Melbourne Cricket Ground

Finals and Grand Finals

The VFL/AFL Grand Final has been played at the MCG every season since 1902, except in 1924, when no Grand Final was held because of the season's round-robin finals format (it hosted three of the six games in the Finals Series), 1942–1945, when the ground was used by the military during World War II; and in 1991, as the construction of the Great Southern Stand had temporarily reduced the ground’s capacity below that of Waverley Park. All three Grand Final Replays have been played at the MCG.

A sold out MCG during AFL Grand Final Day 2007

Before the ground was fully seated, the Grand Final could draw attendances above 110,000. The record for the highest attendance in the history of both the venue and the sport was set in the 1970 VFL Grand Final, with 121,696 in attendance.

Since being fully seated, Grand Final attendances are typically between 95,000 and 100,000, with the record of 100,016 attending the 2010 AFL Grand Final.

In the modern era, most finals games held in Melbourne have been played at the MCG. Under the current contract, ten finals (excluding the Grand Final) must be played at the MCG over a five-year period. Under previous contracts, the MCG was entitled to host at least one match in each week of the finals, which on two occasions required a non-Victorian club to play a "home" final in Victoria.

The MCG and the VFL/AFL

For many years the VFL had an uneasy relationship with the MCG trustees and the Melbourne Cricket Club. Both needed the other, but resented the dependence. The VFL made the first move which brought things to a head by beginning the development of VFL Park at Mulgrave in the 1960s as its own home ground and as a potential venue for future grand finals. Then in 1983, president of the VFL, Alan Aylett started to pressure the MCG Trust to give the VFL a greater share of the money it made from using the ground for football.

In March 1983 the MCG trustees met to consider a submission from Aylett. Aylett said he wanted the Melbourne Cricket Club’s share of revenue cut from 15 per cent to 10 per cent. He threatened to take the following day’s opening game of the season, Collingwood vs Melbourne, away from the MCG. The money was held aside until an agreement could be reached.

Different deals, half deals and possible deals were done over the years, with the Premier of Victoria, John Cain, even becoming involved. Cain was said to have promised the VFL it could use the MCG for six months of the year and then hand it back to the MCC, but this never eventuated, as the MCG Trust did not approve it. In the mid-1980s, a deal was done where the VFL was given its own members area in the Southern Stand.

Against this background of political manoeuvring, in 1985 North Melbourne became the third club to make the MCG its home ground. In the same year, North played in the first night football match at the MCG for almost 110 years, against Collingwood on 29 March 1985.

In 1986, only a month after Ross Oakley had taken over as VFL Commissioner, VFL executives met with the MCC and took a big step towards resolving their differences. Changes in the personnel at the MCC also helped. In 1983 John Lill was appointed secretary and Don Cordner its president.

Shortly after the Southern Stand opened in 1992, the Australian Football League moved its headquarters into the complex. The AFL assisted with financing the new stand and came to an agreement that ensures at least 45 AFL games are played at the MCG each year, including the Grand Final in September. Another 45 days of cricket are also played there each year and more than 3.5 million spectators come to watch every year.

As of the end of 2011, Matthew Richardson holds the records for having scored the most goals on the MCG, and Kevin Bartlett holds the record for playing the most matches at the MCG. Two players have scored 14 goals for an AFL or VFL game in one match at the MCG: Gary Ablett, Sr. in 1989 and 1993, and John Longmire in 1990.

Before an AFL match between Richmond and Carlton on 27 August 1999, the city end scoreboard caught on fire due to an electrical fault, causing the start of play to be delayed by half an hour.

A panoramic view of the Melbourne Cricket Ground from level 4 of the Northern Stand, First game of the 2010 AFL Season between Richmond and Carlton

World War II

During World War II, the government requisitioned the MCG for military use. From 1942 until 1945 it was occupied by (in order): the US Army Air Forces, the Royal Australian Air Force, the US Marine Corps and again the RAAF.^[15] Over the course of the war, more than 200,000 personnel were barracked at the MCG. From April to October 1942, the US Army’s Fifth Air Force occupied the ground, naming it "Camp Murphy", in honor of officer Colonel William Murphy, a senior USAAF officer killed in Java. In 1943 the MCG was home to the legendary First Regiment of the First Division of the United States Marine Corp. The First Marine Corp were the heroes of the battle of Guadalcanal (and later Okinawa) used the "cricket grounds", as the marines referred to it, to rest and recuperate.^[15] On 14 March 1943 the marines hosted a giant "get together" of US and Australian troops on the arena.^[15]

In 1977, Melbourne Cricket Club president Sir Albert Chadwick and Congressional Medal of Honour winner Colonel Mitchell Page unveiled a commemorative plaque recognizing the Americans' time at the ground.^[15]

In the 2010 TV miniseries, The Pacific, episode 3, members of the US Marines are shown to be camped in the war-era MCG.

Olympic Games

The MCG’s most famous moment in history was as the main stadium for the 1956 Olympic Games.^[16] The MCG was only one of seven possible venues, including the Melbourne Showgrounds, for the Games’ main arena. The MCG was the Federal Government’s preferred venue but there was resistance from the MCC. The inability to decide on the central venue nearly caused the Games to be moved from Melbourne. Prime Minister John Cain, the Prime Minister, deputy opposition leader Arthur Calwell, all State political leaders, civic leaders, Olympic officials and trustees and officials of the MCC. Convening the meeting was no small effort considering the calibre of those attending and that many of the sports officials were only part-time amateurs.

As 22 November, the date of the opening ceremony, drew closer, Melbourne was gripped ever more tightly by Olympic fever. At 3 pm the day before the opening ceremony, people began to line up outside the MCG gates. That night the city was paralysed by a quarter of a million people who had come to celebrate.

The MCG's capacity was increased by the new Olympic (or Northern) Stand, and on the day itself 103,000 people filled the stadium to capacity. A young up and coming distance runner was chosen to carry the Olympic torch into the stadium for the opening ceremony.

Although Ron Clarke had a number of junior world records for distances of 1500 m, one mile (1.6 km) and two miles (3 km), he was relatively unknown in 1956. Perhaps the opportunity to carry the torch inspired him because he went on to have a career of exceptional brilliance and was without doubt the most outstanding runner of his day. At one stage he held the world record for every distance from two miles (3 km) to 20 km. His few failures came in Olympic and Commonwealth Games competition. Although favourite for the gold at Tokyo in 1964 he was placed ninth in the 5,000 metres race and the marathon and third in the 10,000 metres. He lost again in the 1966 Commonwealth Games and in 1968 at altitude in Mexico he collapsed at the end of the 10 km race.

On that famous day in Melbourne in 1956 the torch spluttered and sparked, showering Clarke with hot magnesium, burning holes in his shirt. When he dipped the torch into the cauldron it burst into flame singeing him further. In the centre of the ground, John Landy, the fastest miler in the world, took the Olympic oath and sculler Merv Wood carried the Australian flag.

The Melbourne Games also saw the high point of Australian female sprinting with Betty Cuthbert winning three gold medals at the MCG. She won the 100 m and 200 m and anchored the winning 4 x 100 m team. Born in Merrylands in Sydney’s west she was a champion schoolgirl athlete and had already broken the world record for the 200 m just before the 1956 Games. She was to be overshadowed by her Western Suburbs club member, the Marlene Matthews. When they got to the Games, Matthews was the overwhelming favourite especially for the 100 m a distance over which Cuthbert had beaten her just once.

Both Matthews and Cuthbert won their heats with Matthews setting an Olympic record of 11.5 seconds in hers. Cuthbert broke that record in the following heat with a time of 11.4 seconds. The world record of 11.3 was held by another Australian, Shirley Strickland who was eliminated in her heat. In the final Matthews felt she got a bad start and was last at the 50 metre mark. Cuthbert sensed Isabella Daniels from the USA close behind her and pulled out a little extra to win Australia’s first gold at the Games in a time of 11.5 seconds, Matthews was third. The result was repeated in the 200 m final. Cuthbert won her second gold breaking Marjorie Jackson’s Olympic record. Mathews was third again.

By the time the 1956 Olympics came around, Shirley Strickland was a mother of 31 years of age but managed to defend her 80 m title, which she had won in Helsinki four years before, winning gold and setting a new Olympic record.

The sensational incident of the track events was the non-selection of Marlene Matthews in the 4 x 100 m relay. Matthews trained with the relay team up until the selection was made but Cuthbert, Strickland, Fleur Mellor and Norma Croker were picked for the team. There was outrage at the selection which increased when Matthews went on to run third in both the 100 m and 200 m finals. Personally she was devastated and felt that she had been overlooked for her poor baton change. Strickland was disappointed with the way Matthews was treated and maintained it was an opinion held in New South Wales that she had baton problems. One of the selectors, Doris Magee from NSW, said that selecting Matthews increased the risk of disqualification at the change. But Cuthbert maintained that the selectors made the right choice saying that Fleur Mellor was fresh, a specialist relay runner and was better around the curves than Matthews.

The men did not fare so well. The 4 x 400 m relay team, including later IOC Committee member Kevan Gosper, won silver. Charles Porter also won silver in the high jump. Hec Hogan won bronze in the 100 m to become the first Australian man to win a medal in a sprint since the turn of the century and despite injury John Landy won bronze in the 1500 m. Allan Lawrence won bronze in the 10,000 m event.

Apart from athletics, the stadium was also used for the soccer finals, the hockey finals, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and an exhibition game of baseball between the Australian National Team and a US armed services team at which an estimated crowd of 114,000 attended. This was the Guinness World Record for the largest attendance for any baseball game, which stood until a 29 March 2008 exhibition game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers at the Los Angeles Coliseum (also a former Olympic venue) drawing 115,300.

The MCG was also used for another demonstration sport, Australian Rules. The Olympics being an amateur competition meant that only amateurs could play in the demonstration game. A combined team of amateurs from the VFL and VFA were selected to play a state team from the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA). The game was played 7 December 1956 with the VAFA side, wearing white jumpers, green collars and the Olympic rings on their chests, winning easily 81 to 55.

The MCG’s link with its Olympic past continues to this day. Within its walls is the IOC-endorsed Australian Gallery of Sport and Olympic Museum.

Forty-four years later at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the Grounds served as host to several football preliminaries, making it one of a few venues ever used for more than one Olympics.^[17] It is quite possible the ground may be one of the first to be used in three Olympic games, as Melbourne's Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, and Premier Ted Ballieu are considering bidding for either the 2024 or 2028 Olympic games, using the MCG as a selling point.

Commonwealth Games

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2006 Commonwealth Games were held at the MCG, as well as athletics events during the games. The games began on 15 March and ended on 26 March.

Rugby union

The first game of Rugby Union to be played on the ground was on Saturday, 29 June 1878, when the Waratah Club of Sydney played Carlton Football Club in a return of the previous year’s contests in Sydney where the clubs had competed in both codes of football. The match, watched by a crowd of between 6,000 and 7,000 resulted in a draw; one goal and one try being awarded to each team.^[18][19]

The next Rugby match was held on Wednesday 29 June 1881, when the Wanderers, a team organised under the auspices of the Melbourne Cricket Club, played a team representing a detached Royal Navy squadron then visiting Melbourne. The squadron team won by one goal and one try to nil. ^[20]

It was not until 19 August 1899 that the MCG was again the venue for a Union match, this time Victoria v the British Lions (as they were later to be called). During the preceding week the Victorians had held several trial and practice matches there, as well as several training sessions, despite which they were defeated 30-0 on the day before a crowd of some 7,000.^[21]

Nine years later, on Monday, 10 August 1908, Victoria was again the host, this time to the Australian team en route to Great Britain and soon to be dubbed the First Wallabies. Despite being held on a working day some 1,500 spectators attended to see the visitors win by 26-6.^[22]

On Saturday, 6 July 1912 the MCG was the venue, for the only time ever, of a match between two Victorian Rugby Union clubs, Melbourne and East Melbourne, the former winning 9-5 in what was reported to be ‘... one of the finest exhibitions of the Rugby game ever seen in Victoria.’ It was played before a large crowd as a curtain raiser to a State Rules match against South Australia.^[23]

On Saturday 18 June 1921, in another curtain raiser, this time to a Melbourne-Fitzroy League game, a team representing Victoria was soundly beaten 51-0 by the South African Springboks in front of a crowd of 11,214 ^[24]

It was nine years later, on Saturday 13 September 1930, that the British Lions returned to play Victoria, again before a crowd of 7,000, this time defeating the home side 41-36, a surprisingly narrow winning margin. ^[25]

The first post war match at the MCG was on 21 May 1949 when the NZ Maoris outclassed a Southern States side 35-8 before a crowd of close to 10,000.^[26] A year later, on 29 July 1950, for the first and only time, Queensland travelled to Victoria to play an interstate match, defeating their hosts 31-12 before a crowd of 7,479.^[27] In the following year the MCG was the venue for a contest between the New Zealand All Blacks and an Australian XV . This was on 30 June 1951 before some 9,000 spectators and resulted in a convincing 56-11 win for the visitors.^[28]

Union did not return the MCG until the late ‘nineties, for several night time Test matches, both Australia v New Zealand All Blacks. The first, on Saturday 26 July 1997, being notable for an attendance of 90,119, the visitors winning 33-18 and the second, on Saturday 11 July 1998, for a decisive victory to Australia of 24-16. The two met again at the MCG on 30 June 2007, the hosts again winning, this time by 20 points to 15. ^[29]

Rugby league

Rugby league was first played at the ground on 15 August 1914, with the New South Wales team losing to England 15–21.

The first ever State of Origin match at the MCG (and second in Melbourne) was Game II of the 1994 series, and the attendance of 87,161 set a new record rugby league crowd in Australia. The MCG was also the venue for Game II of the 1995 State of Origin series and drew 52,994, the most of any game that series. The third game of the 1997 State of Origin series, which, due to the Super League war only featured Australian Rugby League-signed players, was played there too, but only attracted 25,105, the lowest in a series that failed to attract over 35,000 to any game.^[30]

The Cronulla Sharks on 24 June 2000. Once again, the Storm won 22–16.

It was announced in June 2014 that the ground will host its first State of Origin match since 1997, with Game II of the 2015 series to be played at the venue.^[31]

Association Football

On 9 February 2006, the then Victorian premier Steve Bracks and Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy announced that the MCG would host a world class football event each year from 2006 until 2009 inclusive. The announcement came as the game gained further popularity in the country following the qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.^[32]

Australia and Greece playing an International Friendly at the MCG on 25 May 2006.

The agreement sees an annual fixture at the MCG, beginning with a clash between Australia and European champions Greece on 25 May 2006 in front of a sell-out crowd of 95,103, before Australia left to contest in the World Cup finals. Australia beat Greece 1–0. The Socceroos also hosted a match in 2007 against Argentina, losing 1–0, as well as 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification matches in 2009 against Asian Football heavyweights (Japan) which attracted 81,872 fans as Australia beat Japan 2–1 via 2 Tim Cahill trademark headers after falling behind 1–0 late in the 1st half. In 2010 it was announced that as a warm up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup which the Australians had qualified for, they would play fellow qualified nation New Zealand on 24 May at the MCG.

Other matches played at the MCG include the following:

• The Olympic final played between USSR and Yugoslavia on 8 December 1956
• An exhibition match between Australia and Juventus played on 13 June 1984
• A 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Australia and Iran on Saturday 29 November 1997. The match was drawn 2–2, with Iran progressing on the away goals rule.
• An exhibition match between Manchester United and Australia on 15 July 1999.
• A friendly match between Brazil B and Australia on 17 November 1999.
• An Olympic Tournament group match between Italy and the Olyroos on 13 September 2000. Plus other preliminary matches during the Olympics which also included quarter final and the Semi final between Chile and Cameroon who went on to win the gold medal.
• A 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier between the Australia and Uruguay on Tuesday 20 November 2001. The Socceroos won 1–0, however Uruguay progressed after later winning the second leg 3–0.
• A friendly match between Australia and the then European champions, Greece – which was played as a warmup to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
• A friendly match between Australia and Argentina – Argentina had a full strength side with superstars such as Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez
• A friendly match between Australia and the All Whites as a warm up before the 2010 FIFA World Cup in which Australia won in the very last play of the game.
• A pre-season friendly in July 2013 between A-League outfit Melbourne Victory and Premier League side Liverpool, as part of Liverpool's pre-season tour of Australia and South East Asia drawing a crowd of 95,446

Tennis

In 1878 the Melbourne Cricket Club’s Lawn Tennis Committee laid an asphalt court at the MCG and Victoria’s first game of tennis was played there. A second court of grass was laid in 1879 and the first Victorian Championship played on it in 1880. The first inter-colonial championship was played in 1883 and the first formal inter-state match between NSW and Victoria played in 1884 with Victoria winning.

In 1889 the MCC arranged for tennis to be played at the then Warehousemen’s Cricket Ground, now the Albert Ground, at Albert Park, rather than the MCG.

Cycling

It was at the MCG in 1869 that Australia’s first bicycle race was held. The event was for velocipedes, crude wooden machines with pedals on the front wheels. In 1898 the Austral Wheel Race was held at the MCG attracting a crowd of 30,000 to see cyclists race for a total of £200 in prize money.

Other uses

• Queen Elizabeth II visited the MCG in 1954 twice for an assembly and display. She attended a Richmond versus Fitzroy match on 5 April 1970,^[33] and also attended the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony at the ground on 15 March 2006.

• A record for attendance at the grounds was set by religious leader Billy Graham whose event in 1959 was attended by at least 143,000 people.^[34]

• The first rock concert to be held at the ground was one by David Cassidy in 1974. In 1978 David Bowie held a concert there. In 1993, Paul McCartney, U2 and Madonna held 3 concerts, with the highest attendances for a music concert at MCG, with 147,241 tickets sold.^[35] The Rolling Stones held concerts in 1995, Michael Jackson in 1996, the Three Tenors in 1997, Elton John and Billy Joel in 1998.

• Pope John Paul II held a service at the MCG on 27 November 1986, and a celebration there of the Polish community the next day.

• The MCG hosted The Police with Special Guests Fergie & Fiction Plane on Australia Day 2008; the first MCG concert in 10 years.

• The MCG hosted Sound Relief, a concert donating all revenues to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal with performances from Kings Of Leon, Midnight Oil, Split Enz, Paul Kelly, Hunters & Collectors, Wolfmother, Jet and Bliss N Eso, among others. It was held on 14 March 2009.

• On 5 November 2010, the MCG was the starting point for The Amazing Race Australia.^[36]

Records

MCG from a city building.

Sporting records

• First ever Test Cricket match (Australia v England) – 1877
• First ever One day international Cricket match – 1971
• Highest first class cricket score – 1107 (Victoria v NSW, 1926)
• Australia's first international Lacrosse match (Australia v Canada, 1907, 30,000)
• Fastest ball bowled in a Cricket match in Australia, 3rd fastest in the world – 160.7 km/h (Shaun Tait, Australia v Pakistan, 5 February 2010)

Attendance records

• Highest VFL/AFL attendance – 121,696 (Collingwood v Carlton, 1970)^[37]
• Highest soccer crowd in Australia – 102,000 (1956 Olympics Soccer Final)^[38]
• Highest soccer crowd in Australia (club teams) – 95,446 (Pre-season friendly, Melbourne Victory v Liverpool FC, 24 July 2013)
• Highest Australian soccer crowd (National Team) – 95,103 (Australia v Greece, 2006)
• Highest single-day attendance in the history of Test Cricket – 91,092 (2013 Boxing Day Test, Day 1 - Australia v England)
• Highest One Day International crowd – 87,182 (1992 World Cup Final England v Pakistan)
• Highest Australian religious event attendance – 120,000 (Billy Graham crusade, 1959)^[39]
• The first stadium in the world to have its annual number of visitors equal to the city's population^[40]

Stadium records

• World's first all colour cricket scoreboard with instant replays
• World's first electronic sightscreens
• World's first super sopper
• World's first scrolling signage at an oval-shaped ground
• Australia's largest video screens
• First time an international Cricket match was played on a one-piece portable pitch, Boxing Day Test, 2000
• World's highest light towers

Cricket Records

Test Records

• Highest Test Total: 604 – Australia vs. England, 26 February 1937
• Highest Individual Test Score: 307 – Bob Cowper, Australia vs. England, 11 February 1966
• Best Test Innings Bowling Figures: 9/86 – Sarfraz Nawaz, Pakistan vs. Australia, 10 March 1979
• Best Test Match Bowling Figures: 15/124 – Wilfred Rhodes, England vs. Australia, 1 January 1904
• Highest Test Partnership: 346 (for the 6th wicket) – Sir Donald Bradman & Jack Fingleton, Australia vs. England, 1 January 1937

ODI Records

• Highest ODI Total: 8/344 – ICC World XI vs. ACC Asian XI, World Cricket Tsunami Appeal, 10 January 2005
• Highest Individual ODI Score: 173 – Mark Waugh, Australia vs. West Indies, 9 February 2001
• Best ODI Innings Bowling Figures: 6/42 – Ajit Agarkar, India vs. Australia, 9 January 2004
• Highest ODI Partnership: 225 (for the 2nd wicket) – Adam Gilchrist & Ricky Ponting, Australia vs. England, 15 December 2002

Twenty20 International Records

• Highest Twenty20 Total: 9/182 – Australia vs. South Africa, 11 January 2009
• Highest Individual Twenty20 Score: 89 (43) – David Warner, Australia vs. South Africa, 11 January 2009
• Best Twenty20 Innings Bowling Figures: 3/11 – Nathan Bracken, Australia vs. India, 1 February 2008
• Highest Twenty20 Partnership: 60 (for the 1st wicket) – Ian Bell & Steven Davies, England vs. Australia, 14 January 2011

VFL/AFL Records

^{Last updated: 1 October 2013}

• Highest Team Score:
  • 32.24 (216) – Hawthorn vs. Essendon, 1 August 1992
  • 31.25 (211) – Richmond vs. St Kilda, 13 April 1985
  • 32.19 (211) – Geelong vs. Richmond, 27 May 1989
  • 32.17 (209) – North Melbourne vs. Richmond, 6 April 1990
  • 31.19 (205) – Hawthorn vs. North Melbourne, 30 April 1988

• Largest Winning Margin:
  • 165 pts – Hawthorn (197) def. Port Adelaide (32), 13 August 2011
  • 162 pts – Hawthorn (193) def. Greater Western Sydney (31), 8 July 2012
  • 160 pts – Hawthorn (216) def. Essendon (56), 1 August 1992
  • 151 pts – Richmond (187) def. Fitzroy (36), 25 August 1996
  • 148 pts – Essendon (187) def. Melbourne (36), 6 April 2013

• Lowest Team Score:
  • 0.8 (8) – Melbourne vs. South Melbourne, 13 June 1912
  • 1.2 (8) – Carlton vs. Melbourne, 8 June 1903
  • 0.9 (9) – Melbourne vs. Essendon, 13 May 1911
  • 0.9 (9) – University vs. Collingwood, 19 August 1911
  • 1.6 (12) – Richmond vs. Melbourne, 27 June 1908

• Most Goals in a Game:
  • 14 – Gary Ablett, Sr., Geelong vs. Essendon, 1 May 1993
  • 14 – Gary Ablett, Sr., Geelong vs. Richmond, 27 May 1989
  • 14 – John Longmire, North Melbourne vs. Melbourne, 7 July 1990
  • 13 – Matthew Lloyd, Essendon vs. Sydney, 10 April 1999
  • 12 – Jason Dunstall, Hawthorn vs. Richmond, 15 August 1992

• Most Disposals in a Game:
  • 53 – Gary Ablett, Jr., Gold Coast vs. Collingwood, 3 June 2012
  • 49 – Dane Swan, Collingwood vs. Hawthorn, 21 July 2012
  • 48 – Peter Featherby, Geelong vs. Melbourne, 18 July 1981
  • 48 – Dane Swan, Collingwood vs. Port Adelaide, 31 May 2009
  • 48 – Greg Wells, Melbourne vs. Fitzroy, 21 June 1980

• Most Games Played:
  • 200 – Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)
  • 179 – Dustin Fletcher (Essendon)
  • 169 – David Neitz (Melbourne)
  • 164 – Wayne Campbell (Richmond)
  • 153 – Matthew Knights (Richmond)

• Most Goals Kicked:
  • 464 – Matthew Richardson (Richmond)
  • 461 – Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)
  • 386 – David Neitz (Melbourne)
  • 380 – Wayne Carey (Adelaide, North Melbourne)
  • 379 – Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

• Longest Undefeated Streak:

Statues

Statue of cricketer and Australian rules football pioneer Tom Wills umpiring an 1858 football match

Outside of the MCG are statues of famous Australian athletes donated by Tattersalls and known as the Parade of Champions, including many Australian rules football and cricket legends.

They include:

• Ron Barassi (Australian rules football player)
• Dick Reynolds (Australian rules football player)
• Leigh Matthews (Australian rules football player)
• Haydn Bunton, Sr. (Australian rules football player)
• Don Bradman (cricket player)
• Keith Miller (cricket player)
• Bill Ponsford (cricket player)
• Dennis Lillee (cricket player)
• Betty Cuthbert (track and field)
• Shirley Strickland (track and field)
• Jim Stynes (Australian rules football player)

The MCC, in association with Australia Post, commissioned five statues for the Australia Post Avenue of Legends. Three have been erected so far:

• Shane Warne (cricket player)
• Norm Smith (Australian rules football player and coach)
• John Coleman (Australian rules football player)

A statue is also planned for cricket player Neil Harvey.^[41][42]

See also

• Australian landmarks
• History of Test cricket (to 1883)
• History of Test cricket (1884 to 1889)
• History of Test cricket (1890 to 1900)
• List of Test cricket grounds
• List of international cricket centuries at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
• National Sports Museum, a museum dedicated to Australian sport, located within the Melbourne Cricket Ground

References

Further reading

• Cashman, Richard (1995) Paradise of Sport Melbourne: Oxford University Press
• Cuthbert, Betty (1966) Golden Girl
• Gordon, Harry (1994) Australia and the Olympic Games Brisbane: University of Queensland Press
• Hinds, Richard (1997) Low blows. Sport’s top 10 The Sydney Morning Herald 1 November
• Linnell, Garry (1995) Football Ltd Sydney: Ironbark Pan Macmillan Australia
• Pollard, Jack (1990) Australia Test Match Grounds London: Willow Books
• Plan of the Town and Suburbs of Melbourne 1843
• Vamplew, Wray; Moore, Katharine; O’Hara, John; Cashman, Richard; and Jobling, Ian [editors] (1997) The Oxford Companion to Australian Sport Second Edition Melbourne: Oxford University Press

External links

• MCG Official website
• Notable Events at Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Virtual tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Description at sportsvenue-technology.com
• Melbourne Cricket Ground at Austadiums
• "Around the Grounds" – Web Documentary – MCG

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2008 London 2012 Rio 2016 Tokyo 2020 Venues of the 1956 Summer Olympics Melbourne Broadmeadows Hockey Field Lake Wendouree Melbourne Cricket Ground Oaklands Hunt Club Olympic Park Stadium Port Phillip Royal Australian Air Force, Laverton Air Base Royal Exhibition Building St Kilda Town Hall Swimming/Diving Stadium Velodrome West Melbourne Stadium Williamstown Stockholm Lill-Jansskogen Olympic Stadium Ulriksdal Venues of the 2000 Summer Olympics Sydney Olympic Park NSW Tennis Centre Olympic Stadium State Hockey Centre State Sports Centre Sydney Showground (Sydney Baseball Stadium) Sydney International Archery Park Sydney International Aquatic Centre Sydney Super Dome Sydney Blacktown Olympic Park Bondi Beach Centennial Parklands Dunc Gray Velodrome North Sydney Olympic Sailing Shore Base Penrith Whitewater Stadium Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Sydney Entertainment Centre Sydney Football Stadium Sydney International Equestrian Centre Sydney International Regatta Centre Sydney International Shooting Centre Sydney Opera House Western Sydney Parklands Outside Sydney Brisbane Cricket Ground Bruce Stadium (Canberra) Hindmarsh Stadium (Adelaide) Melbourne Cricket Ground Olympic venues in athletics 1896: Marathon (city), Panathenaic Stadium 1900: Croix-Catelan Stadium 1904: Francis Field 1908: White City Stadium 1912: Stockholm Olympic Stadium 1920: Olympisch Stadion 1924: Stade de Colombes 1928: Olympic Stadium 1932: Olympic Stadium, Riverside Drive at Griffith Park 1936: Avus Motor Road, Olympic Stadium 1948: Empire Stadium 1952: Olympic Stadium 1956: Melbourne Cricket Ground 1960: Arch of Constantine, Raccordo Anulare, Stadio Olimpico, Via Appia Antica, Via Cristoforo Colombo 1964: Fuchu City, Karasuyama-machi, National Stadium, Sasazuka-machi, Shinjuku 1968: Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Zócalo 1972: Olympiastadion 1976: Montreal Botanical Garden, Olympic Stadium, Streets of Montreal 1980: Grand Arena, Streets of Moscow 1984: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Santa Monica College, Streets of Los Angeles, Streets of Santa Monica 1988: Olympic Stadium, Streets of Seoul 1992: Estadi Olímpic de Monjuïc, Marathon course, Mataró, Walking course 1996: Marathon course, Olympic Stadium, Walking course 2000: Marathon course, North Sydney, Olympic Stadium 2004: Marathon (city), Olympic Stadium, Panathenaic Stadium, Stadium at Olympia 2008: Beijing National Stadium, Olympic Green Promenade Walking course, Streets of Beijing Marathon course 2012: Marathon Course, Olympic Stadium 2016: Flamengo Park, João Havelange Stadium, Sambódromo Olympic venues in field hockey 1908: White City Stadium 1920: Olympisch Stadion 1928: Old Stadion 1932: Olympic Stadium 1936: Hockey Stadion (final), Hockey Stadion #2 1948: Empire Stadium (medal matches), Guinness Sports Club, Lyons' Sports Club, Polytechnic Sports Ground 1952: Velodrome 1956: Hockey Field, Melbourne Cricket Ground (final) 1960: Campo Tre Fontane, Olympic Velodrome (final), Stadio dei Marmi 1964: Komazawa Hockey Field 1968: Municipal Stadium 1972: Hockeyanlage 1976: Molson Stadium, McGill University 1980: Dynamo Central Stadium, Minor Arena; Young Pioneers Stadium (final) 1984: Weingart Stadium 1988: Seongnam Stadium 1992: Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa 1996: Clark Atlanta University Stadium, Morris Brown College Stadium (final) 2000: State Hockey Centre 2004: Olympic Hockey Centre 2008: Olympic Green Hockey Field 2012: Riverbank Arena 2016: Olympic Hockey Center Olympic venues in association football 1900 Vélodrome de Vincennes 1904 Francis Field 1908 White City Stadium 1912 Råsunda IP, Stockholm Olympic Stadium (final), Tranebergs Idrottsplats 1920 Jules Ottenstadion, Olympisch Stadion (final), Stade Joseph Marien, Stadion Broodstraat 1924 Stade Bergeyre, Stade de Colombes (final), Stade de Paris, Stade Pershing 1928 Monnikenhuize, Olympic Stadium (final), Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel 1936 Hertha-BSC Field, Mommsenstadion, Olympiastadion (final), Poststadion 1948 Arsenal Stadium, Champion Hill, Craven Cottage, Cricklefield Stadium, Empire Stadium (medal matches), Green Pond Road, Griffin Park, Selhurst Park, White Hart Lane 1952 Helsinki Football Grounds, Kotka, Lahti, Olympic Stadium (final), Tampere, Turku 1956 Melbourne Cricket Ground (final), Olympic Park Stadium 1960 Florence Communal Stadium, Grosseto Communal Stadium, L'Aquila Communal Stadium, Livorno Ardenza Stadium, Naples Saint Paul's Stadium, Pescara Adriatic Stadium, Stadio Flaminio (final) 1964 Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium, Mitsuzawa Football Field, Nagai Stadium, Tokyo National Stadium (final), Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium, Ōmiya Football Field, Prince Chichiba Memorial Football Field 1968 Estadio Azteca (final), Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Estadio Nou Camp, Jalisco Stadium 1972 Drei Flüsse Stadion, ESV-Stadion, Jahnstadion, Olympiastadion (final), Rosenaustadion, Urban Stadium 1976 Lansdowne Park, Olympic Stadium (final), Sherbrooke Stadium, Varsity Stadium 1980 Dinamo Stadium, Dynamo Central Stadium, Grand Arena, Grand Arena (final), Kirov Stadium, Republican Stadium 1984 Harvard Stadium, Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Rose Bowl (final), Stanford Stadium 1988 Busan Stadium, Daegu Stadium, Daejeon Stadium, Dongdaemun Stadium, Olympic Stadium (final) 1992 Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, Estadi del FC Barcelona (final), Estadio Luís Casanova, La Romareda, RCD Espanyol Stadium 1996 Florida Citrus Bowl, Legion Field, Orange Bowl, RFK Memorial Stadium, Sanford Stadium (final) 2000 Stadium Australia, Brisbane Cricket Ground, Bruce Stadium, Hindmarsh Stadium, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Olympic Stadium (men's final), Sydney Football Stadium (women's final) 2004 Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Karaiskakis Stadium, Olympic Stadium (final), Pampeloponnisiako Stadium, Pankritio Stadium, Panthessaliko Stadium 2008 Beijing National Stadium (final), Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Shanghai Stadium, Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Workers Stadium 2012 City of Coventry Stadium, Hampden Park, Millennium Stadium, St James' Park, Old Trafford, Wembley Stadium (final) 2016 Estádio Nacional de Brasília, Arena Fonte Nova, Mineirão, Arena Corinthians, Maracanã (final) Commonwealth Games stadia Hamilton, 1930 London, 1934 Sydney, 1938 Auckland, 1950 Vancouver, 1954 Cardiff, 1958 Perth, 1962 Kingston, 1966 Edinburgh, 1970 Christchurch, 1974 Edmonton, 1978 Brisbane, 1982 Edinburgh, 1986 Auckland, 1990 Victoria, 1994 Kuala Lumpur, 1998 Manchester, 2002 Melbourne, 2006 New Delhi, 2010 Glasgow, 2014 Gold Coast, 2018 Test cricket grounds in Australia Primary grounds: Adelaide Oval Bellerive Oval The Gabba Melbourne Cricket Ground Sydney Cricket Ground WACA Ground Secondary grounds: Cazaly's Stadium Marrara Stadium Former grounds: Brisbane Exhibition Ground Australian Football League grounds Main grounds: Adelaide Oval Carrara Stadium Docklands Stadium The Gabba Kardinia Park Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium Australia Subiaco Oval Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney Showground Stadium Secondary grounds: Bellerive Oval Cazaly's Stadium Manuka Oval Marrara Stadium Traeger Park Wellington Regional Stadium York Park Future grounds: Perth Stadium Former grounds: Albury Oval Arden Street Oval Blacktown International Sportspark Brisbane Exhibition Ground Canberra Stadium Brunswick Street Oval Coburg Oval Corio Oval East Melbourne Cricket Ground Football Park Glenferrie Oval Junction Oval Lake Oval Moorabbin Oval Motordrome North Hobart Oval Princes Park Punt Road Oval Toorak Park Victoria Park WACA Ground Waverley Park Whitten Oval Windy Hill Yarraville Oval International rules series Participants Australia Ireland Venues in Australia Canberra Stadium Carrara Stadium Docklands Stadium Football Park Melbourne Cricket Ground Subiaco Oval WACA Ground Waverley Park Venues in Ireland Breffni Park Croke Park Gaelic Grounds Páirc Uí Chaoimh Pearse Stadium World Tours 1967 1968 3-Test series 1984 1986 1987 1990 2-Test series 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2010 2011 2013 1-Test series 2014 Cancelled series 2007 2009 Landmarks in the Melbourne City Centre Note: this includes landmarks in the Melbourne City Centre and its fringe areas, not the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area City precincts Arts Precinct Chinatown Docklands Government Precinct Greek Precinct Little Italy Paris End RMIT City Southbank/Wharf Sports and Entertainment Precinct University of Melbourne Shopping Block Arcade Bourke Street Bridge Road Brunswick Street Chapel Street Centre Place Collins Street Degraves Street DFO South Wharf Elizabeth Street Flinders Lane GPO Melbourne Harbour Town Docklands Little Collins Street Melbourne Central Shopping Centre Myer Emporium Queen Victoria Market Queen Victoria Village Royal Arcade Swanston Street Entertainment Tramcar Restaurant Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex Luna Park Melbourne Aquarium Melbourne Visitor Shuttle Melbourne Zoo See also: Theatres in the Melbourne City Centre Public galleries Australian Centre for Contemporary Art Australian Centre for the Moving Image Ian Potter Museum of Art NGV Australia NGV International RMIT Gallery See also: Museums in Melbourne Institutions General Post Office Government House Melbourne Observatory Melbourne Town Hall Old Melbourne Gaol Old Melbourne Magistrates' Court Old Melbourne Mint Old Treasury Building Parliament House State Library of Victoria Supreme Court of Victoria Victoria Barracks Structures Arts Centre Eureka Tower Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Melbourne Star Royal Exhibition Building Shrine of Remembrance St Paul's Cathedral St Patrick's Cathedral Sports stadiums Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park) Docklands Stadium (Etihad Stadium) Flemington Racecourse Melbourne Multi Purpose Venue (Hisense Arena) Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) Lakeside Stadium National Ice Sports Centre (Medibank Icehouse) Olympic Park Stadium Rod Laver Arena Royal Melbourne Golf Club Princes Park (Visy Park) Parks and spaces Albert Park and Lake Alexandra Gardens Birrarung Marr Carlton Gardens City Square Federation Square Fitzroy Gardens Flagstaff Gardens Kings Domain Queen Victoria Gardens Royal Botanic Gardens Royal Park Treasury Gardens Yarra Park Transport Bolte Bridge Capital City Trail City Circle Tram CityLink Flinders Street Station Melbourne Airport Melbourne Seaport Southern Cross Station Trams in Melbourne West Gate Bridge Yarra River See also: Museums in Melbourne Parks and gardens of Melbourne Theatres in the Melbourne City Centre Venues of the 2015 Cricket World Cup Australia and New Zealand Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne) Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney) Adelaide Oval (Adelaide) WACA Ground (Perth) The Gabba (Brisbane) Bellerive Oval (Hobart) Manuka Oval (Canberra) Hagley Oval (Christchurch) Eden Park (Auckland) Seddon Park (Hamilton) McLean Park (Napier) Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington) Saxton Oval (Nelson) University Oval (Dunedin)