Now that I’m older….losin’ my hair,
That don’t bother me,
But will I lose the memories of the times of old,
Those fading years in the Brown and Gold,
When I was younger, nothing was better,
No memory I loved more,
Will I remember, that day in September,
Back in Sixty-Four……..
(With apologies to the Beatles)
For the best part of two decades Eric and Beryl Cornelius have been living an idyllic existence, driving an old Van around Australia…….stopping and propping at scattered bush outposts…..meeting hundreds of diverse characters, all with a story to tell……
In idle moments Eric’s mind occasionally drifts back to those days of old, when he was gliding across the Findlay Oval turf……He would dodge and weave, pull down the occasional fingertip mark…..drawing polite applause from the appreciative fans.
Sixty years on, we’re flicking through an old, yellowing scrap-book and re-constructing the past….or, to be more precise, the Wangaratta Rovers’ premiership year of ‘64……..
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The seeds of success, Eric reckons, were sown a year or so earlier, when many of the big names of the successful Bob Rose era either hung up their boots or headed for fresher pastures.
Ken Boyd, who had officially taken over the coaching position in 1963, was left with many holes to fill, but placed his faith in a crop of locals. Almost half of the Reserves premiership team of ‘62 became important senior players……Some were mere lads; others had been on the fringes and grasped their opportunity.
A classy left-footer, Neville Hogan, was recruited from Moyhu ( via WJFL club South Wanderers ), and enigmatic half-forward Bob Hempel also found his way to the Hawks, who won six of their last eight games in 1963……With 11 wins, they just missed a finals berth.
Over the off-season, the players hatched an ambitious plan to travel overseas – to New Zealand – for a trip-away……It would mean a year of hard-work, but the bonding they created within the group was priceless.
They had already raised a considerable sum from hay-carting during the summer……”It’s toughened the boys up….Now I’m arranging for them to chop wood….There’s plenty of it around here,” Boyd said at the time.
The coach developed a terrific affinity with his young group, and had become a charismatic figure around town……
“He had time for everyone and, with his breezy personality, he won people over,” Eric recalls….”My dad, for example, was a pretty reserved bloke, but Boydy used to get him going…..Dad loved him…”
Boyd had a shrewd football brain and knew, after a year at the helm, that he had a side with the potential to win a premiership…..To top the list off, though, he needed a rover, and his close friendship with Frank Hogan, a former South Melbourne team-mate, helped solve that problem.
Hogan joined the Rovers via Tatura and West Adelaide, where he had represented South Australia. He certainly lived up to his significant reputation.
A 75-point win over reigning premier Benalla, in the opening round of 1964, set the Hawks on a winning streak. They ruthlessly brushed aside all opposition in the early rounds.
Meanwhile Eric Cornelius was confronted by his own challenges……
He was working as a Bank Clerk in Melbourne, and Wangaratta disputed his eligibility after he had starred in an early game against the ‘Pies.
The O & M had a rule in vogue at the time that you were barred from playing if you resided more than 25 miles away from your home club.
The Rovers contended that he was living with his parents and was merely travelling to Melbourne to work during the week……It was a tricky one, but the tribunal ruled in Eric’s favour….It certainly didn’t help the already frosty relations between the two arch rivals.
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A fiery encounter with Corowa presented the first real threat to the Rovers’ dominance, in Round 11…..The Spiders made the running and led by 2 points at half-time……There were turbulent scenes during the long break, as Corowa supporters reacted angrily to a collision between the rival coaches – Boyd and Frank Tuck – early in the game.
Tuck incurred a fractured jaw and Boyd was jeered for the rest of the game…..But he seemed unaffected and it was his strong leadership in the last quarter that enabled the Hawks to come from behind and win by 9 points.
On the following Tuesday, Melbourne’s evening newspaper, ‘The Herald’, produced a back-page headline: ‘Ken Boyd is named,’ which further inflamed feelings, (Boyd was to successfully sue for defamation in a landmark case two years later).
The Rovers’ form seemed to taper off. Was it a classic mid-season slump ? Had the adverse publicity towards the Club subtly affected the players?
They pipped Wangaratta by 10 points, just got home from Albury by 4, and were lucky to defeat Wodonga by two goals……Regardless, after a 69-point win at Rutherglen, they were 15-0, and seemed to have regained composure.
But in a horror three-week stretch they dropped games to Yarrawonga, North Albury and Myrtleford……The loss to the Saints was a shocker ( by 39 points ) and it was official – the Hawks were in crisis.
Fortunately, having finished on top, and with the advantage of the double chance, they had the week off to lick their wounds, before facing a confident Wangaratta in the second semi-final at Rutherglen.
Again, they were badly out of touch, in a match which had its share of nasty encounters. Wang controlled proceedings after half-time to win comfortably enough, by 14 points, with centre half back Bernie Killeen dominating for the ‘Pies.
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The Hawks were on the slippery-dip and, as expected, made wholesale changes for the Preliminary Final. Frank Sargent, Norm Hamill, Mick Brenia and Noel Richens, who all had elongated stints in the Reserves during the season, were promoted.
It was a desperate measure and, after Myrtleford had booted the first four goals of the Prelim, it appeared that the Rovers’ premiership dreams had all but evaporated.
Then, as if a spell was broken, the Hawks sprung into action, running away from the Saints by 42 points, with a 9 goal to 3 last-half blitz.
So the stage was set for the ‘big one’. Most experts had swung their support behind the Magpies, but there was quiet confidence emanating from across the laneway.
The usual hype dominated pre-match discussion and there was an expectant buzz around the large crowd that had converged on the Albury Sportsground to watch the first-ever Grand Final between the bitter enemies.
Boyd had spent the week rallying his troops and was a bundle of energy as he surprisingly lined up alongside Semi-Final hero Killeen, at centre half forward.
As the last strains of the National Anthem were resonating around the Albury Sportsground, the pair were already at it……
The Magpies made the early running and, in a low-scoring encounter, took a five-point lead into the half-time break…….Then the Hawks caught fire…….Big Ray Thompson, who had swapped with Boyd at centre half forward, sparked them into action.
They kicked 6.2, and kept Wangaratta scoreless in the third term.
From that point on, it was only a matter of playing out time…..Rovers big guns Thompson, Norm Bussell, Boyd and Laurie Flanigan continued to dominate.
Despite Kevin Mack kicking three late goals for the ‘Pies they were unable to penetrate a mean Hawk defence, and fell short by 23 points.
It is always remembered as one of the Rovers’ most famous premiership victories, and was celebrated accordingly. The players were met at the Railway Station by adoring supporters after a raucous train trip home, and then continued on at a local hotel.
And, after a month of activity, they headed off on their trip away – the first country club to venture outside Australia…….”Somewhere in all that, I managed to have my 21st Birthday party,” Eric Cornelius recalled…..”It was a time and a half.”
1964 PREMIERSHIP LINE-UP
Backs: Len Greskie, Michael Kelly. Ray Thompson
Half Backs: Frank Sargent. Norm Bussell. Bob Atkinson.
Centres: Eric Cornelius. Neville Hogan. Brian Hallahan.
Half Forwards: Bob Hempel. Ken Boyd. Laurie Flanigan.
Forwards: John Welch. Michael Brenia. Norm Hamill.
Rucks: Barry Sullivan. Noel Richens. Frank Hogan
19, 20: Brian O’Brien. Les Gregory.
THEIR CAREERS – POST 1964
Frank Sargent and Eric Cornelius were the only absentees from this side that went on to take out another premiership in 1965 – also against Wangaratta…….John West and Bob Phillips were their replacements.
LEN GRESKIE: B & F 1965. Moved to North Wangaratta as playing-coach, after 236 consecutive games and 4 Premierships. Coached North to a flag in 1973. Passed away in 2008.
MICHAEL KELLY: Played 52 games with Rovers. Later coached Tallangatta and Tatura and played for Albury. Passed away in 2009.
RAY THOMPSON: B & F 1961. Retired with knee problems in 1966. 143 games, 3 Premierships.
FRANK SARGENT: 14 games. Transferred in his employment as a Teacher after the 1964 Grand Final. Later played with Violet Town.
NORM BUSSELL: 143 Games. 4 Premierships. B & F 1967, ‘75. Recruited by Hawthorn in 1968 ( 113 games, 1971 flag ). Later coached Whorouly ( 2 Flags) and Myrtleford.
BOB ATKINSON: 175 Games, 4 Premierships. Coached King Valley 1969-70 ( including 1970 Flag). Retired after 1972 Rovers Flag. Also played with Tarrawingee. Passed away in 2019.
ERIC CORNELIUS: 169 games, 4 Premierships. Played 3 seasons with Shepparton United (1 Flag). Retired in 1975.
NEVILLE HOGAN: 246 games. 1966 Morris Medallist. B & F 1963,‘66,‘68,’70, Six Premierships. Playing-Coach 1970-76. Retired in 1977. Later non-playing coach of Myrtleford and Wangaratta.
BRIAN HALLAHAN: 119 Games, 3 Premierships. Moved to Wilby as playing-coach in 1967. Later coached Cohuna.
BOB HEMPEL: 101 Games. 2 Premierships. B & F 1969. Retired after 1970 Grand Final.
KEN BOYD: Playing-Coach 1963-1966. 82 games. 2 Premierships. Retired after 1966 Prelim Final. Returned to South Melbourne as a Selector, and embarked on a stunning business career.
LAURIE FLANIGAN: 129 Games. 2 Premierships. Retired after 1970 Grand Final. Coached Cobram for 3 years.
JOHN WELCH: 88 Games. 2 Premierships. A car accident in 1968 finished his playing career. Later coached Whorouly and Tarrawingee ( including 1975 flag). Coached the Rovers 1982-84.
MICHAEL BRENIA: 128 Games, 3 Premierships. Coached Beechworth (1972-74), Glenrowan and Moyhu. Played with Tarrawingee.
NORM HAMILL: 57 Games, 2 Premierships. Left Rovers after 1966 season. Continued career with Albury, Coorparoo (QAFL), Mt.Gravatt, North Albany (WA) and Greta.
BARRY SULLIVAN: 98 Games, 2 Premierships. Left in 1969 to play with King Valley ( Coach 1971) and Greta.
NOEL RICHENS: 133 Games. 3 Premierships. Coached Tarrawingee and Rovers 3rds (1975-76)
FRANK HOGAN: 38 Games, 2 Premierships. B & F 1964. Left in 1966 to coach Beechworth
BRIAN O’BRIEN: 174 Games, 2 Premierships, Left in 1972 to coach Chiltern to a flag.
LES GREGORY: 186 Games, 4 Premierships. Retired in 1967.
JOHN WEST: 73 Games, 1 Premiership. Left in 1970 to finish career at Milawa.
BOB PHILLIPS: 126 Games. 1 Premiership. Left in 1969 to coach Tarrawingee (Played in Tarra’s 1975 flag).
*The Wangaratta Rovers will pay homage to the 1964,’74 and ‘94 Senior Premiership teams, the 1984 Reserves flag-winners, and the 1994 A-Grade Netball Premiers from midday this Saturday, when the Club hosts Myrtleford.
ON REFLECTION 