delay telecast, couple of guys that I knew would listen to the games live, know the result and then go to a pub to watch it and bet schooners on the outcome.
They did it for years, before anyone caught on.

:roll
Even before the days you could put a wager on Bwaiff to be a passenger and spotsbet would pay out on it before kickoff.