“REDLEG REGGIE REFLECTS……….”

For a large portion of his (almost) 79 years neighboring Barkly Park has been his second home.

Even now, most days he’ll uncoil his lanky 6’6” frame from the comfort of his favourite lounge chair, stroll down from his Harris Street home, and check out that nothing untoward is going on at his old ‘stamping ground’.

Reg Edwards is a Rutherglen institution.

Reg Edwards and Rutherglen team-mate Herbie Cillins

In bygone days he plundered mountains of runs as a left-hand opening bat, plucked marks from the heights, and booted goals from near and far………………..

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Reg and his wife Wendy remain ardent sport fans.

They like to fit in a couple of rounds of golf a week, and utilise their subscription to Fox Sports to the full.They rarely miss a ball of Test or One-Day cricket in summer, and watch almost every AFL game on offer……

Reggie’s a died-in-the-wool Sydney Swan…………

That’s surprising in one respect, because in his younger days he continually resisted the efforts of Swans to lure him to South Melbourne’s Lake Oval.

For five or six years, when he was ranked one of country football’s most likely types, he’d be coaxed to pre-season training, or practice matches, often travelling down with ex-South player Don Star and a handful of prospects from the region………..

“I was working at All Saint’s Winery when they first turned up to see me,” Reg says. “Carlton were showing some interest at the same time, and had arranged to come up the next week-end…….They were a bit dirty when I told them I’d signed with South.”

When he finally pulled on the Red and White Guernsey early in 1964 the papers trumpeted him as ‘the rangiest full forward to ever hold down the position for South……..’

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What a stage to make your debut !…….. In front of a bloodthirsty Magpie crowd at Victoria Park………And lining up on an old Rutherglen boy, Teddy Potter…….

“He didn’t make me feel welcome………didn’t say a word to me,” Reg quips……….

“I used to pride myself on my kicking for goal, but missed a couple of ‘sitters’ from 30 yards out, straight in front………finished up kicking 1.4……..”

“In the third quarter I flew high, climbed all over Ted’s back and just failed to hold on to the mark…….South player Graeme John picked up the crumbs and put it straight through the big sticks……..In the meantime, the umpie had blown the whistle and given the free kick against me……..”

“ John ran back and abused shit out of me ………I thought: ‘If that’s League football you can stick it up your jumper.”

“They wanted me to play at Geelong the following week…….But I said: ‘No…. I’ll stay at Rutherglen, thank you……….”

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Reg was 11 when he experienced one of his most memorable sporting moments – the Redlegs’ famous 1954 O & M premiership victory.

He remembers proudly wearing a wide red Tie, emblazoned with the image of a Rutherglen footballer, as he cheered on the star players – coach Greg Tate, Joey Gilfius, ‘Butch’ Hawking, Les and Doug Jones, Leo Mantelli………

“ ‘Spudda’ Tate was magnificent; the best Rutherglen player I’ve seen. Our full forward Kevin Gleeson was pretty ordinary overhead, but ‘Tatey’ used to hit him on the chest every time…….”

“They tell the story that, at one ‘Pleasant Sunday morning’, someone bet ‘Tatey’ he couldn’t hit the goalpost five times out of six attempts, from 30 yards out……He went out and did it….”

By the time Reg was coming through, the glory days were well and truly over at Barkly Park.

He played a year in the Reserves, aged 16.

“I was at full forward, and the ball just didn’t go down there…….I reckon I played three-quarters of the year without getting a touch ……….An old trainer, Bert Miller, would often greet me coming off the ground: ‘Missed out again today, Reg’………..“

He spent a season with Springhurst, in the Wangaratta Junior League, under the coaching of a savvy ex-League ruckman, Ron ‘Horse’ Bywater, then walked straight back into the Rutherglen senior side, where he would remain a fixture for the next decade.

Stationed like a giant light tower at full forward, he proved an instant success, booting six goals in his second game, against Albury.

“There were a lot of characters at the Club in the sixties, and it was a good place to be a part of, even if we didn’t have a lot of success………We approached every season with optimism …..”

“ I never got too downhearted, but put it this way, if we won seven games in a season it was a good effort…..” he says.

“ I know opposition teams didn’t look forward to meeting us over here, though, particularly if we got our tails up early……..”

Wendy, who was there for most of Reg’s career, reflects: “No matter how many times they lost – or by how much – we’d be there on the fence, patting them on the back…..saying ‘Well done.”

I remind Reg that the hospitality at the after-match was always a feature at Rutherglen, as the teams inevitably ended up propping at Frank Ferrari’s Poacher’s Paradise Pub until all hours.

“Yeah, Frank was heavily involved with the footy club, and was a terrific bloke…… He could sure tell some stories, which were usually coated with a liberal dose of bulldust ………….”

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Former St.Kilda centre half back Harold Davies (‘a really good player’) was Reg’s first O & M coach, followed by hot-gospeller Ray Horwood, who had spells as non-playing coach either side of ruckman Bob Hay.

“Bob hailed from Tasmania, and came to us via St. Kilda….. taught me more about ruckwork than anyone.”

The Rutherglen side, with coach Bob Hay, middle, seated. Reg Edwards is in the bqck row, as is the brilliant Billy Gayfer (far left)

He admits that full forward was always his favoured position, but he morphed into a more than capable ruckman.

One old foe recalls: “Surprisingly, for a bloke of his height, Reggie was pretty agile………..He was equally adept at palming the ball with left or right hand – and could jump off either leg.”

He wore the O & M guernsey against Bendigo and Hampden Leagues in 1966, and had pulled down a handful of marks the following year, in a clash with Waranga North-East when a broken cheekbone prompted his exit from the game just before half-time.

The honour of representing the League was a rare highlight for fellahs like Reg, who were regularly deprived of the opportunity to play finals. ………

He deliberated painstakingly about leaving the battling Redlegs when Howlong offered him their coaching job in 1969…….Rutherglen held firm and refused his clearance applications.

Despite their rebuff the Spiders again came knocking in 1970…….this time he was free to pursue his coaching ambitions…………..

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“I used to ruck all day, and was the only import in the side, except for one bloke – Barry Mullarvey, who travelled from Albury, but played all his footy at Howlong,” he says.

“Gee, it was terrific to be winning regularly…….It was also pretty handy that we had five O’Halloran brothers playing……..”

“We used to pick the side and put it up on the wall of the pub every Thursday night……I remember before the ‘71 Grand Final old Mick O’Halloran (their dad) walked over, looks up at the team, comes over to me and says: ‘Well, I’ve done my bit; the rest is up to you ! ’……….“

And they went on with the job, after it was evenly-poised at half-time.

Howlong’s 1971 Premiership side

“I was the only bloke getting paid ….I got $40 a week, and thought I was getting a fortune….I handed $5 of it every week to ‘Jacko ‘ (O’Halloran) who was our best player……”

“In the Grand Final we played him at centre half forward and he kicked 4.8……He won the Azzi Medal that year with a then-record 34 votes. On one flank was his brother Peter (another Azzi Medallist), and on the other was a kid called Brian Lester, who was back from school in Sydney.”

“He played the last three home-and-home games and picked up the maximum 9 votes in the Azzi……Not sure whether he ever played after that season….”

The Spiders took complete charge in the third quarter of the Grand Final against Walbundrie, and led by 45 points at the last change: “Reg Edwards continually forced the ball into the open spaces which enabled his speedy mates to sweep it up……..There were O’Hallorans everywhere, as Howlong opened up a match-winning lead…..” reported the Border Mail.

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Reg settled back into the Rutherglen side after a fulfilling three years as coach of Howlong, and continued his role as one of its key components.

He’d played under one of football’s great journeymen – Frank Hodgkin- before he left, but Frank had moved on to North Albury and his brother Bob was now in charge of the Redlegs.

“Frank was still a terrific player, even though he was in his twilight years….. He was causing us trouble down here one day, before Bob lined him up in the third quarter and flattened him……All Bob said at three quarter-time was: ‘I got old Frank off the ground……Now we’ve got this mob stuffed…..”

Despite tough-man Bob’s best efforts – and those of his successor Vinnie Doolan, the ‘Glen still failed to rise above the lower rungs of the ladder………Conversation began to turn towards an unlikely merger with their much-despised neighbors…..Before the end of the decade Corowa-Rutherglen had come into being.

Reg wasn’t able to hang on to play an active part in the merge. He finally hung up his boots in 1975, after 189 senior games. He’d booted 337 goals, had been captain, Reserves coach, and was entitled to recognition as one of Rutherglen’s finest products.

“I was happy for it to eventuate (the merger)” he says. “I didn’t think Corowa would have a bar of it, because we certainly didn’t like one another.”

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The Edwards cricket career lasted almost as long as did his long-term employment at the Rutherglen Research Station.

He began with Rutherglen during their highly-successful era in the Rutherglen Cricket Association, before moving over to play with his footy mates at Lake.

He was a prolific opening bat in North-East Cup cricket and for a period of 10 years or so at Melbourne Country Week.

Melbourne Country Week Cricket Carnival. Reg signs the bat, being held by his Avenel opponent, former Essendon champ Ian ‘Bluey’ Shelton

“Rutherglen cricket was really strong in those days. The Association comprised Corowa, Buraja, Lake, Howlong, Balldale, Barnawartha, Chiltern and Rutherglen.”

“When Corowa left to join the Wangaratta Association it knocked the RDCA around and it never really recovered.”

Through it all Reg has remained a passionate cricket follower. He rolled the wicket for many years, has filled just about every task possible at Barkly Park and pokes his head in each week to watch the locals play in the WDCA.

One of sport’s true personalities is Reggie Edwards……………

“THE ‘MILESTONE MEN’ OF THE O & M………….”

Jack King’s marathon journey towards 300 Ovens and Murray games – and beyond – began in 1895, on a rough, tussock-laden paddock behind the family home…….When Wangaratta’s Daine Porter reached the target a fortnight ago it was on a floodlit oval, in front of a large, adoring home crowd, which cheered his every possession……..

The ‘paddock’, on which King honed his footy skills, was re-shaped to become Barkly Park, home of the famous Rutherglen Redlegs.

Of the seven King brothers who played their part in helping the ‘Glen become a behemoth at the turn of the century, Jack was the pick of them.

St.Kilda lured him to their Junction Oval for a brief eight-game stay in 1904. But he was content to ply his craft back home, chalking up 11 premierships in a 26-year career, before hanging up his boots, aged 47, in 1926…………….

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In fact King is the only member of the O & M’s exclusive 24-Member ‘300-Club’ to have played League football……Would a few of the others have made it, had they so desired ?………Maybe, but that’s purely hypothetical…..

Robbie Walker, for instance, simply reckons he wasn’t good enough. He was invited to play with North Melbourne’s Thirds and Reserves, but homesickness got to him……..307 Games later, with four Premierships, 12 Wangaratta Rovers Best & Fairests and 5 Morris Medals behind him, he retired as a Legend of the local game.

It’s said that Essendon made overtures at one stage, and Footscray offered to draft him, with the promise of senior games, but he resisted.

After winning his fifth Medal in 2003, a debilitating back injury cut him down whilst there was still plenty of footy left in the Walker legs.

At various stages in his career, Walker played alongside six other 300-Gamers in the Hawk line-up – including the unflappable Mervyn Holmes.

Holmes, a Carboor farmer, was the epitome of the tough-as-teak country footballer. He also provided ample leadership. When Robbie Walker was making his way in the game, it was ‘Farmer’ who was his coach and inspiration.

Michael Wilson took over Holmes’s prized Number 16 locker and did it proud. For 17 years, and 316 senior games Wilson ran harder, and tackled and harassed more ferociously than anyone. He was acclaimed as the model clubman at the W.J.Findlay Oval, and wore the Black and Gold O & M jumper on 23 occasions.

Wayne Pendergast was one of the opponents who often crossed paths with Merv Holmes. He had the unique distinction of playing in premierships with three clubs – Wodonga (1981), North Albury (1984) and Lavington (1986) in his 312 games.

When his son Matthew started coming through the ranks at Lavington, the good judges salivated. Matt was more skilful than his dad, ultra-competitive, and almost as tough. A regular inter-league rep and five-time Lavi B & F, he made 262 appearances with the Panthers, and a further 38 with Wodonga Raiders.

Kerry Bahr had the distinction of playing with both of the Pendergasts. He was recruited to Lavington from Walla Walla in 1987 and played in a losing Grand Final against Wang Rovers the following year. A skilful left-footer and renowned on-baller, he morphed into a dogged tagger, and played a key role in two Panthers flags in the early-2000’s.

Mark Booth arrived on the scene just as the Rovers embarked on their Golden Era of the ‘70’s. They didn’t come much tougher – or more durable – than the 13-time O & M rep, whose first flag came in 1974…..and his fifth 17 years later.

He would have added another in 1988, only for a moment of madness in the final home-and-home game, which saw him rubbed out for the finals……

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Talking of ‘hard-men’, there were few who played with the spirit and endeavour of Johnny Smith, who hailed from the hill-country, up near Mitta. Smith first stripped with Rutherglen, under the coaching of his brother-in-law, Frank Hodgkin, before moving on to North Albury, Wodonga and Myrtleford.

His sole flag came in 1980, when he played a starring role in a North victory which prevented the Rovers’ bid to win four in a row.

Smith won four B & F’s, represented the O & M 33 times and clinched a Morris Medal in 1973.

He was poised to play in a flag that year, but the Hoppers were upstaged by Benalla, and Smith’s legacy from the game was a six-week suspension.

It cost him another Medal, as he also topped the count in 1974, but was ruled ineligible……It was the major disappointment of his 315-game O & M career………

Johnny Hunt’s game was based around gut-running and speed……He patrolled the wing at the Lavington Oval for nigh-on two decades, played in two flags for the Panthers, won a Did Simpson Medal and a B & F in a premiership year………So he was no slouch…..Year after year, when Hunt’s demise was predicted, he kept producing, playing a league-record 420 games.

John ‘Shorty’ Martiniello became an institution at the Benalla Showgrounds, after making his senior debut in 1977. The tiny rover’s first – and only – opportunity to play in a premiership came the following season, when the highly-fancied Demons were belted by Wang Rovers in the Grand Final.

‘Shorty’ was forever burrowing feverishly around the bottom of the packs and won six Club B & F’s. He finished runner-up once and third twice in the Morris Medal, and represented the O & M on eight occasions during his 316-game stint in the Red and White guernsey.

Sixteen year-old Anthony Pasquali walked into a sports-store owned by two Wang Rovers stars in 1983, and asked how he could go about joining the club. They could scarcely believe their luck. ‘Pas’ was to become a champion, sharing in three flags, and representing the League 12 times.

He finally cracked it for a Club B & F when coaching GV club Benalla ( he also won the Morrison Medal ), then returned to lead the Hawks for three years.

Nic Conway’s was a different story. He grew up as a mad Wodonga fan ( where his dad had been a star ) but played his junior footy with Wodonga Demons. When the Raiders ( who originated from the Demons ) finally gained acceptance to the League in 1989, young Nic went with them.

He rode all of the highs and lows of the fledgling club but his loyalty was vindicated when he helped them to a flag in 1998.

Like Conway, Matthew Allen’s dad also made his name with a rival club. Rex played in Wangaratta’s 1957 premiership, but the young fellah was enticed ‘over the road’ to the Findlay Oval, in 1983.

A strong-marking defender, with an ungainly, but effective left-foot kicking style, Matthew Allen played the last of his 416 O & M games in 2010, amidst universal acknowledgement of his consistency and effectiveness. He even showed his adaptability by booting 83 goals in 1992 in a rare foray up forward.

Interspersed with his time at the Rovers was a three-year spell with Corowa-Rutherglen, and a season in the Bendigo League, with Northern United.

Ross Hill’s boyhood dreams were realised when he lined up alongside his heroes in 1995. Unfortunately for him, the Rovers era of prolonged success was drawing to a close, but he became a stalwart- and long-term skipper during an 18-year career with the Hawks.

Denis Sandral had a hard act to follow, treading in the footsteps of his famous triple-Morris Medal-winning father, Jim.

But he made more than a decent fist of it, and is recognised as one of the competition’s finest-ever defenders.

Denis showed early promise when he played in Wangaratta’s 1977 Grand Final side whilst attending Champagnat College. He then returned home to become the cornerstone of Corowa-Rutherglen sides for almost two decades.

Like his father, he was a five-time B & F winner, and represented the O & M 21 times.

Playing alongside Sandral for a good portion of his career was Paul Bartlett, a talented, pacy all-rounder. Proof of ‘Barty’s’ consistency was his ten consecutive top-three finishes in the Club B & F. He broke through for a win in 1989.

Persistence was also a Bartlett trait. He tried out with five AFL clubs before coming to the conclusion that it just wasn’t to be.

Undoubtedly his career highlight was playing in the Roos’ record-breaking premiership victory over North Albury in 2000.

Brendan Eyers also ticked that box. The giant ruckman toiled manfully in the ruck – sometimes against the odds – after making his senior debut for Corowa-Rutherglen in 1989.

The arrival of Peter Tossol as coach introduced a degree of professionalism which hadn’t been seen at John Foord Oval and, in turn, led to the Roos two memorable flags- 2000 and 2003. Eyers was a crucial component of those line-ups.

Matthew Fowler was recruited to Albury from Hume League club Walbundrie at the age of 16, just in time to slot into one of the Tigers’ finest eras. A bulky forward with a booming right foot, he played his part in a hat-trick of flags in 1995-‘97, and was there when they repeated the effort in 2009-‘11.

With six premierships, 812 goals, captain of the Tigers for a decade, and 354 games to his credit, he earned a ranking as one of the O & M’s finest forwards.

There was always conjecture among the good judges as to where Daniel Leslie was best suited. He could hold down centre half forward or CHB with ease, and had all the attributes – power, pace for a big man, and a prodigious kick……..

He played an important part in North Albury’s 2002 premiership, after having debuted on a wing two years earlier.

Leslie became a key man for the Hoppers’ for a decade and a half, captained the side for eight years, and booted 354 goals in his 300 games.

Xavier Leslie, likewise, is held in the highest esteem by all at Yarrawonga. The classy small man played his first game for the Pigeons, aged 16, in 2002. He featured in Yarra’s 2006, 2012 and 2013 premiership teams.

He also achieved the personal highlight of his glittering career in 2013 when he took out the Morris Medal by four votes.

Smooth-moving Darrell Spencer came across the border in 1987 from his home town of Rutherglen, to try his luck with the Roos.

He never left…..A magnificent kick who rarely missed a target, Spencer was appointed captain in 1998, just as Corowa-Rutherglen were entering a new era. Two years later he held the premiership cup aloft……in 2003 they saluted again.

Spencer finally retired with 333 games to his credit……equaling the club record of champion Denis Sandral.

Last week-end, he and Sandral handed the record over to Kade Kuschert, a hard-working, strong-marking defender, who has been part of the furniture since he arrived at Corowa-Rutherglen from Buraja in 1999.

His team-mates strove valiantly to clinch a win against power team Albury, to honour the contribution of their 38 year-old team-mate.

Much to their dismay, the Roos fell short by two points…….

Jack King (Rutherglen)- 400 games (approx) 11 premierships

John Hunt (Lavington)- 420 games , 2 Premierships,

Matthew Allen – 416 games- Wang Rovers (362), Corowa-Rutherglen ( 54 ), 3 Premierships, 2 B & F. Coach Rovers 2009-10.

Matthew Fowler (Albury) – 354 Games, 812 Goals, 6 Premierships

Kerry Bahr – 354 Games – Lavington (316), Wodonga Raiders (38), 5 B & F, 2 Premierships

Denis Sandral – 348 Games – Corowa-Rutherglen (333), Wangaratta (15) -5 B & F’s

Mark Booth – 338 Games – Wang Rovers (319), Yarrawonga (19) – 5 Premierships, 4 B & F,

Kade Kuschert (Corowa-Rutherglen) – 334 Games, 1 Premiership, 1 B & F

Darrell Spencer (Corowa-Rutherglen) – 333 Games, 2 Premierships,

Anthony Pasquali (Wang Rovers) – 322 Games, Coach 2001-03. 3 Premierships,

John Martienello (Benalla) – 316 Games, 6 B & F’s.

Michael Wilson (Wang Rovers) – 316 Games, 4 Premierships,

John Smith – 315 Games – Rutherglen (50), North Albury (204), Wodonga (43), Myrtleford (18), 4 B & F’s, 1 Morris Medal, Coach Wodonga 1975-76, Coach N.A 1978-79

Wayne Pendergast – 312 Games – North Albury(39), Wodonga (116) Lavington (157), 3 Premierships, 1 B & F.

Robert Walker (Wangaratta Rovers) – 307 Games, 4 Premierships, 12 B & F’s, 5 Morris Medals.

Xavier Leslie (Yarrawonga)- 305 Games, 3 Premierships, 1 B & F, 1 Morris Medal.

Ross Hill (Wangaratta Rovers) – 306 Games, Co-Coach 2017-18.

Paul Bartlett (Corowa-Rutherglen), 303 Games, 1 Premiership. 1 B & F.

Brendan Eyers (Corowa-Rutherglen) – 303 Games, 2 Premierships

Mervyn Holmes (Wangaratta Rovers) – 302 Games, 1 B & F, 6 Premierships, Coach 1985-86.

Nic Conway (Wodonga Raiders) – 302 Games, 1 Premiership.

Matt Pendergast (300 Games) – Lavington 262, Wodonga Raiders 38, 5 B & F’s, 1 Premiership.

Daniel Leslie (North Albury) – 300 Games, 354 Goals, 4 B & F’s, 1 Premiership,

Daine Porter (Wangaratta) – 301 Games, 3 Premierships, 3 B & F’s

‘PIGEON BERT REFLECTS ON A LIFE-TIME CAREER IN FOOTBALL……….’

If you’re trying to track down Robert Tait of a Monday morning, chances are you’ll find him raking leaves, emptying the rubbish bins, or tidying up the Yarrawonga rooms after the week-end’s footy.

His is a familiar tale, replicated by countless volunteers throughout the state ……. Of the old champ, having hung up his boots after a storied career, rolling up his sleeves and devoting decades of service to his beloved Club.

The majestic Murray River meanders alongside the Pigeons’ J.C.Lowe Oval…..Yet ‘Taity’s’ football fairytale was enacted about thirty-five miles upstream.

As a 17 year-old schoolboy he played his part in possibly the Ovens and Murray’s greatest rags-to-riches story – Corowa’s ascent from wooden-spooners to 1968 premiers………

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‘Bert’ was born and bred on a farm at Rennie – an equidistant 17 miles from Yarra and Corowa. The Hoppers are a proud bush Club; winners of 15 premierships and best known as the spiritual home of the legendary Jimmy Sandral.

“Kids from Rennie played their cricket in Yarrawonga and gravitated to Corowa for footy. So I lined up with the Corowa Under 15’s,” he recalls.

His progress was rapid, to say the least. At 14, he was elevated to the Spiders’ senior line-up for three games. He was still making his way in the game a couple of years later, when Corowa pulled off a stunning recruiting coup, landing Richmond’s reigning premiership skipper Freddie Swift as captain-coach.

“I remember how excited we all were when he came to watch us in the final round of ‘67. He wasn’t even deterred by the fact that Wangaratta belted us by more than 17 goals.”

Swift was given an assurance that incumbent coach John Hoiles would hang around. He helped the Spiders handpick recruits Ike Isley ( from Bendigo, via St. Kilda ), brilliant rover Jack Clancy (Heidelberg) and Lindsay Jacob (Walla).

Corowa were sitting fifth coming into the last round of 1968, and had to defeat fourth-placed Wangaratta by 10-12 goals to sneak into the finals…….They won by 15, to secure their spot.

They came from 22 points down at half-time to defeat North Albury in the First Semi…… were dead level at three quarter-time in the Prelim, against a physically-imposing Myrtleford, then went on to win by four goals……..

The Spiders were into the Grand Final……….

“We had a heap of young blokes under 21…….George Tobias, Terry Phibbs, Denis Hutton, ‘Chizza’, Freddie Longmire, Jeff McLean and myself……We were all in awe of what was happening, and the town was at fever-pitch…..We hadn’t won a flag in 36 years……..” Bert recalls.

“I remember us heading over to Wangaratta for the Grand Final, stopping at North Wang, stretching our legs, and getting back on the Bus where Ovens Ford’s now located……There were 12,000 people at the Rovers Ground that day, and the majority of them were convinced that Wodonga would belt us…..”

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  Corowa’s 1968 Premiership team. Robert Tait is fourth from left, middle row. Freddie Swift (holding football) and John Hoiles (on his left) were the team’s stars.

It certainly looked that way at quarter-time. The Dogs, the reigning premiers, kicked 4.5 to 0.3 with the aid of a strong breeze. But Corowa gained the ascendancy in the second, and it was nip and tuck from then on.

A great 50-yard goal from Kevin Witherden and a skilful snap from Lindsay Jacob sealed the game for the Spiders, who hung on to win a classic by seven points.

“On the trip home we got off the Bus at Wahgunyah, all climbed on the back of one of Bernie Bott’s semi-trailers and drove across the bridge, up the Main Street to the Town Hall, where they introduced us to an enormous crowd ……I was still at school; it was a bit hard to get your head around …….”

“The celebrations went on for a week……Geez, the older you get, the better it feels..It’s still like a dream……“

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Bert landed his first job not long after, with Livestock Company, Australian Estates, in Yarrawonga.

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He spent the next couple of years travelling back to play with Corowa, then got called up for National Service, which took a slice out of his ‘72 season.

“Luckily for me, Gough Whitlam won the election later that year, and abolished National Service. When I got out of the Army I rang Mickey McNamara, with whom I was now employed, to see whether I still had a job.”

“Mick said: ‘No worries. Come back, you’re welcome. I’ll fix you up with a car and get you out on the road.’ “

“When I told Mick I’d also get a clearance to play with Yarra he was very happy. He said :’ I’ve been hoping for two years that’d happen….Now I’ve got ya.’ “

So, after 76 senior games with Corowa ( his dad Bob, and brother Neville had preceded him there) Robert Tait was now a Pigeon…………

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He had, by now become a leading O & M ruckman. Yet his 193cm frame and handy big-man skills were negated when Yarra met the Rovers in a boggy 1973 First-Semi.

“The Benalla Showgrounds was a mud-heap….It poured all day. It was memorable for the fact that Neville Hogan picked up 50 kicks and his opponent Billy Nixon had about 49. I think they beat us 6.11 to 4.9.”

“Hogan was again one of our obstacles when we played ‘em in the Grand Final the next year. He parked himself in the forward pocket, alongside ‘Doc’ Doherty, who kicked a few in the first quarter. I think it was 8 goals to 1 at quarter-time……Game over ! “

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“Neville brings it up occasionally. He says: ‘I loved roving to you, Taity !’ “

Bert’s finest year undoubtedly came in 1976. Despite missing four games with a twisted knee, he finished just three votes shy of the Morris Medal ( he also finished third two years later). His consolation came when he took out the Border Mail-2AY media award and Yarrawonga’s Best & Fairest.

• 

He was runner-up in the Pigeons’ top gong for the next five years, bowing to Les ‘Salty’ Parish ( three times), Mark Booth and Johnny White, yet trailing by no more than three votes on each occasion.

And he became a regular, and proud, wearer of the O & M guernsey. The first of his eight games in the Black and Gold was against the VFA, when he lined up on the colourful Fred Cook and ‘Frosty’ Miller.

But perhaps his best inter-League performance came at Ganmain, when his strong marking in defence held out a charging South-West League, who fell short by 17 points:

“We were travelling well that day…..until they bought on an aboriginal called Sid Robbins, who they’d recruited from up north. Could he play ! He nearly turned the game for them. I was talking to their coach Tom Carroll after the game, as they announced that he’d won a Bag donated by South Melbourne, as their best player.”

“Tom said: ‘Do you know where that bag’ll finish up…..In the Murrumbidgee River. He lives on the river…….He’s a great player up here, but every time you pick a team you always have to name one extra, in case he doesn’t turn up !’ “

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After 176 games with Yarra, Bert took on the coaching job at Rennie, in 1983. It was a romantic homecoming of sorts, as his Grandfather had been their first coach, back in the early thirties. His dad played there, and he was taking over the reins from his brother Neville.

“Kay ( his wife ) said: ‘What am I going to do out there ?’ I said: ‘They’ve got Netball’. Well, she loved it. We made lifelong friends.”

In his five years as coach Rennie won two flags. In the first, they were undefeated, and belted Coreen by 103 points in the Grand Final….the Second came against Corowa-Rutherglen in 1985.

At the end of 1987 his old mate ‘Salty’ Parish enquired what he was doing about his footy.

“I said: ‘Well, I’m going on 36. I’m getting out while I’m reasonably sound.’ ‘That’s good,’ he replied. ‘I’ve just been appointed coach of Yarra, and I want you to come with me.’ “

“I’d always got on well with Salty….. used to look after him a bit….You know, he was a hell of a good fellah, but when he first came to Yarra he was a bit of a street kid…….he’d never wreck anything…..but once he had a few beers he could become a bit antagonising.”

“I told him I’d help him out…..I took over as his Chairman of Selectors; used to drive him to the footy, take him home after games…..keep him off the grog.”

Yarra finished fourth in 1988, but shaped as an improved side in ‘89 after the recruitment of Damien Sexton and Kerry Brain from Finley. On the eve of the season, the Committee approached Parish, requesting that he alter his Selection Panel.

“What was the story there ? “ I ask ‘Taity’.

“Well, they wanted to have five, instead of three Selectors.’ But ‘Salty’ wouldn’t have a bar of it. I went back to the Committee and offered to stand aside, to enable them to include someone else.”

“I said: ‘Don’t lose him over this. You know what he’s like; he’ll stick to his digs.’ ……..When I told ‘Salty’ of my suggestion he was adamant: ‘Nope. If you, Paul (Walker) and I can’t do it, then I’m out……”

“And that’s how Yarra came to part ways with its best-ever footballer ( in my opinion).”

It’s history how stalwart Neil Davis stepped into the breach and coached the Pigeons to a memorable flag. ‘Taity’ stayed in the background, but maintained 100 percent support for Davis.

He went back to Rennie the following year, when they couldn’t find a coach, then returned to Yarra for keeps.

“ ‘Davo’ said: ‘We’re trying to get a Past Players Group up and running. I’d like you to help out.’ He was the initial President, then I took over in ‘92……I’m still there…….”

It has become one of the League’s more vibrant PPOA organisations. One of their most satisfying projects was the launching of the Football/ Netball Club History, a glossy publication, which was three years in the making, and sold over 1,000 copies.

When ‘Bert’ returned to the footy Club Committee in the early nineties, Tracie Gillies suggested that he become involved with the Netball side of things, besides being Vice-President..

“She said: ‘Your girls are going to be playing, along with the four Davis girls, three Bourke’s and a couple of Tyrrell’s, among others. I’ll coach and I want you to be the Club’s Netball Rep.”

His daughter Bridget has played over 300 Club games ( including 250 A- Grade) for ten flags, whilst Janna has three, including Yarra’s first A-Grade title. Bert and Bridget are the sole members of the O & M’s Father-Daughter 200-Game Club.

• 

  Bridget Tait (Casser) with her parents Kay and Riobert on the eve of her 200th A-Grade game with Yarrawonga

“We’ve won a total of 17 premierships in all grades since Netball began in 1993. It’s become a vital part of our Club,” he says.

He has ridden all the ups and downs of footy, including the lows of the early 2000’s, and the highs of Bob Craig’s 2006 premiership side.

And he recalls the arrival of Yarra’s most famous recruit in 2012.

“Alan Tripp, who is a keen, and generous supporter, said to us: ‘You’ve gotta get someone who’ll kick 60-70 goals, otherwise you’ll never get over Albury. I’ve got just the bloke for you. I want you in Melbourne next Monday…..’ ”

“We had no idea who we were going to see……We walked into the room and Brendan Fevola was sitting there…….I said to Glenn Brear and Drew Barnes: ‘Geez, what are we doing here ?’ “

“On the way home, I said: ‘Shit, I dunno whether Yarra’s big enough for Brendan Fevola.’…..We spoke to Alan Tripp again and he re-assured us. ‘Leave him to me,’ he said. ‘I’ll look after him. I’ve told him he’s gotta play down the line.’ “

“Anyway, history shows that we won two flags, and crowds came in their droves….. On Fev’s first game, against Lavington, we took $120,000, with gate, canteen, membership and the rest. Don’t worry, Fev was great for Yarra, and the League……….”

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‘Bert’s’ been hamstrung lately, as he battles Charcot foot, a weakening of the bones in his left foot, caused by significant nerve damage.

“They gave me two options – continued treatment or amputation……. I chose the former……”

But this setback certainly hasn’t diluted his passion for footy, netball and Yarrawonga……..

• 

  The 50th Anniversary of Corowa’s 1968 Premiership. John Clancy (far left) passed away soon after.

‘HAWKS HONOUR CENTURION SAM…..’

Daryl Smith wore the Wangaratta Rovers guernsey with distinction in 195 games, between 1972 and 1982.

On one of his infrequent return visits to see a game at his old club, the triple premiership captain-coach waxed lyrical about a diminutive on-baller who knocked up getting kicks and boring in under the packs.

“I’m rapt in the little bloke who’s wearing my old number,” Smithy said. “He’s a beauty.”

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since, but Sam Carpenter still creates that impression on anyone who sees him in action for the first time.

He’s become somewhat of a cult figure since first pulling on the Brown and Gold in 2013.

And no wonder…… he’s gritty, spirited, courageous – and plays the game as if there’s no tomorrow.

• 

If anyone feels inclined to impress on a young Thirds hopeful how to handle adversity, ‘Croc’ would provide a classic example. His is an uplifting footy story…….

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Sam was just an inquisitive four-year old, playing in his parents’ Tyabb butcher shop, when he caught his left arm in a mincer. His forearm was ground away, almost to the elbow.

He can’t remember much of the accident, or the emergency helicopter flight, which rushed him to the Royal Children’s Hospital, where his recovery began.

“I learnt to live without it,” he says of the double-handed capabilities that he was now deprived of. “Because I was so young I have never known anything different.”

“I’ve never felt there was anything I couldn’t do, or should do differently. After all, the game’s principally about winning the ball.”

“I pride myself on the hard-ball stuff, especially tackling and putting my head over the Sherrin,” he said.

“I was always convinced that I could be a good footballer if I worked hard at it, and always felt I could keep progressing.”

Sam’s Dad Leigh concedes that the loss of his son’s forearm could have been a huge burden on the family, except that the youngster embraced the challenge. “ I can remember people admiring his determination and love of the game, but doubting that these qualities would compensate for his disability,” he once said.

“They used to say when he was very young: ‘He’ll struggle when tackling is introduced.’…….When he didn’t, they’d say: ‘When the game becomes more physical he’ll struggle.’……..But he didn’t.”

Sam won a heap of best and fairest awards in junior ranks with Crib Point and was picked up by the Dandenong Stingrays U.18’s, where he again starred. He won the Best and Fairest in his top-age year.

• 

From there he graduated to Frankston’s VFL side. Contrary to expectations he played four senior games in his first season and became a regular in his second.

The idea was floated that he may be a chance to graduate to AFL ranks, but he was pragmatic enough to realise that cracking the big-time was an improbability……….

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His grandfather Sonny, a colourful greyhound trainer and bookie, began holidaying in Corowa nearly 60 years ago. That tradition had continued on for the family. Sam got to know quite a few of the locals, and decided to move up there in 2008.

He became an overnight success with Corowa-Rutherglen and, after enjoying a brilliant season under the coaching of Peter Tossol, took out the ‘Roos B & F in 2009.

He represented the O & M, and was a warm favourite for the Morris Medal, but a bolter, Yarrawonga’s Michael Stevens took it out. Sam finished two votes adrift, sharing second place with fellow on-ballers Chris Hyde ( Albury) and Matt Kelly (Wangaratta).

Romance had also blossomed with a young Corowa girl, Renee Ronnfeldt. When Queensland club Aspley conducted a raid on O & M and Goulburn Valley players at the end of that season, he was a prime target. The prospect of spending a season playing football in the Sunshine State appealed to him.

And Renee liked the idea of having a break from Corowa. So, along with future Rovers team-mates Tyson Hartwig and Jamie Sheahan, he was lured to the QAFL.

Aspley struggled big-time early in the season, but after sacking their coach and enduring their share of in-club turmoil, they bounced back to finish the year in reasonable shape.

Sam’s own form was quite good, and he finished a close runner-up to ‘Shagger’ Sheahan in the B & F. But he was happy enough to put the Queensland experience behind him.

He moved back home to the Peninsula, and joined his cousin, who was coaching Bonbeach. He spent the following season with MPNFL club Chelsea, where the Carpenter name is held in high esteem.

His father Leigh, and uncle Dale are both members of Chelsea’s Team of the Century, and Sam joined them as a fellow Best and Fairest winner in 2012.

When he and Renee decided to re-locate to her home town in 2013 Sam surprised the football world by throwing in his lot with the Rovers. Barry Sullivan had been on his hammer for a couple of years and his old coach Peter Tossol convinced him of the virtues of the Hawks……..

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Things worked out well. He found plenty of work in his chosen trade as a Painter. The couple bought a house in Corowa and relished the laid-back bush lifestyle.

The Hawks’ gun recruit got off to a sluggish start in his debut season when he copped a hamstring injury before half-time in the opening game. It took a while to heal, costing him seven games, but he flew home to finish third in the B & F.

The following season was even more impressive. He played a few matches under duress after aggravating a posterior cruciate ligament in an early game, and elected to miss a week in order to have a cortisone injection.

That did the trick. He came back in superlative touch, and was a key figure in the Hawks’ push for finals. They were blitzed by Corowa-Rutherglen in the second term of the Elimination Final, and battled valiantly to peg the ‘Roos back for the next two quarters.

• 

Still trailing by 11 points at lemon-time, Carpenter, Tyson Hartwig, James Smith and Shane Gaston were central figures in a dramatic come-back. The Rovers had nine shots to nil in the final quarter, but were unable to put their tired opponents away until the dying stages of the game.

It was Carpenter who iced a classic encounter when he swooped on the most telling of his 35 touches, lined up the big sticks and, on the angle, from 40 metres out, curled it through for an inspirational major……….

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The Rovers lowered their colours to Lavington the following week. But scuttlebutt was already circulating that a vital part of their engine-room had been approached to return to Corowa-Rutherglen.

Sam had finished runner-up to Shane Gaston in the B & F and was named in the O & M’s Team of the Year. The Hawks’ plans for 2015 would be severely dented by his absence.

They slumped to ninth spot and, as they cast around for a replacement for retiring non-playing leader Paul Maher at season’s end, the little fellah again became paramount to their thoughts.

He’d enjoyed another stellar season at the John Ford Oval, taking out the ‘Roos B & F and finishing fifth in the Morris Medal. He was still flying and was held in high regard by all in the Rovers camp.

In a move from left-field, the Hawks hit upon the Carpenter-Andrew Hill combination to lead them into the 2016 season.

For ‘Croc’, it was a dream come true. “Coaching was always a long-term ambition of mine. My Dad coached over 300 games down in the Mornington Peninsula, and I was rapt to get my opportunity at such a proud, successful Club as the Rovers,” he said.

But he could hardly have envisaged such a horror coaching initiation. A Brendan Fevola-inspired Yarrawonga touched up the Hawks by 98 points………To the surprise of most critics, though, they bounced back to be 4-2 after overcoming hot favourites Wangaratta in a bruising local derby, then sneaking over the line against Corowa-Rutherglen.

Unfortunately, Sam sustained a hamstring injury against his old side. By the time he’d returned the young Hawks were bereft of confidence. Their early wins had papered over some obvious deficiencies, but most judges assessed their six wins as a creditable year.

There’s no doubt that the co-coach wielded tremendous influence when he was on the park. Restricted to just 14 games, he finished runner-up to Sean O’Keeffe in the B & F.

• 

The following two seasons were hard-yakka for all connected with the Rovers – particularly the co-coaches. Mid-way through 2018 Sam made the decision to stand aside at season’s end.

“I’ll be able to focus on my own game a little more in the twilight of my career. I’ll be staying on here, and I’m sure we’ll be able to turn things around quickly,” he said.

His friendship with Daryn Cresswell played a part in luring the former Sydney Swans star to the Findlay Oval in a coaching coup.

And the revitalisation that he predicted arrived soon enough. The Rovers became one of the League’s glamour teams in 2019, missing the finals on percentage, but showing promise of things to come.

Carpenter, the renowned mid-field general, was transformed into a small defender-cum-winger and relished the new role. It was no surprise when he outpolled pre-count favourite Nathan Cooper, to take out his first Bob Rose Medal………

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He’s a quietly-spoken, down-to-earth bloke with simple tastes and a well-honed sense of mischief. His two kids, Sonny and Remi, are the apple of his eye, and his definition of bliss, I’m sure, is to be floating down the Murray River in a tinny, stubby in hand, dangling a line………

Even though he’s nudging 34, there’ll be plenty of time for that in the future. But in the meantime, he’s a key component of a Rovers side which is challenging for a finals berth in 2021.

• 

  Carpenter versus the field – Race 7, Corowa, 2015

When I reminded him of his upcoming milestone ‘Croc’ pleaded with me to ‘keep it dark’. The Hawks, however, place great significance on their ‘100-Game Club’ and will wholeheartedly celebrate the Club’s latest Centurion…………..

• 

An updated version of the 2014 Reflections Story: ‘A Salute to the Elusive Number 4’

‘TOMMY ( THE TERRIBLE TURK ) TAKES TIGERS TO THE TOP…..’

The fortunes of Ovens and Murray football have ebbed and flowed in its 127-year existence. The only impediments to its continuity have been two World Wars and, dare I say it, the Pandemic which has rudely interrupted this season.

It’s significant, though, that after the previous interludes, the League quickly dusted itself off and gathered momentum. ‘Transmission’ will hopefully resume as normal, when the dreaded Covid-19 dissipates.

…….Just as it did in 1946…..After a five-year break, a seven-team competition battled its way through 12 rounds, culminating in an epic Grand Final. Wangaratta’s nail-biting 5-point win over Albury had O & M fans salivating for more…………..

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Season 1947 saw the debut of a new club, North Albury, and the arrival of some big names. The most celebrated of these was Bob Chitty, the gladiatorial, swashbuckling Carlton hard-man, who had played a key role in the Blues’ win over South Melbourne in the notorious 1945 ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final.

Chitty was lured to Benalla as captain-coach. Favourite son, ruckman Jack Eames returned to lead Wodonga after a season at Richmond, whilst Albury, hunting for a replacement for the legendary Doug Strang, opted for a tireless, talkative 36 year-old ball of energy from Port Melbourne. His name was Tommy Lahiff……….

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Lahiff, born in 1910, grew up with an insatiable appetite for sport. At the age of 19 he’d made his District cricket debut with St.Kilda, alongside Test players Bill Ponsford, Leslie Fleetwood-Smith, Don Blackie and Bert Ironmonger.

The following year, after a brief, ill-fated sojourn with VFA club Brighton, he transferred to the love of his football life, Port Melbourne.

Tommy once spoke of the build-up to his debut with ‘The Borough’:

“Bobby Skilton’s father, who I was a great admirer of, had captained Port the previous season. I asked his advice : ‘What have I gotta do, Mr.Skilton ?’ He replied: ‘Well, when you play with Port son, there’s always going to be a fight. It’ll break out somewhere. Don’t waste your time running to where it is; just belt the bloke who’s next to you……’ “

“Which I did……That’s how they played at Port…..If a fight started and you weren’t in it they didn’t forgive you……”

He recalled some of his team-mates ‘winding him up before one game:

“They had a bloke playing for Northcote called Ernie Wilson. He was tough; he’d played for Collingwood. I was a cheeky little bloke and some of the Port fellahs said: ‘Ernie Wilson’ll be minding you today. He’s as weak as water; give him a biff behind the ear and he won’t come near you.’ “

“So I did that and the next thing I’m flat on my back. And every time I gave him a biff he gave me two back. When we went in at half-time I said: ‘I thought you said this Wilson was weak.’ They said: ‘Oh, you didn’t hit him hard enough.’ “

“All right, I thought, I’ll hit him harder. So I went out in the second half and the same thing happened. It got to about three-quarter time and Ernie Wilson said to me: ‘Look son, I don’t know what your idea is, but I’m getting tired of knocking you down.’ ……And I said: ‘And I’m getting tired of getting up again.’

“He replied: ‘Well, forget about it and play the ball. Someone’s given you the wrong impression……’ “

He learned quickly, and in 1931 finished runner-up in the VFA’s Best & Fairest Award named, at that time, The Recorder Cup.

But he took time to fully establish himself as a top-notch player. The aggressive edge that marked Lahiff’s play was emphasised when he was ‘rubbed out’ for a total of 12 weeks in 1932- four weeks for charging a Northcote player and eight weeks for striking in a match against Sandringham.

The two disqualifications earned him a nickname, handed down by team-mates, which he would carry for life – ‘The Terrible Turk – after a wrestler of the 30’s who displayed the same ruthless streak.

• 

By 1935 the 5’6” rover/forward had landed at Essendon, where he was to play 49 games and boot 67 goals in three seasons, before returning to his beloved Port.

They appointed him captain-coach ( he was also captain-coach of Port’s Sub-District cricket side) and he concentrated on rekindling interest in the Club by working hard with the young local players.

“The wharfies (who exerted a powerful influence on the Club ) came to see me when I got the job,” Tommy recalled. They said: ‘We’ll support you, Tommy, but there is one rule. No cops ! If you have any problems, we’ll sort them out for you. But we don’t need any cops !‘ “

He reflected: “There wouldn’t have been a boy who played footy or cricket at Port that I didn’t get involved with in some way….. I had a great interest in kids. I watched ‘em all grow up….. Some of them became champions….This endeared everybody to Port…..We became so close that people thought we were all related…..”

After coaching for two years, he was replaced by a League star, Frank Kelly, who led Port to the 1940 flag. On the eve of the finals, the following year, Kelly was ousted, and Lahiff, who had been the ‘acting’ coach for the majority of the season, was re-instated.

He promptly guided the ‘Borough’ to another title. Tommy was a hero. They crowned him the ‘ ‘Unofficial Mayor’ of Port.

• 

When VFA footy was suspended two months later because of World War 2, he resumed his League career, firstly at South Melbourne, then at Hawthorn.

Again, Lahiff’s charisma endeared him to team-mates, and he proved a popular figure at Glenferrie Oval. He was approached to coach the Hawks in 1944, following the retirement of the incumbent, Roy Cazaly, and was handed the job – as a non-playing leader.

The resumption of the V.F.A. competition in 1946 saw Tommy resume the reins at Port – as non-playing coach. He led them into the finals, and at season’s end, let it be known that he’d again be an applicant for the job in 1947.

This time, though, they opted for the ex-North Melbourne small man Billy Findlay, much to the chagrin of the dyed-in-the-wool Lahiff………………..

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Tommy Lahiff nursed his wounded feelings and weighed up his choices. With 175 V.F.A. and 74 VFL matches to his name he was one of the most experienced footballers around……..And his appetite for coaching and faith in his ability was as strong as ever.

Despite his age ( 36 ) he knew he’d be able to knock himself back into playing shape, despite not having graced the field for three seasons. He was appointed to both of the coaching positions he applied for – at Albury and Tocumwal – but chose Albury…….. For the princely sum of eight pounds per week the Tigers had got their man.

Tommy, with his wife Freda, and young son Graham, made the trip up the highway to their new life. He soon ingratiated himself into his new Club and, with a doctrine of hard work on the training track, Albury began to loom as a premiership threat.

The Tigers had won three of the last four Pre-War flags, in 1937, ‘39 and 1940, and were accustomed to success. But a few other Clubs had begun to stamp their credentials.

Tommy knew it would take time to adapt to a different standard of footy, but soon hit top form. He proved ever-dangerous in his role as a rover/forward, relishing the silver service provided by champion left-foot on-baller, Jimmy ‘The Master’ Matthews.

With 60 goals Lahiff was runner-up to Bob Chitty ( 86 ) in the League’s goal-kicking Award, as Albury dropped just two games – to Benalla and Border-United, to finish on top of the ladder.

The Tigers were always in control in the Second Semi-Final, leading from go to whoa to thrash Benalla by 52 points. Matthews and Leon Power, with four goals apiece, were irresistible, whilst Chitty was held to just the one major.

But Chitty, the ‘Wild Man of Football’, ominously hit the target in the Prelim. His haul of nine helped the Demons to a 44-point win over Border-United, to set up a mouth-watering clash at the Wangaratta Showgrounds.

He was also on fire in a riveting first quarter of the Grand Final, nailing three early goals. Benalla, showing their supremacy in the air, had jumped the Tigers and led 6.2 to 2.4. Poor kicking continued to dog Albury’s attempt to climb back into the game, but at three quarter-time they had reduced the margin to one point – 6.16 to 8.5.

Jimmy Matthews reflected on the turning-point of the game years later: “Tommy Lahiff was a super coach and had the ability to pull the winning move at the right time. He made several positional changes in the last quarter, which helped make the difference.”

The principal of these was shifting spearhead Loy Stewart into the ruck, whilst backman/follower Tom Davey moved to full forward. Regarded as a notoriously inaccurate kick, Davey drop-kicked three telling goals in the final term to be a major factor in the 15-point Tiger triumph – 11.18 (84) to 10.9 (69).

The brilliant Matthews, one-armed ruckman Ossie Bownds, backmen Reggie Gard and John Briggs, and coach Lahiff with four goals, also starred for Albury.

“It was an extra-hard game and I congratulate all you players for fighting it out,” said Lahiff in the jubilant, raucous Tiger rooms after the win………….

• 

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Many Albury fans predicted that, under Tommy Lahiff’s coaching, Albury would enjoy an extended reign at the top. But it wasn’t to be. The official reason given for the parting of the ways was that they had rejected his request for an increase from eight, to ten pounds a week in his salary.

But his wife Freda was also eager to return to Melbourne. Tommy played, and coached, in the city for the next three years, then bobbed up again in the O & M as captain-coach of Corowa in 1951.

They threw a handsome salary ( 15 pounds per week ) at him and he took on a job as a painter during his two-year spell at the John Foord Oval.

Despite initially electing to coach from the sidelines in 1952, Tommy decided that his young side desperately needed on-field guidance. He again pulled on the boots at the age of 42, and quickly regained form.

But success eluded the Spiders and, by mutual consent, Tommy parted ways with them at season’s end and returned home. His days as a player, much to his sorrow, were now over…….

He remained deeply involved in sport, and had further coaching stints, with Sandringham, a fourth term at Port Melbourne in 1962, and as assistant-coach to Bob Skilton at South Melbourne for two years.

The remainder of his sporting involvement was as a popular media indentity, alongside his mate Harry Beitzel, with a succession of radio stations.

• 

When Tommy Lahiff passed away, aged 86, he was mourned as a much-loved character who had touched countless sporting lives, not least in two Ovens and Murray border towns……………….

(With help from Ken Linnett, author of “Game for Anything”)