“CATTLE, SHEEP AND SPORT……. A VETERAN’S LIFETIME OBSESSION…….”

I’m in my customary match-day spot………. on the Gate at the footy, flogging raffle tickets, when a cheery, well-preserved old fellah succumbs to my wiles and throws me a few bob……

“Anything to help a struggling club,” he jokes.

He’s going on 85….. and a champ of my playing era…….. I still hark back to the day he helped break our hearts, just when we thought we had a premiership in the bag……

Graeme Ward is proof of the intangible rewards that can be elicited from playing sport…….His occupation led him to various destinations throughout country Victoria and Southern Riverina, during which time he cultivated the myriad of friendships he still shares.

His is the tale of a kid, brought up in leafy East St.Kilda, who carved out a fine footy career, and has spent almost seven decades in the livestock industry……..

Graeme Ward’s ‘second home’ for 68-odd years has been the Saleyards of the region.

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His dad Bill played a handful of games for St.Kilda, and later represented Australia in Discus and Shot Put events at the Sydney Empire Games:

“He was a big fellah, about 6’1”, and a real sports fanatic,” Graeme recalls.

“Like so many of his generation the War put paid to his active involvement in sport…..He was among the 14,000 troops assigned to the Middle East and served as a Dentist to the Armed Forces……. became one of the Rats of Tobruk.”

“I remember, not long after he got home, he took me to a Melbourne Harriers meeting…..I’d have been roughly 5 or 6, I reckon….Dad had formed a connection with a bloke who brought out two Jamaican runners to compete at the Junction Oval….”

“Gee they stood out….I was mesmerised by their litheness and grace……That stirred my interest in watching top athletes, which I’ve maintained to this day…..”

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Graeme was doing his Intermediate Certificate at sporty, prestigious Caulfield Grammar when he expressed his desire to pursue a career in the rural domain:

The Headmaster, Rev. Stanley Kurrle said: ‘Look, my parents run a farm up near Bendigo, and are Goldsborough-Mort clients…….They’re a really good company…..I’ll see if I can get you an interview with them….”

“And that was that…..I started at Head Office in Melbourne and stayed with them until I branched out to do other things more than 20 years later. “

His initial move with G-M was to Camperdown…..He was just 17 when he played his first – and only – senior Hampden League game:

“I’d been playing kid’s footy with Power House in Melbourne, but picked up a few kicks in Camperdown’s last practice match….They must have thought : ‘this kid looks alright’…..But I only touched the ball 3 or 4 times and got barrelled unceremoniously….”

“I could’ve played again, but the Thirds were going well, and that’s where I wanted to be…….I wasn’t mature enough, or ready, for the Seniors… ..It was terrific playing against emerging stars like Stewart and Alistair Lord, John Rantall, and others in the lower grades…”

“So my next move was from cold old Camperdown to a lovely place on the Murray River…..It’s called Albury !…….The person who picked me up off the train was Leon Paine……a great bloke, and a great kick of the footy…… He became a really good team-mate at Albury.”

Graeme soon became a crucial part of the Tigers’ big-man contingent, and was probably a little unfortunate to miss out on playing in a Grand Final in his first season – 1958.

Heavy rain had drenched the Prelim Final venue, the Wangaratta Showgrounds…… Albury held a seven-point lead at three-quarter time, but were unable to hold off a persistent Wodonga, who snuck home in the dying minutes, to win by 4 points.

The following year – his last with the Tigers – also brought down the curtain on the successful Jack Jones-era.

“He was a premiership coach and an inspirational player…..but also, you wouldn’t meet a better bloke. Just to illustrate this, Jack was approached to coach Kergunyah after resigning from the Albury job….”

“They offered him £35 a week……Jack said: ‘That’s too much…..make it £25.’….”

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During the year Graeme had graduated from his role as a Sales Clerk to being given a Vehicle and servicing rural clients around the southern Riverina.

Goldsborough-Mort opened a new branch at Corowa in the meantime, and he was sent there to assist the Manager, Kevin Hines.

He was a great pick-up for the battling Spiders, who, under the guidance of new coach Frank Tuck, began to show signs of improvement.

“ ‘Tucky’ had knee problems but was still a fine player, and with the likes of Jimmy Sandral, Adrian Chisnall, Kevin Witherden and Bobby Ronnfeldt, we were able to sneak into the Finals in my second year….”

“Then I was off to Bendigo, and lined up with Golden Square…….It was so much fun that year…

…..they loved singing and they’d celebrate at the drop of a hat….”

Golden Square, coached by ex-South Melbourne star John Ledwidge, met Rochester in the Grand Final and went down by 3 points…….The ruck battle between Ward and Rochester star Ray Willett was one of the highlights of a thrilling encounter.

Graeme took out ‘Square’s’ B & F and, during the season, helped the Bendigo League to a 28-point win over Wimmera in the Country Championship Final, in front of a partisan crowd of 14,000 at Horsham. He and Willett shared the ruckwork, and, along with Peter Lyon and captain Greg Sewell, were Bendigo’s stars……

His next transfer took him to Myrtleford, as Manager of Elders-GM …….

“I loved the place…… it got me going, as far as business was concerned…….In this little town of 3,000 people, everyone knows everyone……It’s so multi-national…..We ( wife Linda and their daughters, Terri, Angela and Jacqui ) made a lot of friends, and it still feels like home whenever we go back……”

“Ron Branton, who’d finished equal runner-up in the Brownlow Medal the previous season whilst captain of Richmond, was the new coach of Myrtleford when I got there in 1963.”

“At the time, Mick Grambeau, who got £70 a week to coach Ganmain, was country footy’s most expensive coach…..They paid Branton £65 a week……I sat next to him at the half-time break in his first game (against the Rovers at Wangaratta)…”

“It was a hot day and he’d put himself in the centre……He was flabbergasted how hard and tough the footy was…..He said: ‘Geez, it’s a lot better than I expected’…..He never played himself in the centre again, in the three years he was with us….”

“Then Martin Cross took over…..everyone loved ‘Crossy’; he was fantastic…..good for footy….good for Myrtleford…”

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Myrtleford’s O & M reps – Graeme Ward, Bruce Waite and Martin Cross, with Club Official Ken Johnston.

In his eight years with Myrtleford Graeme played in five Preliminary Finals. The Saints were, typically, a physically strong line-up and played a robust style of footy.

He won their Best & Fairest in 1965 and ‘68 and was regarded as one of the League’s premier ruckmen. With a surfeit of big fellahs like Deric Taylor, Pat Quirk and Bruce Waite at their disposal he was often swung into a key position…… He was the answer to a coach’s prayer…..

He wore the O & M guernsey on six occasions; the last of them in a Country Championship semi-final against Hampden League, at Warrnambool.

“It was a windy, rainy day and we never got into the game…….Not a cherished memory at all…..But I loved testing myself in those games….”

After being on the periphery of premiership glory for several years Myrtleford’s moment in the sun arrived in 1970…….

In the lead-up to the finals they were probably rank outsiders…..Wodonga had gone through the season unbeaten, and the Rovers had lost just four games, but the dominoes seemed to fall the Saints’ way.

Firstly, Wodonga suffered a shock loss to the Hawks in the second semi after Myrtleford had comfortably accounted for Wangaratta in the first semi……

“It was funny how it all worked,” Graeme says.

“I’d copped a rib injury at Benalla, which came good in time to enable me to play against Wodonga in the Preliminary Final, which we won by a point……I recall Gary Williamson swooping on the ball with seconds to go, swinging onto his left boot……and just missing a goal…….We were in the Grand Final against the Rovers….”

“ Red, White and Black streamers were the dominant theme in the crowd that day……Because we were the underdogs – and chasing our first flag – the neutral observers were all on our side….”

“It was the greatest thing……We were 17 points down and had struggled to keep pace with the Rovers for three quarters…..’Crossy’ brought on little Johnny Bianco …..It was a master-stroke; he was fresh as a daisy, darting around the packs…. And Bruce Waite, Alan Heberle and John Pelos also became dominant players.”

In another shrewd positional move Graeme had been shifted to centre half forward….

The match report described the last term revival: “Ward, with a brilliant drop-kick goal, set up victory for the Saints…..The air was electric, as the Myrtleford crowd roared encouragement; every score was cheered to the echo.”

“At the 20-minute mark Ward notched another great goal to put the game beyond the reach of the Hawks….As the siren sounded, hundreds of jubilant Saint supporters raced onto the ground to do their heroes proud…..They’d got up by 17 points.”

Myrtleford’s one and only premiership team – 1970. Graeme Ward is seated, on the far left.

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Graeme had another shift in employment, to Narrandera, in 1971; the final stanza in his travelled footy career.

He timed the move superbly, as the South-West League club, under the coaching of former Morris Medallist Jeff Hemphill, scooted to the ‘72 flag.

And his form certainly hadn’t wavered; he took out the Best & Fairest award in both of the years he spent there, after which he decided to hang up the boots – he’d played 308 club games with 6 clubs.

“I was pretty busy, travelling all over the place – Victoria, NSW and Queensland – buying sheep and cattle…….and besides, I was getting on a bit…..”

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When Graeme and his family moved from Narrandera, back to Albury in 1973 he was offered a job with Aust-Iran, a joint-venture company between the Shah of Iran and the National Bank of Australasia.

It kick-started a career as a livestock-buyer, which he still pursues…..

“We pioneered live shipping of sheep in the Eastern states……We’d go all over the place buying as many sheep as we could find…..and whatever they could handle.”

“In those days we’d buy loads of sheep for $3 a head……From there it went on and on…..In the finish the price was $40-$50 a head……But it’s dead in the water now, because there are no numbers…”

He was at a Sale at Adelong one day, when he was head-hunted by a company who wanted him to buy Cattle for them.

“They explained that it was a bit difficult for them to travel to Sales in outlying areas…….So I took over, and I’ve been doing it ever since…..We buy at Wagga, in the paddock, and at all the Sales around here….”

“I also buy bullocks for a guy called Dave McConnachie, who has a feed-lot in Tatong……We buy these big Steers ( around 600kg ). He’ll feed ‘em for 50 days or so….It changes the meat-colour and finishes them off really well…..They get killed in Melbourne and shipped off to America….”

“I’m also involved with a business run by a family in Naracoorte, South Australia, buying cattle to go into a feed-lot……Been doing that for nearly thirty years….”

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Graeme remains as fervent about sport as ever ……..

He’d played regular North-East Cup and Melbourne Country Week cricket with Ovens & King.C.A whilst based in Myrtleford, and later played Country Week tennis for many years ( “My regular routine nowadays is to play four sets of tennis at Wodonga, have a bit of yap and a few drinks with the boys, then head home “).

He and Linda have combined travel with regular trips to sporting events; in particular, the Olympics.

“I was only a wide-eyed kid when I caught some of the action at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.”

“Since then we’ve been to the Los Angeles, Barcelona and Atlanta Games……We’re saving up to go to Los Angeles again in 2028…..It’s marvellous, the people you meet with the same interests…..watching the best of the best……You can’t beat it…”

“You have to have some vices in life, I suppose….” quips the self-confessed, broken-down old hack……..

Myrtleford’s 1970 Premiership team renew acquaintances a few years ago: From left: Graeme Ward, Noel Holmes, Alan Heberle, Pat Quirk, ‘Dinny’ Piazza and Alan Crisp.

“SIXTY YEARS ON…….A FLAG REMEMBERED…….”

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)

Eric Cornelius and John Welch, stars of the 1964 Rovers Premiership, revive its memories, years later.

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……..

The Wangaratta Rovers 1964 Premiership team.

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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.

Neville Hogan was to become a Rovers champion for a decade, or more…

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.

Ken Boyd, Mick Kelly, Noel Richens and Norm Bussell, at a Trip-Away working Bee.

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.

Rival coaches Ken Boyd and Ron Critchley involved in a disagreement in a 1964 home and away game.

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.

The irrepressible Laurie Flanigan

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.

“INJURY CRUELLED TIGER’S STINT IN THE BIG-TIME……”

Ian Hayden made his O & M senior debut with Wangaratta in 1957……

It was an era when footy legends willingly stepped out of League ranks to accept mid-boggling amounts to play and coach……. Club rivalries were so intense that there were sometimes more fisticuffs among the crowd than there were on the field.

So it was quite an achievement for a 16 year-old schoolboy to be matching it with the champs….

Hayden, though, was physically mature, and an outstanding talent – with his only blemish being the possession of a peculiar kicking style……He rectified that, on his way to becoming a key forward at the highest level.

Champagnat/Galen College’s first VFL product, passed away earlier this month………

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Ian Hayden was nine when his parents – and siblings, Rodney, John and Susan – moved to Wangaratta to take over the Tone Road General Store.

The path to a League career began not long after, when he trained with WJFL club Imperials, under the coaching of Keith ‘Spud’ McEvoy……..alongside skipper Bob Rowland, and such local luminaries as John ‘Midget’ Hall, Brian Connolly, Gordon and Alan Kerris, Bob Maroney, Johnny Rowe and Ronnie Macklan.

Another Imps star, Ian ‘Doggie’ Rowland later became a team-mate at Wangaratta, and again renewed acquaintances when they were opposed in League ranks.

Imperials WJFL team, 1956. Ian Hayden is on the right of coach Keith McEvoy…..Ian Rowland, later to play with St.Kilda, is seated, far left.

Wangaratta coach Mac Holten with a group of youthful ‘Pies at a Clinic. Ian Hayden is third from right, back row.

Hayden was a Foundation student at Champagnat College in 1955 and, in his three years at the School, became an important member of their First 18 side…….In his final year he was vice-captain to Des Tuck ( Br. Bernadine), acknowledged as possibly Champagnat’s finest-ever player.

Ian completed his Matriculation in 1957 and headed to Melbourne to begin a Law Degree……

“I didn’t intend to…..” he recalled on a recent visit to Wangaratta……”I was going to do my articles through a correspondence course. But then I discovered they’d cancelled it, so I had to move to Melbourne to study at University…..”

“As I was only 16 it was hard to get into Uni, even though they were satisfied with my academic results…….. But, after asking me a few more questions, they said that, because I’d been playing alongside men at the Magpies, I must be mature enough to take it on….”

Wangaratta were on their way to a flag in 1957, under the coaching of high-flying former St.Kilda forward Jack McDonald, and had been powered by the brilliance of future Saints’ champ Lance Oswald……It was an Oswald snap for goal in the dying seconds, that swung the Grand Final the Magpies’ way.

Ian Hayden and his fellow Imps’ graduate Ian Rowland were both given several opportunities during the premiership year, and Hayden was awarded the club’s ‘Best Player from the Junior League’ Award…….

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Over the next two seasons Ian returned home each week-end to strip with Wangaratta:

“I really enjoyed it…..I’d get on the train on a Friday night and, when it would slow down at Tone Road, I’d jump off near the back of our General Store, walk home and surprise my parents….”

He had played just on 40 games with the Magpies when he decided that it would be a lot more convenient to line up with A-Grade Amateur team University Blues, in 1960.

The barrel-chested, 6’2”, 89kg key forward took the competition by storm, and was awarded the VAFA’s Woodrow Medal as its Best and Fairest player……He also captained Newman College and won the inter-collegiate B & F Medal.

By now he’d attracted interest from VFL clubs, but there was little conjecture about where he would line up.

Ian happened to be doing his Law Articles with solicitor Ray Dunn, a distinctive figure around the Law Courts of Melbourne, and a distant family relative.

Dunn had been a fanatical Richmond supporter for thirty-odd years and was to become Tiger President during the sixties – a period which would see the Club’s fortunes dramatically revived.

But, in the meantime, his primary objective was to get Ian Hayden into a Richmond guernsey……

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Hayden impressed sufficiently to be selected for his VFL debut in the opening round of 1962……

It was the stuff of dreams for the 21 year-old…….He booted 3.4, playing on redoubtable Melbourne defender Bernie Massey, much to the surprise of his old Junior League team-mates who used to sling off at his unreliability in front of the big sticks.

Richmond historian Rhett Bartlett recalls a photo of Hayden leading out strongly and marking in front of Massey, which appeared in the Herald-Sun Privilege Book – and in the Assumption College locker of a young Francis Bourke.

Bourke and Hayden met several years later – “I used to have a photo of you in my locker at school,” Francis told him……..

“Isn’t that funny….Some of my kids have got your photo on the wall at our place,” Ian replied.

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As the Tigers began their ascent up the ladder in the early-sixties, Hayden’s future seemed assured. He was their leading goal-kicker in 1963, with 25, and provided a strong presence up forward.

Ian Hayden, pictured standing second from right, in this Team photo at a packed Punt Road Oval.

He starred in the opening-round game of ‘64, when he picked up three Brownlow Medal votes in a fine performance against Footscray.

The following week he damaged a cruciate ligament, underwent surgery, and was sidelined for the remainder of the season……..In his comeback game, during the 1965 pre-season, he was tackled, fell awkwardly, and never played again.

After 30 games with the Tigers the Hayden career was over, at the age of 23……

“I did try to make a come-back but the knee was gone,” Ian recalled.

Though he was disappointed, he admitted the end of his footy involvement probably boosted the longevity of his legal career.

Along with helping his wife Joan to raise their seven kids, he said he relished embracing criminal law, which included cases like the Walsh Street Police murder trial.

“I loved doing jury trials, particularly murders,” he said.

“Most murders are not usually ‘whodunnits’, but you do get the occasional one”.

Later in his legal career he moved the admission for two of his grand-daughters to the Queensland Bar and the Victorian Bar.

One of them, Charlotte Hayden, said her grandfather had ‘without a doubt’ influenced her decision to enter Law.

“I lived with him before I went to Law School and followed him around all his cases,’ she said.

“I remember, he was in court one day, and the prosecutor was ripping into him……I was almost in tears.”

“Then, when we came out for a break he said: ‘We have to catch up with Johnny,’ who happened to be the prosecutor…..I said : ‘No way….He was awful to you in there’………But Grandad just laughed and said: ‘Oh no….That was all for show…….We went to school together’…..”

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When Ian Hayden retired as a criminal barrister in 2018, after 55 years at the Victorian Bar, he felt the time was right to make a nostalgic visit to Wangaratta.

Along with a large contingent of his family, he became re-acquainted with all of his old haunts, and took the opportunity to personally present the ‘Ian Hayden Award’ for Galen College’s Footballer of the Year.

Ian Hayden presents the Award to Galen College’s 2018 Footballer of the Year, Ed Dayman.

The Ian Hayden Cup

His name had been perpetuated on the Trophy for decades, in recognition of the College’s first-ever VFL player.

One of his children, Michael, who shared the trip with him, said at the time that his dad was “a bit of a treasure; not because of his football achievements or Law background, but because of the bloke he is”……

“He is a friend to all of his kids and is everyone’s second father around where he lives……”

Ian Hayden died on May 2nd, and is survived by his wife Joan, and kids Danny, Michael, Steve, Angela, Peter, Tom and Katherine, 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

One of his grand-kids, Dante Visintini rucked strongly in Port Adelaide’s 6-point win over Geelong last Friday night……Dante’s 203cm brother, Vigo, was picked up by Essendon in the 2023 Rookie Draft, and is considered a long-term prospect by the Dons.

* Thanks to Simone Kerwin and Rhett Bartlett for their assistance.

”DESPITE THOSE WONKY KNEES, ‘BOOFA’ SOLDIERED ON……….”

He’s nudging 60 now…..Fine of fettle, apart from a couple of dodgy knees which have undergone upwards of fifteen assorted scrapes and cartilage-repairs……

He recalls that whenever he was able to muster a head full of steam in the latter part of his footy career, it felt like those old knee-caps were rotating on gravel.

“You just sucked it up, though…….That was the price I was prepared to pay…..After each game it’d be two bags of ice on the knees, a fag and a couple of cans……That’d fix me up” says Brendan ‘Boofa’ Allan……..

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He’s part of a famous Milawa football family…….He and his dad Laurie, uncles Kevin (Wobbles) and Tom, brothers Neville (Flossy) , Mark (Spud), Kevin, cousin Wayne (Pup) and various members of the next generation, have amassed more than 1,400 games in the Red and Blue.

And that’s besides the forays that a few of them undertook when they moved further afield…….

People like ‘Boofa’ are priceless in sporting organisations…….I’ve seen it first-hand at the Cricket Club in which he’s still involved…..He captains and encourages the young B-Graders, lightens the mood, spreads good-will, then does more than his bit of off-field yakka to make sure the place is functioning properly……….

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The five Allan siblings lived in Kerr’s Road, just under a kilometre from the Milawa Recreational Reserve:

“John Marks had a property nearby,” ‘Boofa’ recalls……”He owned a few wild dogs, and our main object was to avoid those mongrels so that we could get to training on time……”

“We got to know Johnny pretty well…..He loved the footy club, and became a very generous benefactor…..But he always stipulated he didn’t want money to be spent on buying players…..just on improvements, like providing a set of weights, updating the kiosk, or assisting with renovations to the Clubrooms….”

“Not that people would have known……He was a pretty humble bloke, and was still doing his turn on the Gate not long before he passed away….”

‘Boofa’ grew up around personalities like John Marks…..After starting in the Midgets, he moved into the Milawa Thirds when he was 12…..then was handed a couple of senior games at the ripe old age of 15……It was the fulfilment of a childhood dream….

Milawa are recognised as a modern-day Ovens and King League power-house, but come the early-eighties, their premiership successes had become relatively sparse……

They chalked up three flags in the twenties……In 1940, just as war-clouds were gathering they snagged another; then had to wait until 1969 for ‘Jay’ Comensoli’s boys to break a lengthy drought.

But by 1981 the Demons were again on the march…….

‘Boofa’ was showing plenty at this stage, as a spirited rover/winger with good skills and a ton of spunk……Wangaratta coach Phil Nolan tried his best to lure him to the Norm Minns Oval.

“I spent a pre-season there, but I was doing my Carpentry Apprenticeship with ‘Pip’ Gardner, and didn’t have a car; so he suggested it’d be better to wait ‘til I got my licence….”

Instead, the 16 year-old, featured in every game for Milawa. Chiltern were shaping as the hottest flag favourite for some time…..They notched up 13 straight wins before the Demons burst their bubble…….It was the prelude to a series of memorable contests between the arch rivals……

In the Prelim Final, for instance, Chiltern held a seemingly unassailable 32-point lead, 10 minutes into the last quarter, before being run down in the dying stages, and losing by five points.

So the two cellar-dwellers of the previous season were pitted against each other in the 1981 Grand Final…… Milawa had no answer to King Valley’s marking power, and lowered their colours by 29 points.

The following season Chiltern and Milawa locked horns in what is soberly described as the ‘Bloodbath Grand Final.’

It was on from the first bounce…..The ‘Chronicle’ described it thus: ‘The game won’t go down as one of the great moments of O & K footy…..It will be remembered for a vicious first half which shocked the crowd, and the Demons…….’

Milawa led by 19 points at half-time, but the unbeaten Swans, with a rampant Jock Lappin booting 12 goals, ran away in the last half, to win, 26.14 to 15.6.

In the Preliminary Final of 1983, the two slugged it out again, in atrocious conditions……Barely a goal separated the old enemies all day…..It was an unattractive game full of suspense, and when the final siren blew they were dead level.

The Replay at North Wangaratta saw the Swans control things almost from the first bounce, as they stormed to a 62-point win….Having earned the right to defend their crown against Beechworth, they ran away from the Bombers in the final quarter……..

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“We knew we weren’t far off winning a flag, and probably just needed a bit of luck….Some of our young blokes were starting to play pretty good footy and, of course, big ‘Mikka’ had a dream season in front of the big sticks in ‘84…” ‘Boofa’ recalls.

The Demons’ first flag in 15 seasons came in emphatic fashion…….

After sneaking home to beat Chiltern : 18.11 to 17.11 in the Second Semi, they blitzed the Swans by 13 goals in the Grand Final…….

John Michelini finished with 116 goals for the season, Ken Beitzel started the Milawa onslaught in the ‘Big One’, acrobatic Al Saunders dominated the ruck contests and under-rated Peter Brown was voted Best Afield, in a one-sided game.

‘Boofa’ was finding plenty of the Sherrin, whether it be on a wing or roving……”I was supposed to change roving with ‘Flossy’(older brother Neville ), but shit, he was hard to get off the ball…”

“That flag was a bit of a triumph for Jeff Clarke, an excellent coach, who’d guided us into another Grand Final in his second year in the job….”

“When you hark back, you appreciate what a good team we had……Lionel Schutt, of course, was a star, and his brother Brendan held down full back……Not the quickest mover, but gee, he could read the play, and used his body well…..Wayne Hawkins, beside him in a back pocket, could shut players down and had a bit of run in his legs…….My cousin ’Pup’ was hard at it, had no respect for his own body, and stood up for his team-mates…..”

“Mario Pane was a very strong centreman who’d squeeze the life out of anyone he tackled”

“But one fellah I felt for was Ian McCormick, who missed because of the broken jaw he suffered in the Second Semi…….”

Milawa’s 1984 Premiership team

The Demons snared their second successive premiership in 1985…….. After a stellar career with Wang.Rovers, Barrie Cook completed a nostalgic return to his home club; taking 11 marks and picking up 22 kicks in the huge Grand Final win against Bright.

‘Boofa’ completed a fine season by finishing runner-up to brother Neville in the Club B & F. He decided that if he was ever going to test himself in O & M footy, now was the time…….

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He got himself super-fit doing a pre-season with Wangaratta, and was also invited to play in a night practice match with the Rovers by their new coach Merv Holmes.

He performed okay, too, but decided that he’d do the right thing and stick by the ‘Pies…….

“Mid-way through that season in the first Local Derby, Merv – God rest his soul – forgot about the ball and steam-rolled right over the top of me…..No elbows or anything….Just laid me on my arse and moved on…..He was still dirty on me for turning my back on the Rovers, I reckon.”

“To think, I’d been one of the mascots, running out beside ‘Holmesy’ when he played for Milawa in that ‘ 69 Grand Final…..”

‘Boofa’ spent two seasons at Wang, as a regular senior player, before returning to Milawa to become assistant-coach to Gary Voss. He won the first of a hat-trick of Club Best & Fairests, then took over the coaching job in 1989.

“I was sort of thrown into it when ‘Vossy’ gave it away…..Gee, it’s a lot of hard-work; particularly the recruiting side of it…..It’s not a 6-month job, that’s for sure…..”

His first two years at the helm certainly didn’t provide much joy……In fact, the Demons finished equal bottom in 1990 – hardly a precursor to what was to become the highlight of ‘Boofa’s’ footy career….

“We were young, and pretty fit, and were right in the mix half-way through the season….Then we topped up our list by talking Ray Card into playing, picking up Mark Higgs and Andrew Stevens, and re-recruiting Simon Byrne – a 17 year-old centre half back…..”

“Some people say that the ‘91 Grand Final against Greta was one of the best of all time….. Clean, play-on at all costs, skilful…..Higgsy’ kicked 5 of his 7 goals in the last quarter, and with a minute and a half to go, ‘Chuck’ O’Connor floated one through the big sticks to give us the lead.”

“The ball was bobbling around in Greta’s forward line when the siren sounded.”

Milawa had snuck home by five points – 19.10 to 18.11…..The captain-coach was awarded the Medal as Best Afield that day, but acknowledges that there a few who could have taken the honour – including Ray Card…..

“ ‘Cardy’ played a terrific game…..His knees were ‘shot’, and he couldn’t train, but you got a hell of a lot out of him on a Saturday …..He played out of his skin…..It was his first flag in a memorable career.”

The Demons of 1991

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‘Boofa’ was lured back to Wangaratta the following year, but lasted only a handful of games before injury forced him onto the sidelines. He’d played the last of his 48 games with the ‘Pies, and spent the rest of the season as a Selector.

He returned to Milawa as playing-coach for another two seasons, then spent the remaining five playing years of his career as an opportunist forward, with an occasional run through the middle…..

“I was buggered at that stage…..All my pre-season revolved around riding a bike…..” he says.

When he retired in 2000, after 307 games with the Demons he’d spanned three decades as a player, and says he wouldn’t have changed a thing.

“People ask why I didn’t you give it more of a go at Wangaratta, but I struggled to get to training there, and was happy at Milawa….”

“It’s a good family club…..Mum ran the kiosk with ‘Tup’ and my Aunty Anna …..Dad (who was also a 300-gamer at Milawa) did the time-keeping……I reckon they would’ve seen just about every game I played….”

“If I happened to pick up 40 possessions, all Dad would say was : ’Not bad’….He certainly didn’t rap us up, and wouldn’t butt in unless we asked him something….”

The O & K Hall of Famer still spends his winter Saturdays watching Milawa…..His son Harry plays at centre half forward and proudly adorns the number 5 guernsey that ‘Boofa’ wore with such aplomb…….

Footnote

* From his early teens Brendan Allan’s summers were spent representing Milawa in tennis and cricket. He played more than 200 WSCA games and has over 100 to his credit in all grades, with Rovers-United-Bruck.

* Since ‘Boofa’s retirement Milawa have another three footy premierships to their credit -2009, 2013 and 2019.

The coach urges on his charges in the 1991 Grand Final

Three of Milawa’s finest : Brendan Allan, Jeff Clarke and Mark ‘Spud’ Allan.

“CRACKING THE BIG-TIME……(PART 2)”

“Throughout my childhood I would practice by the old light towers across the road……..Drop punts; hard off the boot…….Artful torpedoes, spinning like a leaf in a gust of airborne flight …….”

“I could have played in the big-time…….and nearly did…….but the pang of disappointment for not making it can linger for years……..like a permanent’ corky’………”

Paul Kennedy: Journalist, Author and Sports Presenter.

In the previous ‘On Reflection’, we profiled 12 of the 26 players who have left the Wangaratta Rovers and made the grade in League Football.

They met with varying degrees of success, as did the following fourteen:

SHANE and ROHAN ROBERTSON replicated the feat of the famous Krakoeur’s when they became the first set of brothers to make their League debuts on the same day.

They were poles apart in their playing styles……. Shane was a conventional, silky-skilled half forward, whilst curly-haired Rohan was a clever, elusive on-baller with a spear-like left boot.

Their paths to the big-time were also rather divergent……

Rohan, older by 16 months , was the Rovers Thirds B & F in 1978, before embracing the ‘hedonistic’ lifestyle of the ‘big smoke’, where he spent two seasons with North Melbourne Thirds, and took out their Best & Fairest in 1980.

On his return to the Hawks he played 19 senior games over two seasons, before being lured back to Arden Street.

After being recruited from WJFL club Centrals, SHANE had made just a handful of Thirds appearances when he was given his senior opportunity by the Rovers in 1979.

The Hawks were at the height of their powers, and the 16 year-old fitted in like a glove. He booted 3 goals and played a starring role in the 30-point flag triumph over Wodonga that year.

He had played 32 games ( and kicked 34 goals ) in Brown and Gold when he moved to Melbourne to study Physiotherapy and strip with the Roos Thirds.

The Robertson’s made their League debuts at Princes Park, in Round 3, 1985, in front of 20,000 fans, with their dad Keith; a former North champion, proudly looking on.

Both contributed strongly, finishing with 15 possessions apiece, as North snatched a last-minute two-point win over Carlton……

Shane played three further League games, then damaged his knee, forcing him into an early retirement……He still operates a Physiotherapy business in Albury.

After 26 Senior, 55 Reserves games, and the Roos’ Best Clubman Award in 1986, Rohan stayed around the periphery of League for many years, mainly in his capacity as a ‘gun’ recruiter……He passed away early last year……..

There has scarcely been a more heralded entrance to O & M footy than that of PAUL BRYCE, who stormed onto the scene in 1985……

Six goals on debut; a ‘bag’ of 10 against Corowa-Rutherglen, and three other hauls of five during his early games, saw the 194cm, 95kg,16 year-old touted as ‘the next big thing’.

There were predictions that the Hawk 14-gamer could prove to be a VFL superstar……. but sometimes the sweetest of dreams come awry……

He spent a season with North Melbourne Thirds, then made his League debut against Collingwood, in Round 13, 1987…….However, nagging injuries – particularly twangy ‘hammies’ – impeded his progress.

Paul seemingly found his niche as a ruck-rover, but blamed a somewhat lazy attitude for his subsequent demise at North.

He sought a fresh start at Melbourne, and produced occasional displays of brilliance. At last, his true potential was coming to the fore…….But he found himself on the trade-table, headed to the Sydney Swans.

He played his best game for the Swans, picking up 18 kicks and 7 handballs in their only win for the season – against Melbourne.

“But at the end of the 1993 season I sent a letter to them, telling them I’d had enough of League football,” he recalled.

He was 25, and had played 91 AFL games – 48 with North Melbourne, 26 with Melbourne, and 17 with Sydney )……..

Paul Bryce

Rohan Robertson

Shane Robertson

TIM. RIENIETS played his last game with the Rovers in the 1983 Reserves Grand Final. At 17, the blond, curly-haired, creative, smooth-running youngster was regarded as a star of the future – a potential 200-Gamer for the Hawks.

Alas, he was to make just 7 senior appearances at the Findlay Oval……Under the zoning rules in operation at the time, he was snavelled by North Melbourne, with whom he played 32 Thirds, and 17 Reserves games.

VFA club Coburg was his next stop…..Their coach Phil Cleary couldn’t believe his good fortune to have arrived upon Rieniets ….”He played in the finals like he was super-human,” Cleary said.

The young star won Norm Goss Medals, as best afield in Coburg’s 1988 and ‘89 Grand Final wins, before Carlton picked him in the 1990 Pre-Season Draft.

In his three seasons and 24 senior games with the Blues he averaged 18 disposals, and had figured in the Blues’ 1990 Reserves flag.

But a strained posterior ligament, suffered in a late-season game brought about the end of his time at Princes Park.

The Rieniets reputation as a big-game player was emphasised when he transferred to Werribee, and starred in their 1993 flag, then repeated the dose at Sandringham in 1997 – the last of his four seasons with the Zebras…….it was the sixth career flag for the consistent Rieniets.

ROBERT HICKMOTT is better known these days as a prominent racehorse trainer; particularly for the role he played in the Melbourne Cup wins of Green Moon ( 2012 ) and Almandin ( 2016 ).

But his arrival on the football scene was almost as noteworthy……

‘Hicky’ was a tall, slim utility player of rare skill, who happened to arrive at the Findlay Oval just as the Rovers were building the momentum to a Golden Era.

He began to attract the attention of League talent scouts, appearing in a couple of practice matches with Essendon before homesickness kicked in……..After playing a significant role in the Hawks’ 1988 premiership he again flirted with Essendon, before Melbourne drafted him.

The Hickmott League career lasted just two matches – against St.Kilda and North Melbourne in mid-1990.

VFL footy had become an uncomfortable fit for the racing-mad ‘Hicky’ and, although remaining on the Demons’ list, he returned to the Rovers to contribute to another flag in 1991.

The final game of his 70-game career with the Hawks came in 1997, sandwiched in between stints with Wodonga and Myrtleford…….

DEAN HARDING grew up in a mad-keen Rovers family, with the ambition of becoming a long-term star for the Club.

There was little doubt – as he progressed through 16 Thirds games ( including the 1988 Premiership ) and 20 with the Reserves – that he was a player of the future.

When he adapted so easily to senior footy in 1990, wise old heads saw traces of the brilliant Hawk Joe Wilson in his creativeness and flair.

Ensconced in his job at the Commonwealth Bank, Dean was enjoying a quiet after-work ale at the Pinsent Hotel when he was advised that he’d been drafted.

“Be buggered” was the reply….. Indeed, Fitzroy had chosen him with their pick 79, and ‘Hards’ couldn’t wait to get down there.

He played 19 senior games with the Lions over the next three seasons; riding the roller-coaster of the beleaguered club before they dispensed with him at the end of 1993.

He received several offers to continue his career, but opted to move to Wodonga, where he played 80 games and coached the Bulldogs’ at both Under 18 and senior level.

Tim Rieniets

Robbie Hickmott

Dean Harding

SEAN O’KEEFFE was a schoolboy champion. The gifted left-footer represented Victorian Country in a plethora of representative appearances, and his dream to wear the Brown and Gold was confined to 5 senior games in 1999.

Two years later, after being drafted by Carlton, he made his debut in Round 17, 2002, but managed just six senior games before being delisted in 2003.

O’Keeffe subsequently established a distinguished career at State and country level……He played a starring role in Sandringham’s premierships of 2004 and ‘05, and represented the VFL against South Australia.

He found his way to Sturt, then to Kalgoorlie club Railways, where he won a flag and the League Medal.

Eleven years after his last game with the Rovers, ‘Okey’ returned home, and proceeded to become a dominant player for the next 11 seasons.

Wearing his father Greg’s number 37 guernsey with pride, he amassed 167 games, B & F’s in 2010 and ‘16, and club Life Membership in 2021…..

KARL NORMAN is also the son of a former Rovers champion……It was probably at the urging of goal-kicking legend Steve that he found his way back to the Findlay Oval in 2002.

At age 19, the superbly-proportioned lad took on, and outpointed, most of the O & M’s gun forwards, in a brilliant season that alerted talent-scouts to his potential.

Carlton picked him as a ‘smokey’ despite Karl never having played elite junior football. He improved rapidly, and played 7 senior games in his first season.

Then things began to go pear-shaped……He fell foul of Carlton’s disciplinary standards. Despite being on the verge of being sacked, the Blues hung onto him, and he produced strong enough form to earn a Rising Star nomination in 2004.

But, after 27 games, the larger-than-life ‘Karlos’ reckoned he’d had enough of the ‘rat-race’. He was recruited to Mooroopna, then, to everyone’s delight, returned home to the Rovers in 2008.

Over the next six seasons he won the B & F in 2012, and finished top-five in all but one year…….After 121 games with the Hawks he finished his career with Glenrowan, where he dominated in their four flag-winning years……

LUKE MULLINS displayed obvious talent in his debut season with the Rovers Thirds in 2000…..A lean 6’2”, 80kg forward/ mid-fielder, he possessed a handy pedigree, as his grand-father Bill Comensoli, was a former long-serving Wangaratta ruckman.

Between regular appearances with the Murray Bushrangers, the Hawks slotted him in for two senior games over the next two seasons. They were resigned to the fact that they’d lose him to the Draft

True enough, Collingwood picked him up in the 2003 Pre-Season. His debut, with 13 disposals against Fremantle, was handy enough, but he managed just two more AFL games.

He continued his career with Wangaratta, with whom he played over 100 games, including the 2007 and ‘08 premiership sides……

ALIPATE CARLILE is one of five siblings who all gravitated to the Rovers…….After his brother Robbie had played in their 2002 Thirds premiership team, ‘Pate’ followed suit by starring in their second-straight flag the following year.

That was just about the last the Hawks would see of the 191cm, 98kg Carlile in a playing capacity….In between his playing commitments with the Murray Bushrangers, the following season, they took the opportunity to blood him in two senior games, but he was inevitably headed for the big-time.

Port Adelaide, looking for a pillar down-back, took him with Pick 44 in the 2005 National Draft. ‘Pate’ was in-and-out for a couple of years before a run of good form saw him pick up a Rising Star gong in 2008.

He proceeded to become one of AFL footy’s most reliable defenders, proving an ‘immovable force’ against jostling spearheads for the next eight years.

Port coach Ken Hinkley rated him “one of the smartest players I’ve been involved with” and “one of those blokes you love having around your footy club.”

A series of injuries put an end to the Carlile AFL career in 2016, after 167 games………

Karl Norman

Luke Mullins

Alipate Carlile

BEN REID produced a dominant season as a bottom-ager in his 17 games with the Rovers Thirds in 2005. Tall and highly-skilled, he took out the O & M’s Leo Dean Medal, along with the Club B & F. He was a focal part of the Thirds’ run to the flag that season.

After a imposing year with the Murray Bushrangers, Collingwood picked him up with their Number 8 selection. He debuted, aged 18, with the Magpies in 2007.

Injuries played havoc with the 6’5”, 102kg defender, and restricted him to 152 games over 14 years, including the Collingwood premiership of 2010.

He has coached Wangaratta, with considerable success, since 2022…..

SAM REID followed the path of his brother Ben when he made first appearance with the Rovers Thirds in 2008.

Similar in physique, he played 13 Thirds games – restricted by his regular appearances with the Murray Bushrangers.

Sam was drafted to the Sydney Swans with pick 38 of the 2009 National Draft. The injury-stick has also been unkind to the 6’5”, 98kg swing-man who was a Rising Star in 2011 and played in the 2012 premiership for the Swans. He has played 181 games in Red and White, over 14 seasons.

ZAC O’BRIEN took a circuitous route to League football…….A product of WJFL club Imperials, he enjoyed a brilliant season with the Rovers Thirds in 2007, winning both the Club B & F and the League’s Leo Dean Medal.

He played 21 senior games with the Hawks over the next two seasons before being cleared to Yarrawonga, where a handful of his cousins were playing.

In pursuit of a Chiropractic Degree, he spent time with EDFL club Aberfeldie, and came under notice of recruiters when he produced several fine performances in 11 games with Essendon’s VFL side.

So, in an unlikely scenario, the on-baller attended Draft camp, and was picked up by Brisbane with their number 47 Rookie selection, aged 23..

The O’Brien League career at the Lions extended to 13 games, over 2014 and ‘15…..He later spent time with West Adelaide and NEAFL club Sydney University……..

Ben Reid

Sam Reid

Zac O’Brien

NICK MURRAY would have rightfully believed that the opportunity to play League footy had passed him by when he was overlooked in successive AFL Drafts.

The agile 6’4”, 98kg key defender had produced sterling performances with the Murray Bushrangers, Henty, GWS Reserves, Ganmain-GGM, and finally, Wang Rovers……but had still been unable to attract attention.

He displayed outstanding form down back in seven games with the Hawks in 2019, and was working on a friend’s Riverina farm when he received the call which changed his life.

Nick was invited to try out for a vacant spot on the Adelaide list, won the spot, and the resultant Rookie contract.

He became an intrinsic part of the Crows’ defence, was offered a full contract, and had chalked 46 AFL games when he incurred a serious knee injury last season……He is hoping to return to the senior side mid-season; nine and a half months after he began his rehab……

THOSE WHO WERE ALSO DRAFTED

Craig Patrick: Selection 35. North Melbourne 1987

Scott Williamson Selection 44. West Coast Eagles 1988

“ “ Selection 31 Melbourne 1989

Joe Wilson Selection 51; Brisbane Bears 1989

Aidan Bussell. Selection 88 Hawthorn 1991

Stuart Cooper Rookie: 20 North Melbourne 2001

Andrew Hill Rookie: 39 Collingwood 2002

Brayden George. Selection 26 North Melbourne. 2022

Nick Murray

Brayden George