1970 VFL Grand Final — Jesaulenko And The Greatest Comeback

The 1970 VFL Grand Final saw Carlton defeat Collingwood 17.9 (111) to 14.17 (101) at the MCG, a 10-point margin produced by one of the most-celebrated comebacks in VFL/AFL history. Played on 26 September 1970 in front of 121,696 fans (the all-time MCG attendance record), Carlton’s premiership came after trailing by 44 points at half-time. Alex Jesaulenko’s iconic mark over Graeme Jenkin and subsequent goal, voted both Mark of the Century and Goal of the Century in 2001, defined the match.

The Build-Up: Blues vs Magpies

Carlton, under Ron Barassi, had won in 1968 (Barassi’s first as Carlton coach). The 1970 home-and-away campaign was strong.

Collingwood, under Bob Rose, had reached the Grand Final after years of finals contention. The Magpies’ continuing post-1958 drought was painful.

The Match: The Greatest Comeback

Collingwood started fast and led by 44 points at half-time, looking certain for victory. Then, in one of the most-celebrated VFL/AFL comebacks ever:

Carlton scored 11.4 in the second half. Alex Jesaulenko produced the moment that defined the era, leaping onto Graeme Jenkin’s shoulders, taking an extraordinary contested mark, then snapping the goal in the same passage of play. Both the mark and the goal would later be voted Mark of the Century and Goal of the Century in 2001.

Final score: Carlton 17.9 (111) defeated Collingwood 14.17 (101), a 10-point Carlton win after trailing by 44 at half-time.

The Norm Smith Medal: N/A (Pre-1979)

Norm Smith Medal not yet instituted. Best on Ground was widely recognised as Alex Jesaulenko.

The Premiership Coach: Ron Barassi

Ron Barassi collected his second Carlton Jock McHale Medal in 1970 (after 1968).

Famous Moments

• Alex Jesaulenko’s mark over Graeme Jenkin — Mark of the Century.
• The same passage’s goal — Goal of the Century.
• Carlton’s 11.4 second half — greatest comeback ever.
• The 44-point half-time deficit reversed.
• The crowd of 121,696 — all-time MCG attendance record.
• The Colliwobbles continued — Magpies waited until 1990.
• Ron Barassi’s tactical adjustments at half-time.
• Robert Walls’s contested marks for Carlton.
• Bruce Doull’s emerging brilliance.
• The Blues’ supporter celebrations.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 26 September 1970, MCG.
• Final: Carlton 17.9 (111) defeated Collingwood 14.17 (101).
• Margin: 10 points.
• Crowd: 121,696 — all-time MCG record.
• Carlton’s 10th VFL premiership.
• The greatest comeback in VFL Grand Final history (44 points down at half-time).
• Alex Jesaulenko’s mark won Mark of the Century in 2001.
• The same player’s goal won Goal of the Century in 2001.
• The 1970 Grand Final’s MCG record will likely never be broken (modern seating is 100,024).
• Norm Smith Medal not yet instituted.

The Verdict

The 1970 VFL Grand Final is one of the most celebrated in football history. Alex Jesaulenko’s combined Mark and Goal of the Century, the 44-point comeback, and the all-time MCG attendance record, every element combined for a Grand Final whose mythology grows with every retelling. Long live the 1970 Blues.

The Mark of the Century / Goal of the Century combination remains unique. No other player has produced both a “century” honour from a single passage of play. Jesaulenko’s extraordinary leap onto Jenkins’s shoulders and immediate snap goal is one of the most-replayed sequences in Australian Rules history.

For Collingwood, the 1970 loss was particularly painful, a 44-point half-time lead surrendered. The Colliwobbles continued; the Magpies wouldn’t win until 1990.