MCG (Melbourne)

Football at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, often known as the MCG, or simply The G, can be traced back to 1883. Records are unclear, but it’s likely to have been part of early intercolonial or local competitions during the emergence of association football in Victoria

Regular games continued to be played there, with perhaps its most prestigious being those in the 1956 Olympic Games when the MCG became the host stadium. 86,716 fans attended the final to see the Soviet Union defeat Yugoslavia 1-0.

The now demolished Olympic Park became the home of football in the city as far as the national team was concerned, before moving to Lakeside Stadium in 1998. In 1997, the men’s Socceroos national team drew 2-2 with Iran in front of 97,000 fans at the G in a World Cup qualifier.

After the turn of the millennium, the national team played more matches there. One of the most emotional moments in Australian football history came in 2006, when Australia defeated Greece 1-0. A crowd of 95,103 celebrated Australia’s 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification thanks to a goal from Josip Skoko. 

In 2013, Liverpool defeated Melbourne Victory, with an attendance of 95,446. Several other prestigious friendly games continued to be staged in front of huge crowds. Because of its capacity and prestige, the MCG was considered to host a future Australia Cup Final, though it wasn’t selected in the end.

My visits

Australia v England (Sunday 15th December 2002) ODI

Staying in the city, not far from the G, I went to the international debut of Jimmy Anderson in a one-sided contest that Australia won by 7 wickets, chasing down England’s 117 all out. Shane Warne sustained a bad shoulder injury, leading to him taking banned tablets to help with his weight while out injured and incurring a ban.

The ground had a large open area on its city side after the Ponsford Stand had been demolished in readiness for the development of half the arena. I was in the members area and Long Room thanks to my boss at the MCC at Lord’s Cricket Ground contacting those at the MCC in Melbourne.

Australia v England (Thursday 26th – Monday 30th December 2002) Fourth Test Match

A huge occasion, on the bucket list of most cricket fans. The Boxing Day Test, with the ground virtually full to its limited capacity. The hosts eventually got over the line but not without a few scares on the final morning. 

A wonderful experience, at least after the first day when I arrived in full suit expecting to be in the members area again, only to collect my tickets and find out I would be in the open. Not ideal as I had no cash until lunch after some reckless activity in the Crown Casino the previous evening which necessitated a walk all the way back to my basic hotel in South Yarra.

I watched parts of the game from the old Olympic Stand as well as different areas in the Great Southern Stand. The standout performances were Justin Langer scoring 250, Michael Vaughan 145, with the vastly underrated Craig White scoring runs and taking wickets.

Sunday 24th December 2006

Back in Australia to watch the final two Tests of a series, once again already decided I thought it a good idea to go on the Melbourne Cricket Ground tour. It was very busy with England supporters. Very good, it was too.

I enjoyed it, apart from the fact that Warwick Armstrong, the only captain to have won an Ashes series 5-0, up to that point, was hardly mentioned, even though the Melbourne Cricket Club had employed him for a vast part of his life. He, however, was a bit of a scoundrel. 

My knowledge of the country and its sports had increased in the intervening years since my previous visit, and now I understood just what a huge part Aussie Rules football played at the G. Quite possibly more so than cricket, especially since the completion of the new stand to enclose the ground.

When finished, I headed back into the city to go up the Rialto Tower, which had incredible views for miles, followed by a couple of beers with Jim and John, a couple of cricket mates of England and Middlesex and then dinner with the rest of my tour group.

Australia v England (Tuesday 26th – Thursday 28th December 2006) Fourth Test

An utterly embarrassing defeat in just three days, as Australia won by an innings and 99 runs. There were some very ratty Englishmen heading back into town afterwards. It's as well that the time spent in Melbourne was so good.

Our seats were upstairs in the Great Southern Stand, offering a fantastic, if distant view. Shane Warne bowled Andrew Strauss before lunch to collect his 600th Test wicket in front of a crowd of over 90,000. Andrew Symonds went on to score a century, aided, it must be said, by the awful umpiring of Rudi Koertzen.

An excellent feature was being able to walk around the concourse upstairs and meet up with friends located elsewhere to enjoy drinks at the lunch interval. The MCG was an amazing place.