Tag Archives: afl

The Melbourne Jemons?

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My friend and fellow football-devotee Gareth was listening to the West Coast v Melbourne match just a couple of weeks ago on the wireless, and couldn’t help but notice the immense number of players in red and blue whose name started with the letter ‘J’.

On closer inspection, he found that no less than eleven Melbourne players names began with the letter ‘J’ in the round 3 match, which may be some sort of record. I haven’t had the time to check as yet. Eleven, that’s 50% of the team.

They were as follows…

Jamie Bennell, James Frawley, Jack Grimes, Jeremy Howe, Joel Macdonald, James Magner, Jordie McKenzie, Jared Rivers, James Sellar, Jack Trengove, Jack Watts.

I’ve hear Gold Coast’s Karmichael Hunt referred to as ‘K’, but the Demons will need to be a little more creative with their nicknames. Perhaps that has been the problem these first few rounds.

‘J’ is for Jumper…Melbourne’s proposed 2012 guernsey

Happy Snap #12 My favourite Player

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Stuart Maxfield and yours truly, circa 1994…as if the hair cuts didn’t give that away!

I think that this photograph speaks for itself. The year is 1994. It is my 13th birthday. As a gift of sorts, I was taken to Richmond training at Punt Road. Of course, training was still a Tuesday  and Thursday night affair hence all the darkness.

Richmond had just won four matches on the trot, in what was to that stage by far the most successful and exciting period I had encountered as a young Richmondite. The boys had just defeated Adelaide at Football Park, a year after being embarrassed at the same venue by 137 points. We went on to finish 9th….a joke now but a vast improvement at the time.

Stuart Maxfield. I have never had a player before or since I have loved as much. This may seem odd to some while others may relate. He was scruffy and a bit wild. He thumped the ball onto his boot in the strangest of fashions, and when it worked he could thump it 65 metres. At times it didn’t work but that didn’t bother me. I had his number 27 on my short sleeved guernsey. I bought the numbers and sewed them on myself. The 7 fell off.

I was heartbroken when, after season 1995, which had been a wild and heady time for this young Tiger, both he and coach John Northey departed Punt Road… Stu to Sydney and Northey to Brisbane. And so it came to be that in 1996, I ventured to Waverley Park to see Maxfield in red and white take the field against Richmond. A truly odd sensation. But the game is the game, and once the ball was bounced, it was only a Richmond victory that occupied my thought.

However I did smash my flag in two pieces at the games conclusion, perhaps a mixture of anguish that Chris Bond’s ‘winning’ goal had been disallowed and the subconscious stress of watching my favourite player running around for the opposition.

Seeing Stuart Maxfield named as captain of the Sydney Swans late in his career gave me a sense of pride. Although I’d far prefer that he’d stayed at Tigerland, he sensed that Sydney would provide him with more options, and it appeared to happen that way. It would have been lovely to see him lift the Swans 2005 premiership cup aloft, yet injury cruelled him at the wrong time. I still comfort myself with the fact that he was officially the captain of a club the year it won a premiership.

Stu Maxfield…a fine footballer.

Photo taken by mum…Joy Carr

Video #5 Richie’s Tips

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My one year old son Richie joined our family footy tipping competition this year. My dad has been running it for 22 years, people have come and gone, but I can officially say that Richie is our youngest ever tipster. And what a start he made, tipping 8 out of 9 in round one of this season…beginners luck or does he just have the knack?

So here is how little Rich tips. Some use their heads, some their hearts. Rich uses his…..I don’t really know? Just watch!

Nice Statistic #5 Richmond’s Tassie Gold

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As North Melbourne are set to embark on their Tasmanian experiment this weekend with their first home match at the picturesque Bellerive Oval, my mind wandered down to the Apple Isle and it’s impact on Australian Football. The names Nash, Hudson, Balldock and Stewart are uttered with great reverence, such is their standing in our game.

Though recent years have seen Hawthorn, St.Kilda and now North call Tasmania it’s second home, it is my club, Richmond, who appears to have a special connection with Tassie, especially when it comes to the glamour forward.

 Now this is a little strange. From 1967 through to the present day, there have been just three years in which Richmond’s attack has not been spearheaded by a Tasmanian.

 -Royce Hart 1967-1977

-Michael Roach 1977-1989

 -Matthew Richardson 1993-2009

-Jack Riewoldt 2007-?

 Sure, that’s really something. But consider the patterned symmetry of their guernsey numbers-

That’s right… there’s certainly something in the waters down at Punt Road. Yet even more eerily, consider their names…

Royce, Roach, Richo, Riewoldt! The four Richmond R’s! What’s going on here? Is it the ghost of the extinct Tasmanian Tiger leading all these key forwards to Tigerland? Who can be sure?

 

 I have mentioned the symmetry of jumper number, name and position, however there is clearly one piece of the puzzle still missing. Will Richmond recruit a Tasmanian key forward in ten years time, whose name begins with ‘R’ and will he be given the number 4 guernsey? Time will tell.

Now Brendan Gale (proud Tasmanian and Richmondite), there’s a task for you! A tradition worth preserving.

PS. Not only have these players contributed to the Richmond cause, the three players whose careers have been completed were bestowed the honour of making the Tasmanian Team of the Cenruty. Can you spot Royce, Roach and Richo?

PPS. Off the very top of my bonse…I’ve also thought of Benny Gale and Justin Plapp as other Tassie forwards to grace Richmond’s forward line. Who have I missed and who are your favourites?

This post was proudly brought to you by the letter R and the numbers 4, 8 & 12!

With a little help from my friends…
All the stats –http://stats.rleague.com/afl/afl_index.html
Royce pic-http://www.richmondfc.com.au/Portals/0/images_richmond/100%20Moments/Brave%20acts/BAOTC_Hart.jpg
Roach pic- http://www.oztradingcards.com/USERIMAGES/roach78.jpg
Richo pic-http://images.theage.com.au/ftage/ffximage/2009/05/10/richo_highfive_narrowweb__300x375,0.jpg
Riewoldt pic- http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2010/12/14/1225971/137581-jack-riewoldt.jpg
Tassie Team of Century pic- http://www.jcap.com.au/images/jc/TAS-TOTC-med.jpg

Let the Season Begin

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I’ve heard many words used in the past two days to describe the excitement people feel for the impending football season, the most popular being that people are ‘pumped.’ While I too am ‘pumped-up’ for football to resume in Melbourne town this evening, I decided to I consult Garrie Hutchinson’s book ‘From the Outer’ and see if there were other words we could use to describe our enthusiasm. The following are not words from Garrie’s pen, yet he used them as a starting point for his book.

“The mellow glow of autumn is yet upon the scene, but lengthening shadows and fast deepening tints betoken winter’s near approach while the oval’s heavy thud is heard on many a grassy turf as leather once again rebounds from kindred hide, and the football season of this year of grace gives forth its stirring notes of warning.”

Peter Pindar, The Australiasion, 22 April, 1882.

Let the leathern sphere be ‘struck by foot’ in anger!

Happy Snap #10

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Today marks the beginning of the VFL-AFL’s 116th season, the start of what I believe is a new era in Australian Football. Though I’m now 30 years old, the first day of a season brings out the excitable little boy in me. As such, I thought I’d share with you a picture I drew when I was in grade prep (1987). My imagination had already been completely captivated by football, as is seen in my old school books kept by mum. Football everywhere. It also seems fitting to post this picture as my own daughter has just started prep, and I can’t help but consider the change in life, school and more importantly, football! (Wife cringes)

Note the players names I’ve written down…Dyyl Watmen (Dale Weightman) Muc Lee (Mark Lee) Daved Bolters (David Bolton) Woree Capu (Warrick Capper) and Greg Wilyms (Greg Williams). Also note in the background my fascination with cheersquads! Thanks to mum for keeping this…and even dating it! Enjoy

Book Review #4 A run through of Runthroughs

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Take an international guest to a game of Australian football and there are some key attributes that will grab their attention. One is the immense size of the ‘pitch’ or ‘field’, or that there appears to be no rules. Opposition fans sitting together can raise an eyebrow, as do the goal umpires! Though no longer in overcoat and wide brimmed hat, they’re quirky all the same. Then there is the run-through banners.

Collingwoods 1980 Grand Final team crashes through the runthrough banner- http://www.naa.gov.au/about-us/media/images/1980-cabinet/vfl.aspx 

The creation, proud raising and then systematic destruction of large run-through banners made of crepe paper is truly a unique facet of the Australian football experience. This brings me to the purpose of this post…to review the book ‘A Run through of Runthroughs, VFL Cheersquads and their Banners.’ I was prompted to review this book after scoreboardpressure.com’s Vin Maskell reminded me of it, having been inspired by a short fictional video on the inner workings of a league club cheersquad.

This book, put together by Simon Nowicki and Frank Filippone (published 1988), captures the essence of banners in Aussie rules, from humble beginnings in the early 1950’s through to the grandiose designs of the extravagant 1980’s. And what football book is complete without a forward from Louie ‘The Lip’ Richards, who recognises that cheersquads ‘keep the crepe paper makers in business.’

I got my hands on this book in 1991 for my eleventh birthday. I know this because it is scrawled inside the front cover. I was truly mesmerised with the book; I guess as a Richmond supporter it was important to form a well-rounded appreciation of the winter game. So flags, floggers and banners certainly caught my eye in my formative footballing years.

‘A run through of runthroughs’ is broken down into sections, which sees all type of banner on display. From banners recognising players milestones or club sponsors to banners focussed on opposition weakness, political and social comment, the book moves much like a football season, culminating with a section of finals banners, followed with the big one, Grand Finals.

But first to where it all began…back to the days of black and white photography. With streamers covering the players race as the Red Legs take the field in the 1957 Grand Final, Ronald Barrassi is the player ducking the streamers, perhaps the first player to superstitiously avoid the runthrough banner?

As a banner must be created before match day, and the book takes us behind the scenes to some banner making sessions. Cheersquads used the bellies of grandstands, town halls, sporting halls… anywhere where they could find the space to accommodate the sheer banner size, displayed somewhat in the below photographs.

Keeping the crepe paper industry in business
Let’s kick things off with some funny ones. The Brisbane Bears, (a most misleading title as they weren’t based in Brisbane and their mascot, a koala, is not a bear!) were not like Melbourne league clubs. They had a private owner, played at a makeshift stadium….and it was too warm up there for footy! As such, to protect the games culture, the Melbourne cheersquad came up with this banner.
When it comes to Collingwood you either love them or the opposite. However, you must appreciate their ability to have a laugh at their own expense. This banner came a short time before they broke their 1958 premiership drought.
The 1980’s saw one team in particular dominate. Hawthorn played in seven consecutive grand finals from 1983-1989, winning four flags along the way. They followed this with another flag in 1991. They expected success. Their grand final cheersquad’s banners give evidence of that. The following banners are cocky yet clever….and very artistically put together.
“For what we are about to receive may the Lord make us truly thankful” 1985 Grand final, a loss.


Cheersquads have long used their banners to send political or social messages, however this had been heavily curtailed after a certain banner that appeared and displeased the AFL in 1996.

On the occasion below, people power ruled the day, and according to the book, VFL headquarters lines were jammed for hours!

 Around the same time as ground rationalisation, the national competitions rugged beginnings also pulled at the heartstrings of supporters. St.Kilda, who were one of many teams rumoured to be relocating or even folding, had this message for the then VFL.
Economics forced the Collingwood cheersquad to think outside the box, asking fans to fill out a coupon in the Herald-Sun and send it in to the club. The overwhelming response saw a ‘double-banner’, seen below.
Melbourne journeyed to Footscray for the final home and away round of 1987. It is still a round remembered for going right down to the wire in relation to finals spots, and had Melbourne lost, it would have been club legend Robert Flower’s final game. As it turned out, the Dees got up, yet the cheersquad should be commended for it’s forward planning. What they should not be commended for however is the appalling bald spot they bestowed upon their club legend. Whilst not blessed with lustrous locks, he certainly didn’t take to the field with a bizarre looking combover.
Another cheersquad to have had a ‘seniors’ moment was that of St.Kilda. Obviously taken with the Olympic games of 1984, this banner gives us a rather inflated view of the footballing world as we know it.
With so many more banners to show you than can fit in this post, I will now show you a few more of my favourites. The first one is obvious. It’s my club. But there’s a distinct Melbourne verses Sydney theme happening here also.
The photograph below strikes me on a number of levels. Firstly, as Pete Motley was a Carlton player tragically injured in a car accident which ended his playing career, to see an opposition club devote one side of their banner is touching. Secondly, in the background we see the rest of the North cheersquad sitting and the darkened second tier of the old souther stand. I loved it up there.
Finally I will leave you with this… two bald blokes who both coached Richmond. Allan Jeans & KB, struggling through ‘that’ banner!

Home & Away #3 Western Oval

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Western Oval: League venue: 1925-1997. League (VFL/AFL) matches: 665 . Record Attendance: 42,354-Footscray v Coll’wood, r.121955.

 Having already looked back at the old league venues in Fitzroy and Hawthorn, we now head across the Maribyrnong river to Footscray’s Western Oval, now the Whitten Oval.

Photo courtesy of Maribyrnong Leader

Growing up in Melbourne’s leafy east, to me Footscray seemed an eternity away, both in distance and way of life. Fast forward to 2012 and I now live just a few drop kicks and a decent torpy away from the old Western Oval, many myths about Footscray having been debunked along the way.

 I took this series of photos when the ground still stood essentially as it was since top-level football departed it in 1997. Little did I know that the following week saw the scoreboard come down and work begin on the new developments at the kennel. While understanding the need to move forward, I’m sure glad I captured some of the old nooks and crannies that I did before it all came down.

I have watched with great intrigue over the past few years the developments at the oval, and have been pleased with how they have come about. While not as in depth as Victoria Park’s recent refurbishments, the Dogs have maintained much of the grounds feel, including a large section of old-school terracing which still exists behind the Geelong Road end goals. There is however a trendy cafe these days residing between the two old grandstands, a far cry from the old Western Oval where the Scraggers plied their trade.

The two old stands, and on the right the new cafe and administration joins the two.

I love the local touch that the Western Bulldogs still possess; if you live in Footscray then the chances are that they are your team. The suburb still has plenty of red white and blue on display in shops and on vehicles and is a club still connected to their community. Central to that has been the redevelopment of the Whitten or Western Oval, now a community space as well as an elite training facility

When it came to the redevelopments, there were elements of the ground deemed necessary for demolition. First to go was the old scoreboard. I took these photos just days before its demise, with the remnants of ‘congratulations’ for Chris Grants 300th match still on the board.

I also love the old wooden seating in the foreground which stood until recently, a world away from todays plastic bucket seats. They look more like pews, where supporters could kneel and pray. Whilst snooping around, I ventured into the scoreboard, quite tentatively as I’d heard that it was a home to squatters. This photo shows the old South Melbourne board, which must have sat there gathering dust since 1981. How I wish that I had grabbed the sign!

I

What fascinated me most about the Western Oval however was the Gordon St side of the ground. The Doug Hawkins wing. I just loved the integration of footpath, EJ Smith grandstand and Geelong Road bridge, with many a dark corner to explore. I was sad to see this go as it was just full of character, a stark contrast to todays near uniform stadia.



The Western Oval is now an elite training facility for elite athletes and will obviously not be hosting any more league matches. But the ground still has that old feel about it. There’s plenty of terracing left, the old stands are intact and the ground is well cared for, unlike others which have been left to decay. The Dogs still get a decent sized crowds to their intra-club matches too.

The one glaring admission is no signage to acknowledge the Dougy Hawkins Wing. I hope this is rectified at some stage.

(Ed. – This was recently rectified…great work by the club! Click here to see the rectified Dougy Hawkins wing! )

Please share any old stories you have from a day spent on the terraces at the Western Oval. Were you there when Carlton kicked just one goal? Or at the climactic end to the 1987 home and away series?  Perhaps you heard first hand EJ’s final address to his players as captain coach. I’d love to hear your stories. Thank

And be sure to check out Vin Maskell’s piece on the old Western Oval scoreboard on his Scoreboard Pressure site!

http://scoreboardpressure.com/2012/06/04/whitten-oval-footscray-victoria/

Shake your Booty #3 Fitzroy Bears song

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We now come alphabetically in our ‘mock-punk’ style footy theme songs to Brisbane, but as brother Pete and I were still upset at the Brisbane-Fitzroy “merger”, very fresh in 1997, we opted for Fitzroy’s song instead. I unfortunately took lead vocals on this one…I’m not sure the French would approve!!! And remember, the ‘theme-songs’ session took place in our bedroom using cassette 4-track and took no longer than an hour. The quality is questionable, but that was kind of the idea!

Here is Pete’s ‘typical’ Brisbane supporter from around the same period of the late 1990’s, done in MSPaint. You can imagine this fellow either on the hill at the Gabba or in the old Lions social club. He obviously has no affiliation with Fitzroy, and clearly has sunk many a XXXX! Go Bears!