Monday 30 June 2014

2014 Round 17, Quarter time.

1st July Birthdays.
 
Clayton Lamb 1964, Andrew Lee 1986, Darren Payne 1974.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Danny Morton, born 1st July 1973.
Danny played for Fitzroy from 1994 to '96 and was a rover that knew how to kick a goal.  His record at the club was 17 goals from 30 games.

When Fitzroy merged with Brisbane he moved over to Adelaide and played with North Adelaide for a year before being picked up by Port Adelaide. He played in 1998 and 2000, missing 1999 because of a serious neck injury. 

In the 2 years he did play he was in 20 games and kicked 17 goals. 

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


Punt Road Oval.
Punt Road was a track people used to walk down to get from the city to the Yarra River, passing the parkland where the MCG now stands.  It got its name because of the punt which took passengers from the end of it across to the other side of the river.
In 1855 the Richmond Cricket Club asked that they be able to play matches on the ‘Richmond paddock’ and so the Richmond Cricket Ground or Punt Road Oval was born.
 
The first cricket game was played there in December 1856 and the Richmond Football Club called it home from 1885. They played there as their home ground until 1964 when they relocated to the MCG for their home games.
The largest crowd to attend the ground was 46,000 for a game between Richmond and Carlton in 1949.  In 1965 the capacity was reduced to around 22,000 due to road widening and it currently holds around 6,000.
In all the venue has hosted 542 VFL/AFL games and is still the training base and social club for the Tigers as well as being home ground for their VFL side.  
Source: The Clubs-Complete History Of Every Club in The VFL/AFL and Wikipedia.
 
 
3 Way Tie In The Magarey.
Three players shared the Magarey Medal of 1915.  At the time only 1 was awarded due to the count back system, but the others were awarded retrospectively in 1997.
Frank Barry was a rover for the South Adelaide club between 1911 and 1915. 
During this time he played 41 games for the club and also 2 state games for South Australia.  He was the first South Adelaide player to receive a Magarey Medal.
Sampson ‘Shine’ Hosking was a hard player often involved in behind the play incidents.
Over a career spanning 1907 to 1921 he played 161 games for Port Adelaide, missing 1916 to 1918 when war interrupted the competition.
He won the Magarey Medal in 1910 and 1915, played in 7 Premiership teams and was a state representative 9 times.
Charlie Perry played 58 games for the Norwood football club and after winning the Magarey Medal he enlisted as a Methodist minister and found himself in Europe.
Whilst there he captained the combined training unit team in an exhibition match in London in 1916.  He did return to the club after the war but only played a few games.
Source: AFL Record Season Guide 2013 and Wikipedia.


WHO WAS THAT MAN.
The iconic picture of the ‘screamer’ would have to be the one of Alex Jesaulenko in the 1970 grand final.  Now most people know who ‘Jezza’ is, but what about the guy he took the mark over in the great photo.
Well, the unlucky Collingwood player is Graeme ‘Jerker’ Jenkin, a Collingwood ruckman, which makes Jezzas leap all the more impressive!
Jenkin had a long association with Collingwood, having played in their under 19 team at the age of 14.  Unfortunately for him he only played second ruck, even though he was quite talented.  He was with Collingwood in 1964 and then from 1966-73 when he transferred to Essendon.  At the ‘Dons’ he also ended up playing second ruck and finished his career in 1976. 
His games record was at Collingwood was 77 goals from 127 games and 22 games at Essendon for 10 goals.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers. 

Friday 27 June 2014

2014 Round 16, Three quarter time.

28th June Birthdays.
 
Clint Bizzell 1976

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Mark Roberts, born 28th June 1965.
Mark played for 3 clubs in his career and increased the number of games at each of them.

Starting at Sydney in 1985 he was there for 2 seasons and was in 18 games, kicking 6 goals.

In 1987 he moved north to play for Brisbane and was there until 1990 for 59 games and 14 goals.  While he had been at both those clubs he had seemed slow and overweight, however North Melbourne took a punt and recruited him in 1991. 

This he where he really blossomed and he played 125 games for them kicking 14 goals up until the time he retired at the end of 1999.

He had played a lot of football in the back line but was moved forward and became a good contributor around goals.  A popular clubman, he was part of the clubs 1996 Premiership team.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

 
Phil Kelly – Sandover Medalist.
Phil Kelly joined East Perth in 1975 and played 109 games for them up until 1980.  In that time he kicked 73 goals mainly on a wing but also as an on baller.
He won back to back Sandover medals in 1978 and 1979 and was part of the clubs Premiership team in 1978.
Moving to North Melbourne in 1981, he managed 61 games for 42 goals and seemed destined to have a good career ahead of him.  Unfortunately he had recurring hamstring problems after his first 2 years and retired after the 1985 season.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers & Wikipedia.


1000 Goals in 201 Games.
This is the record set by Tony Lockett.  He will always be best known as a star for the St. Kilda football club where he started in 1983 and when he left them at the end of 1994 he had played 183 games for 898 goals.

A quiet country boy at heart, he tried to keep away from the prying press, but when you kick a goal with your first kick in AFL people take notice.  He scored 77 goals in his second season and 117 in 1987 to give him his first Coleman medal.
In 1991 he suffered a back injury, but managed to return in a game against the Crows where he kicked 12 goals and  finished the season with 127 and a second Coleman. 
 
Moving to Sydney in 1995 the club saw it as a win win situation as they could ride on his fame and he could get away from the scrutiny he was constantly under in Melbourne.
From 1995 to 1999 and the 2002 season he played a total of 98 games for the Swans and kicked an impressive 462 goals.
He proved himself to be a popular clubman and gave good service to his new club though hampered by injuries at times.
When he finally hung up the boots for the last time, Tony had kicked 1360 goals, was All Australian 5 times, Coleman medalist 4 times, St. Kilda Best and Fairest twice, Sydney Best and Fairest once and won the Brownlow medal (in 1987).
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers and  AFL Record Season Guide 2013.
  

3 X 9 at Melbourne.
Brian Dixon wore the number 9 for Melbourne from 1954 to 1968 in 252 games.  In this time he kicked 41 goals playing on the wing.
Winning the clubs Best and Fairest in 1960 he was also part of the flag winning teams of 1956, ’57, ’59, ’60 and ’64.
Between 1975 and 1981 Laurie Fowler donned the number 9 and played 140 games for 18 goals in it.
Laurie had started his career at Richmond, but gave great service to Melbourne in a back pocket and won the Best and Fairest in 1975, ’79 and ’80 and was a Victorian representative in 1980 and ’81.
631 goals came from the boot of David Neitz as Melbourne’s number 9 from 1993 to 2008.
David had to grow up quickly in football terms as he was used in key roles in his first season.  Playing mainly used in the back line at the start of his career he was moved forward around 1995 and made a fine fist of it, often being the main forward target for the team.
During his 306 games for the club he was leading goal kicker 7 times (1 shared), Coleman medallist in 2002 and Best and Fairest in 2002. He was also All Australian in 1995 and 2002.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers and  AFL tables.

 
The Jarmans.
The Jarman brothers were almost twins, with only a year and a few days between them, and their personalities and the understanding between them makes it look like they are one.
 
Andrew is the older of the two and played all his football for Adelaide. With the club from 1991 to 1996 he played 110 games for 92 goals.
A real character on the field, he had good skills and was popular with the locals while getting under the skin of opponents.
 
 
 
Darren initially left his home state and joined Hawthorn where he played 109 games from 1991 to 1995 and kicked 122 goals.
Noted as a mid-fielder in SA, his new club used him as a forward and his skills and kicking accuracy helped lead the club to a Premiership in 1991.
1996 found him back in Adelaide and again playing in a team with his brother. A fine contributor to the club, he was a dual Premiership player and in fact was one of the team’s best players in both the 1997 and 1998 Grand Finals.
He was a 3 time All Australian and won Hawthorn’s Best and Fairest in 1995.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

Wednesday 25 June 2014

2014 Round 16, Half time.

26th June Birthdays.
 
Mark Pitura 1984

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Paul Johnson, born 26th June 1977.
Originally from Frankston, Paul moved to the other side of the country to play football for West Coast.  Though he was with the club in 2003 and 2004 he could only manage one game in 2003 and spent all of 2004 in the WAFL. 

It is not surprising that he moved back to Victoria in 2005 where he joined Melbourne and there until 2010, he played 68 games and scored 20 goals.

Having a slow start again, he spent a lot of time in the VFL and won the Liston trophy in 2005. He was a 197cm ruckman and was used for a lot of the 2009 season when their main ruckman was out injured.  He was delisted at the end of 2010 after playing 8 games for the year.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

 
David Parkin – Jock McHale Medalist.
David actually received the Jock McHale medal on 4 occasions at 2 different clubs. He started his coaching at Hawthorn, the club he had played for in 211 games from 1961 to 1974. He was coach from 1977 to 1980 and led them to a Premiership in 1978.
His record at Hawthorn was 94 games for 57 wins and 37 losses and 1 Premiership. A winning percentage of 61%.
In 1981 he moved to Carlton, and was there until 1985.  He had immediate success with this very strong team as they won the 1981 and 1982 flags.
During this time he coached them in 120 games for 79 wins 1 draw and 40 losses, a winning percentage of 66%.
 
 
From Carlton he moved on to Fitzroy and got them to third position in his first year. He was sacked by Fitzroy after 3 years and took some time away from the top level until being enticed back to Carlton at the end of 1990.
His second stint there, 1991 to 2000 saw a new batch of players, but again he was able to make them into a winning team and led them to a Premiership in 1995.  They only lost 2 games for the season and made the Grand Final again in 1999.
Over this period he coached the Blues in 235 games for 140 wins, 1 draw and 94 losses. A winning percentage of 90%. They also played in 17 finals games during this time.
Source: AFL Record Season Guide 2013 & The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


Hawthorn’s Early Years.
From the 1870’s people had been playing football around the Hawthorn area but they were scattered among a number of small clubs.
This changed in 1902 when a meeting at the Hawthorn Town Hall saw 150 people vote in favour of creating a united Hawthorn Football Club.
It helped that there were a number of councillors on the administration of the club. The council purchased a block of land where the Grace Park ground was developed which meant Hawthorn had a place to call home.
They entered teams in 3 competitions, 1 in the Metropolitan Junior Association, another in the Eastern Suburbs Association and a trades team that played on a Wednesday afternoon.
The senior team played at Hawthorn Cricket Ground (now known as Glenferrie Oval) and the seconds (Hawthorn Rovers) stayed at Grace Park.
It appears that the club was popular with the locals and was known as a friendly group, though they were not a great team on the field.
By early 1912 they had 600 members and around 100 players signed up but the best results in their first 12 seasons were 3rd in 1907 and 5th in 1913.
Source: The Clubs, Complete History Of Every Club In The VFL/AFL.


Off The Bench And Into History.
Every player has to start somewhere, and a lot of the greatest players in the history of the game started out on the interchange bench.
 
Ron Todd played 76 games for Collingwood from 1935 to 1939 and in that time kicked an impressive 327 goals.
Once he made it into the senior team late in 1936 he never looked back and played a vital role in their Premiership win that year kicking 4 goals.  
By the time he finally hung up the boots he had kicked a total of 999 goals in the VFL and VFA.
 

John ‘Jack’ Regan was another Collingwood player to start on the bench. From 1930 to ’41 and in 1943 and 1946 he played a total of 196 games and kicked 3 goals.
Used in a number of positions he eventually found a niche at full back and became probably the best of his time.
He was part of Collingwood’s 1935 and 1936 flag sides and was a regular on the Victorian team.

Peter Bedford was a champion at South Melbourne in 178 games for 325 goals from 1968 to 1976.  He also spent 2 seasons at Carlton in the late 70’s playing 8 games and kicking 4 goals.
A courageous centre/half forward he was South’s leading goal kicker 3 times, Best and Fairest 5 times and won the Brownlow Medal in 1970.
He was also a fine cricketer and actually said that he preferred playing cricket to football, but the pay was better in Aussie Rules.
 Source: Our Game by Jim Main & The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.
 

Monday 23 June 2014

2104 Round 16, Quarter time.

24th June Birthdays.
 
Ashley Fernee 1977, Mal Michael 1977, Michael Tuck 1953.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Jeff Farmer, born 24th June 1977.
'The Wizard' was the nickname given to Jeff Farmer and it came from the description of him given to Melbourne by their Western Australian recruiter.

Joining Melbourne in 1995 he played 118 games until 2001 and kicked 259 goals and at times certainly lived up to his nickname.

Though he had not played senior football before moving to Victoria, he soon showed his talent, and despite a few down times he could be a match winner.  He helped the club climb back to the finals, actually being in the Grand Final in 2000.

The homesickness he had suffered at times during his Melbourne years finally got the better of him and he returned to WA in 2002. He went to Fremantle who he was tied to before being traded to Melbourne. 

Once again he suffered up and down times, but when he was on song he was great to watch. He played 131 games for Fremantle from 2002 to 2008 and kicked 224 goals.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


Carlton Team Of The Century – Back Line.
Bruce Comben played for Carlton for 12 seasons, 1950 to 1961, in 188 games, kicking 36 goals.
A stocky player that went straight at the ball and took whatever came his way, he was a strong back pocket and was selected in that position in the clubs team of the century.
Starting his career with the Blues at age 15 in the Carlton thirds, he played all his football at the same club, except for a 1 year stint with Werribee.  He was Best and Fairest in 1957 and 1958 and represented Victoria 9 times.
Stephen Silvagni was used as a forward and back in his 312 games for Carlton from 1985 to 2001 and kicked 202 goals.  Most back men don’t kick a great deal of goals so that shows how versatile he was and it was as full back that he got into the clubs team of the century.
Born to play for Carlton, he spent most of his childhood around the club, as his father was a rover for the club during the 60’s.  Despite his father’s worries he began playing in the seniors at the age of 17 and was in 2 Premiership teams in 1987 and 1995.
In the 1995 finals series he kept 4 of the games’ best forwards to a total of 1 goal between them.
The other back pocket was Geoff Southby who played for Carlton from 1971 to 1984. He may have only kicked 31 goals in his 268 game career, but he was one of the best full backs of his time.
Winning the club Best and Fairest in 1971 and 1972 he was part of the 1972 and 1979 flag winning sides and was a regular in the Victorian team.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


For The Record.
-   Highest score by a club was 37.17.239 for Geelong against Brisbane in Round 7 1992.

-   Lowest score for a club was 0.1.1 for St. Kilda against Geelong in Round 17 1899.

-   Geelong got their first VFL win in round 4 1897 and went on to win the next 10 games.

-   Biggest margin in a game was 190 points in round 17 1979. Fitzroy 36.22.238 d Melbourne 6.12.48.

-   Highest losing score by a club is 25.13.163 for Geelong against Hawthorn (26.15.171). Round 6 1989.

-   Lowest winning score by a club is 1.8.14 for Essendon against Melbourne (0.8.8). Final 1897
 Source: AFL Record Season Guide 2013.


Cain Ackland – Journey Man.
In 2001 Cain played 12 games for Port Adelaide and kicked 3 goals. He stayed with the club until 2004 but could not get back into the senior side.
2005 found him at St. Kilda where he spent 2 seasons, playing 41 games and kicking 18 goals. Again he struggled and in 2007 he joined his third club.
At Carlton he managed 21 games and 4 goals in 2007 and 2008. Cain was a ruckman/utility and it was a pity circumstances did not enable him to fulfil his potential.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.
 

Friday 20 June 2014

2014 Round 15, Three quarter time.

21st June Birthdays.
 
Chance Bateman 1981, Shane Molloy 1949, Ryan Neates 1991,
 Byron Schammer 1985, Nigel Lappin 1976.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Joel Bowden, born 21st June 1978.
Joel was a loyal player for Richmond over 14 seasons from 1996 to 2009 in 265 games, kicking 174 goals.

Having spent most of his younger years in the Northern Territory it came as a shock when he arrived in Melbourne and faced the training schedule at an AFL club. This resulted in him taking some time to get his game up to speed and he was played in a number of positions around the ground. 

He really hit his straps by about 2002 and won the club Best and Fairest in 2004 and 2005 and was All Australian in 2004 and 2006.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


GROUNDS.
Because the origins of the game came from England it followed that it was played on a rectangular field (with a round ball).  These ‘fields’ were anywhere up to 600 meters long (the MCG is about 173 meters long) and would often have trees and ditches spread through them making playing  not only difficult but a real hazard.
At one stage there was a rectangular football ground developed next to the MCG and a grand stand was built that could be moved to face either ground depending on which game was being played.
As the idea of the game was to keep cricketers fit over winter, it was to be expected that eventually the games would find their way onto cricket grounds and hence forth  an oval field.
Over time specific football grounds were constructed but eventually, due to their low capacity and the cost of upkeep, most were either shut down or no longer host first grade games.  A number of them however are still used as training grounds by the clubs that call them ‘home’.
Source: More Than A Game & A National Game. 

Ian Stewart – Triple Brownlow Medalist.
Some players never get a Brownlow vote so how good must you be to win 3 Brownlow Medals?
Ian Stewart joined St. Kilda in 1963 and spent 8 seasons there for 127 games and 25 goals. Whilst coming to the club without any great plaudits, people soon got to know who he was as he dashed around the wing or on the ball, passing to team mates with pin point accuracy.

Winning the club Best and Fairest in 1964 he went one better in 1965 and won his first Brownlow.  Then in 1966 he won another club Best and Fairest, a Premiership medallion, a second Brownlow and All Australian selection.
By 1970 things had started to sour at the Saint’s and he found himself in a trade to Richmond where he played 78 games from 1971 to 1975 and kicked 55 goals.
Just to show that he was still a fine player he won his third Brownlow and club Best and Fairest in 1971.  He was also part of another flag wining side with his new club in 1973.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


Grand Finals.
In the early 1960’s some clubs were in the position of having astute administrators and thus had a system that was well worked and attracted some good players and coaches.
Some clubs reaped the rewards from this foresight with the fact that from 1967 to 1983 (17 seasons) only 4 teams won Premierships.
Carlton won 6, Richmond 5, Hawthorn 4 and North Melbourne 2, with one of them being the drawn 1977 Grand Final where they defeated Collingwood in the replay.
 Source: The Old Dark Navy Blues by Lionel Frost.

 
Coach Kennedy.
John Kennedy Snr knew what he was talking about.  After all he had played 164 games for the Hawthorn Football Club and kicked 29 goals from 1950 to 1959.
He was a good speaker and was able to get his message across to the players who were happy to follow his leading.
Though he filled in as coach for 1 match in 1957, he officially took over the coaching reins at Hawthorn in 1960.  He had a tough start when they lost their first 5 matche, but over time he was able to build what was probably the fittest and strongest team in the league. 
They won their first flag in 1961 under him and made the Grand Final again in 1963 and then he took a break from the club. Returning in 1967 he was there until 1976 and in that time they won another 2 Premierships, 1971 and 1976.
 
Just when everyone thought he had closed the book on a great career, North Melbourne were able to coax him out of retirement to lead their team from 1985 to 1989.
The statistics for his coaching are:
Hawthorn 1957 1 game – 1 loss
Hawthorn 1960-1963.  77 games –  46 wins 1 draw 30 losses. 1 Premiership.
Hawthorn 1967-1976. 221 games – 135 wins 1 draw 85 losses. 2 Premierships.
North Melbourne 1985-1989. 113 games – 55 wins 3 draws 55 losses.
 

 
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers & AFL Record Season Guide 2013.
 
 





 
 

Wednesday 18 June 2014

2014 Round 15, Half time.

19th June Birthdays.
 
Tim Finocchiaro 1979, Scott Harding 1986, Alistair Lynch 1968.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Eric Zschech, born 19th June 1909.
Eric played for Richmond during a time when they were a top team.  In Grand finals in 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934 they won the fag in '32 and '34, and Eric was part of all those teams.

Playing in the centre this classy but not showy game breaker was able to pin point drop kicks that found their target on most occasions.

With the club from 1930 to 1935 Eric played in 102 games and kicked 16 goals.  He also played for Victoria against South Australia in 1934.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


Gavin Crosisca – Collingwood Workhorse.
Gavin started with the Magpies in 1987 and was there for their drought breaking Premiership in 1990.
Known for his high shepherd and tackle counts he was a quiet achiever that was an important part of the team with his long clearing kicks out of defence.
Due to changing rules regarding eligibility for State of origin representation he played games for Queensland, Victoria and the Allies.
Playing 246 games for Collingwood from 1987 to 2000, he also kicked 64 goals.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

 
Grand Final Statistics.

-         Highest aggregate Grand Final score – 50.27.327.
      Carlton v Richmond 1972.

-         Highest team score – 28.9.177 , Carlton 1972.  (Richmond 22.18.150)

-       Lowest aggregate score -38 points. 1927.
 
      Collingwood 2.13.25 def  Richmond 1.7.13.

Richmond’s score in 1927 was also the lowest by a team in a Grand final.

-         Biggest margin in a Grand final  - 119 points, 2007.

Geelong 24.19.163 def Port Adelaide 6.8.44.

-         Grand finals decided by 1 point.

Fitzroy def South Melbourne 1899.

Carlton def Essendon 1947.

West Coast def Sydney 2006.

-         Most Grand final appearances – Michael Tuck  (Hawthorn) 11

-         Most possessions in a Grand final - Simon Black (Brisbane) 39.

-         Most goals by 1 player in a Grand final- Gordon Coventry (Collingwood) 9 (1928).
Source: Wikipedia.


3 Super Swans.
Harry Clark wore the number 6 jersey at South Melbourne from 1928 to 1930 and again from 1931 to 1936. With the club from 1926 to 1936 he had a 147 game  career. As a dashing wingman he was able to deliver the ball with great accuracy and kicked 34 goals.
He was in the clubs premiership team in 1933 and won the Best and Fairest that year. Also a part of the 1934 and 1935 losing Grand Final teams, he represented Victoria 11 times.
 
Andrew Dunkley was Sydney’s number 6 from 1992 to 2002 for 217 games and 11 goals.
Playing under 19 football at St. Kilda it didn’t seem he would make it in the AFL, so he moved to Tasmania where he got settled and when Sydney came calling he didn’t want to leave.
Luckily for the Swans and football in general he did and became one of the best full backs of his time.
 
After 29 games for Brisbane Craig Bolton moved to Sydney in 2003 and walked straight into the number 6 vacated by Andrew Dunkley at the end of the previous season.
From then to the end of 2010 he played 170 games, mainly in defence, but did manage to kick 15 goals.  He got the opportunity at Sydney that he hadn’t had in Brisbane and he rewarded the club with some great games.
Craig was selected in the All Australian squad in 2006 and 2009 and was in Sydney’s flag winning team in 2005.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.