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Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame record

HALL OF FAME HALL OF FAME

Photo courtesy of The Launceston Examiner

Made in Tasmania

for Tasmanians

32013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame

conTenTs

Made in Tasmania

for Tasmanians

cHairman's messaGe 4

selecTion criTeria 5

call For nominaTions 2014 5

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame icons 6

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame leGends 10

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame inducTees 12

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame GreaT club 16

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame leGendary Team 18

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame memorable Game 20

2013 ausTralian FooTball Hall oF Fame 22

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame lisTs 23

Courtesy of The Advocate

4

cHairman's messaGeWelcome to our favourite event on the Tasmanian football calendar.

AFL Tasmania devotes most of each year to focusing on the future; considering initiatives to grow our game

for our community and for the benefit of the next generation of players, coaches, umpires, support staff,

administrators and fans.

While grand final day is always a special event for the participating clubs and their respective competitions,

for AFL Tasmania our Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame is especially dear to our hearts because it is the only

time during the year whereby we can pause for a brief moment and celebrate the past.

In addition, we cherish the uniqueness of our Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, which remains the only

football event in the nation that enshrines great contributions from individuals, clubs, teams and games on a

truly whole of state basis.

We also recognise the special and distinctive elements of our great game in Tasmania such as the gravel oval

in Queenstown and the King Island Football Association, to mention just two. AFL Tasmania is telling the

story of Tasmanian football through our annual Hall of Fame event.

In 2013 we induct another ten individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Tasmanian football on

and off the playing field. We also elevate two current inductees to ‘Legend’ status and we celebrate two

current Legends who become our thirteenth and fourteenth Icons of Tasmanian football.

Just reflect on this for a moment: Australian football has been played in Tasmania for almost 150 years and

tonight two Legends join just 12 other great football people to become Icons of Tasmanian football—how

special is that.

On behalf of everyone at AFL Tasmania we hope you enjoy our ninth Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame

induction dinner at Wrest Point.

Finally, to all new inductees, welcome to our Hall of Fame ‘club’. You all deserve to be thoroughly proud of

your individual and collective achievements.

I can only pretend to imagine what it must feel like to be elevated to the status of Legend or Icon of Tasmanian

football; so to these four gentlemen, on behalf of all Tasmanian football fans, I say congratulations. Your

greatness in our game is enshrined forever.

Dominic Baker Chairman AFL Tasmania


selecTion criTeria1. The Committee shall consider a candidate’s outstanding services and overall

contribution to the game of Australian Football in determining a candidate’s eligibility for induction in the Hall of Fame.

2. Without limiting item (1) the Committee may consider a candidate’s individual record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character.

3. The number of football games played, coached or umpired or the years of service provided shall only be a consideration and shall not be conclusive in assessing a candidate’s eligibility.

4. A player, coach, umpire, administrator, volunteer or media representative involved at any level of Australian Football may be eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.

5. Candidates shall be adjudged on the basis of their overall contribution to Australian Football as opposed to one specific aspect.

6. The Committee shall consider candidates from all parts of Tasmania and from all Australian Football competitions affiliated with AFL Tasmania.

7. Players, coaches, umpires, administrators, volunteers and media representatives may be eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame even if they have not retired from active participation in Australian Football.

8. A member of the Committee may be a candidate but shall not vote for his or her induction into the Hall of Fame.

9. There shall be no special order of precedence given to Hall of Fame inductees.

call For nominaTions 2014AFL Tasmania is seeking the support of the Tasmanian football family for Tasmanian football’s major recognition project. Members of the public may assist by providing nominations in writing. The nomination should be provided as soon as possible so that the selection committee may fully consider the submission. Where nominations are not accepted for induction in 2013 they may be considered for subsequent inductions into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame that will occur annually. The selection criteria for players / coaches / umpires / administrators or volunteers is:

Players, coaches, umpires, administrators / volunteers and media representatives will be considered eligible for induction into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame based on a candidate’s outstanding services and overall contribution to the game of Australian Football. The selection committee may consider a candidate’s individual record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character. Candidates currently participating in any aspect of the game of Australian Football may be inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame. Nominations should include the contact details of the person that is being nominated or their next of kin, including: name, address, phone contact. A picture of the person being nominated is also required. Please return all nominations to:

• Confidential: Hall of Fame, AFL Tasmania, PO Box 520, North Hobart 7002.

The closing date to receive nominations for consideration in 2014 is 31 October 2013.


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2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame icon

verdun Howell

Courtesy of St Kilda FC


VerDun HoweLL

CiTy-SouTH / ST KiLDA / nTFA / CLAremonT

FuLL BACK / ForwArD – 1953-1968

One of the truly great players Tasmania has produced, Verdun Howell was a half forward during the bulk of the Tasmanian phase of his career with City-South Football Club. Upon his move to the VFL he was transformed by St Kilda into a prototype of the modern attacking full back.

Howell played 159 games for the Saints between 1958 and 1968. At the end of the 1959 Brownlow Medal count he was tied with Bob Skilton on 20 votes, and the Medal went to the Swan star on a countback. It was part of St Kilda folklore that Howell may have won outright if he had not been played in the centre in the final game. Thirty years later the VFL saw fit to retrospectively award Verdun Howell his Brownlow Medal.

Despite his venturesome spirit—which manifested itself in a tendency to leave his man in order to embark on dashing runs up-field—Howell seldom conceded goals for the simple reason that whenever he pursued the ball he normally got it. In short, he transformed the backing of one's judgement into an art form.

Verdun Howell reigned supreme as Victoria’s number one full back until 1965 when St Kilda selectors swapped him with their full forward Bob Murray. However, the transition back to the forward line was gradual and he was on a half back flank when St Kilda won its only senior flag in 1966. Howell almost missed his dream of playing for the flag when he broke his jaw before the finals. Happily however, when the premiership cup was lifted, Howell was present as vice captain alongside skipper Darrel Baldock, providing the Saints with a unique, all-Tasmanian on-field leadership team for their one and only title.

As his career drew to a close Howell frequently played on the forward lines and was highly effective; in one game against Hawthorn he booted nine goals. However, it was as a defender that he rose to his greatest heights, winning St Kilda's best and fairest award in 1959, representing the Big V on nine occasions and, to all intents and purposes, re-writing the chapter in the manual of footy entitled "How to Play Full Back".

After his retirement as a player, Howell was appointed Assistant Coach to Tom Hafey at Richmond for three years, taking the reserve team to two grand finals – winning one. Afterwards he transferred to WA coaching Claremont for three years taking them to one losing Grand Final.

Howell returned to Tasmania for a stint in administration with the Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA in the mid 1970s). He then coached Launceston Football Club for a further two years.

He was duly recognised by his home state in 2004 when selected in the Tasmanian 'Team of the Century' and deservedly received a similar honour from both St Kilda and City-South.

Verdun Howell became an inaugural inductee in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and then was elevated to Legend in 2007.

CAreer HiGHLiGHTS159 games, 55 goals, St Kilda, 1958-1968.

Brownlow Medal, 1959.

St Kilda Best and Fairest, 1959.

St Kilda premiership, 1966.

City-South premierships, 1954 and 1956.

City-South and NTFA Best and Fairest, 1957.

Victorian representative on nine occasions.

Member of St Kilda, City-South and Tasmania Teams of the Century.

Rated the sixth highest in Brownlow votes received amongst Tasmanians.

Courtesy of Examiner NewspaperCourtesy of St Kilda FCCourtesy of St Kilda FCCourtesy of St Kilda FC

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2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame icon

Tim lane



Tim LAne

rADio / TeLeViSion / newSpAperS

CommenTATor / JournALiST – 1972-2013

Timothy 'Tim' Lane is the quintessential Tasmanian sports journalist and commentator. Having covered all major football leagues in Tasmania he moved to Melbourne to cover the VFL / AFL with great success. With his broad knowledge of sports, precise descriptions and endearing personality, he is regarded as one of Australia's most accomplished sports commentators.

Lane began his broadcasting career in 1972 when given the opportunity to broadcast North West Football Union games – unpaid – on Devonport station 7AD. His first professional assignment came the next year, with the ABC in Launceston, broadcasting Northern Tasmanian Football Association games. Tim gained a full-time post in the ABC’s Hobart office during 1974 and remained there broadcasting Tasmanian Football League games until gaining a position in the national broadcaster’s Victorian Sports Department in 1979.

Lane began calling a wide variety of sports including tennis, cricket, athletics and Australian Rules football matches in the Victorian Football League and Australian Football League. He was primarily a radio commentator but also became a regular face on ABC TV, and was a key member of the coverage team for the 1987 VFL season when the television broadcast rights fell to the ABC. In addition, he spent time as the sports presenter for ABC Television's primetime news bulletin in Melbourne.

As a commentator for such a variety of nationally (and sometimes internationally) broadcast sports, particularly for the highly popular AFL and cricket, Lane became one of Australia's best-known commentators and one of the ABC's most familiar personalities. In 1999 he was inducted into the Melbourne Cricket Ground Media Hall of Fame and is now on the panel to select future inductees.

Tim Lane joined Network Ten's AFL television coverage in 2003 and remained there until Ten lost the rights at the end of 2011. Lane resigned from his full-time role with the ABC in 2003 but continued as a part-time AFL commentator on ABC radio, predominantly for Friday night games, until the end of 2009. In addition to his role as an AFL commentator he is also a regular sports columnist for The Age newspaper.

At the end of the 2009 football season Lane left ABC radio and in 2010 joined 3AW. Lane leads the Sunday pre-match discussion and calls Saturday and Sunday games. He replaced Dennis Cometti as a Saturday caller.

Tim, along with his sports journalist daughter Samantha, is an avid supporter of the Carlton Football Club. However, he may have to switch allegiance if Tasmania succeeds in its push for an AFL club of its own. Tim is one of the most vocal and passionate advocates of the need for Tasmania to be given an opportunity to join the AFL and make the competition truly national.

Tim Lane is a proud Tasmanian who is also one of the most widely respected and credible Australian Football media representatives in the country. He was an inaugural media inductee in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and was elevated to Legend status the same year.

CAreer HiGHLiGHTSABC radio covering NWFU, NTFA and TFL, 1972-1979.

From 1979 onwards: radio, television and press commentator covering VFL / AFL with outlets including ABC and 3AW (radio), ABC and Network Ten (television), and The Age newspaper.

MCG Media Hall of Fame, 1999.

Inaugural Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductee and Legend, 2005.

Highly regarded and regular compere of the Australian and Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Courtesy of Examiner NewspaperCourtesy of The Advocate

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2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame leGend

PeTer JonespeTer JoneS

norTH HoBArT / CArLTon

ruCKmAn / ForwArD – 1963-1980

Peter Jones is known universally in football as ‘Percy’. A giant ruckman of his era at 198cm and more than 100kg, he was recruited by Carlton from North Hobart in late 1965 and proceeded to play 249 senior games for the Blues including four premierships.

Jones was a classic ruckman-cum-forward who contested stoppages around the ground and then moved to the forward pocket to become a goal-kicking option when resting. This was the standard approach to using tall ruckmen in the time before the interchange system was established in the late 1970s.

The high point of Jones’ personal playing career came in 1973 when he won the Carlton senior best and fairest award. He will long be remembered, however, for the controversy and anecdotes that marked every turn of his career, and the fact that he contributed to the Blues’ most productive golden era.

As well as playing in 23 finals matches he played in the four famous premierships in:

• 1968 – the first premiership under Ron Barassi when the Blues scored fewer goals than Essendon to win by a narrow margin.

• 1970 – when the Blues defeated Collingwood in what is arguably the most famous come-from-behind victory in grand final history.

• 1972 – when the underdog Blues kicked a record high score for a grand final and Jones carried the ruck work in one of his finest games.

• 1979 – the mud-bath against Collingwood where the Blues were captained-coached by Alex Jesaulenko and famously scored a late goal through the inspired and controversial tap-in by Wayne Harmes.

Peter Jones was initially approached by Richmond to play for the Tigers in 1967, but Carlton officials swooped shortly after and promised that if he came over to Victoria immediately they would play him in 1966. This worked well for Jones because his grandmother lived in St Kilda, so he made the move and took up employment in the public service alongside another Carlton player, Adrian Gallagher.

However, Jones nearly died in a very serious car accident in pre-season 1966 before he could make his debut. He was a passenger in the vehicle and suffered extremely serious skull, facial and eye-socket injuries, nearly losing an eye, badly breaking his nose and breaking both ankles. He was not fit enough to play his first senior match for Carlton until Round 16 of that year.

At the beginning of his career, Jones served a long apprenticeship to the super-competitive Blues legend John Nicholls. Much of his early career was spent forward in an era when there was no interchange off the bench. However, as Nicholls’ career came to an end in the early 1970s, Jones developed into one of the most talented, exuberant and reliable ruckmen who had ever played for Carlton.

When combining all senior games at North Hobart, the Tasmanian Football League, Tasmania and Victoria, Jones achieved over 300 senior games of football. Additionally, having represented Tasmania early in his career, he played a further representative game for Victoria in 1977, making him one of a select group who has played for more than one state.

Following the resignation of 1979 premiership coach Alex Jesaulenko due to an internal dispute at Carlton, Peter Jones was appointed coach. Although the team performed well during the regular season they were unable to make an impact during the finals series. Carlton chose to appoint David Parkin in place of Jones for the 1981 season. Jones held no grudge, and served for many years on the Carlton Committee.

Jones was selected in the North Hobart and Tasmania Teams of the Century and was an inaugural inductee in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

CAreer HiGHLiGHTSCarlton senior premierships, 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979.

Carlton Best and Fairest (John Nicholls Medal), 1973.

Carlton Best Clubman (Bert Deacon Trophy), 1978.

Coached Carlton, 1980.

Represented Victoria against Tasmania in 1977 at North Hobart Oval.

Debuted for North Hobart in 1963.

Represented the TFL in intrastate series, 1964-65.

Represented Tasmania three times, 1965.

North Hobart Team of the Century, 2000.

Tasmania Team of the Century, 2004.

Courtesy of Carlton FC


2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame leGend

micHael roacH

Courtesy of Examiner Newspaper


miCHAeL roACH

LonGForD / riCHmonD

FuLL ForwArD / ruCK – 1975-1989

Michael Roach, who is universally known as ‘Disco’, is best remembered for his long, accurate kicking for goal, strong marking and his reign as the best forward in Australian football in the early 1980s.

The second of a quartet of key forwards recruited by Richmond from Tasmania—preceded by Royce Hart and followed by Matthew Richardson and Jack Riewoldt—Roach was an enormously popular player whose career was interrupted by injury but still saw him ranked amongst the Tigers’ great forwards.

As a junior player at Westbury in Tasmania Roach won state representation and was selected to play senior football for Longford in 1975, aged only 16. He impressed by winning the club's goalkicking award in his two seasons and was selected to represent both the league and Tasmania.

When he arrived at Richmond for the 1977 season Roach was tall with a well developed physique and was particularly mobile and agile for his size. His first two seasons were curtailed by development and injury, but in 1979 under new Tigers coach Tony Jewell he further strengthened his big frame with the lure of the regular full forward position beckoning.

Royce Hart tutored the right-footed Michael Roach in the art of kicking the long, accurate drop punt, and so it was that Roach took the game by storm in the opening half of the 1979 season. To his brilliant contested marking he added an excellent lead and was a revelation when shooting for goal, rarely missing. Capable of goaling from a long way out, Roach raised standards among key forwards by regularly employing his non-preferred foot when kicking and often handballing to a teammate in a better position even when within scoring range.

In 1980, with Richmond heading toward the record for the highest aggregate in a season, Roach was the key to the Tigers' attack. Scoring eleven goals in one game and twice booting ten, he surged toward his century of goals for the season—an achievement not seen in the club since Jack Titus in 1940. The milestone was reached two games before the finals against Melbourne at the MCG. Richmond went into the finals placed third and won three finals in a row to take their tenth premiership. Roach was a premiership player and set a still-unbeaten club record of 112 goals for the year.

Continuing this form the next year, Roach won the inaugural Coleman Medal for the VFL's highest goalkicker during the regular season. However, his 86 goals failed to lift the Tigers into the finals in a disappointing follow-up to the flag.

In 1982 Richmond played Roach around the ground, including the ruck. Richmond finished the home-and-away season on top for the first time in eight years. In the semi-final against Carlton Roach was switched to centre half forward at the start of the game, catching the Blues off-guard, and he was a great player in a strong win. In the grand final, however, the Blues turned the tables in an inspired effort and took the premiership in a classic Blues-Tigers battle.

For the ensuing two seasons Roach played in the ruck and around the ground as the Tigers struggled with their playing structures and also on the field. Upon returning to the key forward position in 1985, Roach enjoyed one of his finest seasons. He equalled his career-best effort by booting 11 goals against Hawthorn, and scored eight of the team's 11 goals in a grudge match with Collingwood late in the year. Although the Tigers struggled badly both seasons, Roach managed 80 goals in 17 games in 1985 and 62 goals in 20 games in 1986.

Throughout the 1990s Michael Roach served the Tigers in off-field specialist coaching roles and was a visible supporter of the ‘Save Our Skins’ campaign of 1989–1990 which saved the club from bankruptcy. Roach was inducted into the Richmond Football Club Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2004 he was selected in the Tasmania Team of the Century.

CAreer HiGHLiGHTS200 games, 607 goals, Richmond, 1977-89.

Won Richmond’s goal kicking seven times, including a new club record of 112 in 1980.

Won the Coleman Medal for leading VFL/AFL goal kicker, 1980 and 1981.

Richmond senior premiership, 1980.

Richmond Life Member, 1986.

Represented Tasmania in 1979, 1980 and 1988.

Named in the 1979 All-Australian team.

Michael Roach Medal presented to Richmond’s leading goal kicker.

Played 46 senior games with Longford.

Represented NTFA and Tasmania, 1976.

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GeoFF Hill (268)Player Inductee

New Norfolk / Fitzroy, Defender, 1954-1974

18 games, Fitzroy, 1959-1960.

164 games, New Norfolk, 1954-1958 and 1964-1968.

New Norfolk Best and Fairest, 1964.

New Norfolk TFL and state premiership teams, 1968.

New Norfolk coach, 1973-1974.

Represented the TFL on numerous occasions.

Represented Tasmania on nine occasions in 1957, 1958 and 1965.

Geoff Hill was a great servant of New Norfolk Football Club and a highly regarded defender. He represented Tasmania as a schoolboy champion in carnivals in 1950 and 1951. After debuting for the Eagles as an 18-year-old in 1954 he developed into one of the state’s best full backs. He was a regular TFL representative and first represented Tasmania against South Australia in 1957. A member of Tasmania’s National Carnival team in 1958, he was recruited by Fitzroy’s Arthur Edwards, who was also New Norfolk’s first TFL coach back in the 1940s. Hill won selection in a strong Fitzroy combination under the innovative coach Len Smith, but was curtailed by a serious shoulder injury and returned to coach in Tasmania. After a successful period with Kermandie in the Huon Football Association he returned home to a New Norfolk club that was on the rise. His form was so good that he achieved further personal and club honours and helped win the Eagles the ultimate prize: their first TFL and state premiership under Trevor Leo’s leadership in 1968. Throughout the 1970s Geoff Hill continued to serve New Norfolk FC as a coach and committeeman before his sudden passing in 1982.

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame inducTees


JoHn HeaTHcoTe (269)Player Inductee

Penguin / Ulverstone / Carlton / Burnie, Rover, 1952-1966

69 games, 73 goals, Carlton, 1958-1962.

Leading Goalkicker, Carlton, 1958.

Around 50 games, Penguin, 1953-1954.

Around 50 games, Ulverstone, 1955-1957.

Around 35 games, Burnie Tigers, 1963-1964, 1965-1966.

Ulverstone NWFU premierships, 1955, 1956 and 1957.

Ulverstone state premiership, 1955.

Ulverstone Best and Fairest, 1957.

Burnie Tigers coach, 1963-1964.

Burnie Tigers NWFU and state premiership teams, 1963.

Represented the NWFU on numerous occasions.

Tasmanian representative on four occasions.

John Heathcote began his notable football career at Penguin in north-west Tasmania before being recruited to form a ‘mosquito fleet’ of players at Ulverstone in the NWFU under Tasmanian football icon, Arthur Hodgson. A rover with a great capacity to kick goals, he was an instrumental player for the Robins in the mid-1950s as they secured three consecutive regional premierships and the first state title for a north-west club. Carlton swooped on the short and stocky rover who had been developed by their own 1950 best and fairest winner, Hodgson, as they went about creating a group of dangerous small players suitable to challenge in the VFL. Heathcote debuted early in 1958 and used his renowned pace to great effect, ultimately leading the Blues goal kicking in an era of poor ground conditions and low scoring. On his return to Tasmania in 1963 Heathcote captained and coached the Burnie Tigers to state premiership honours.

wayne youd (271)Umpire Inductee

NTFUA / NWUA, Field / Goal Umpire / Coach, 1973-2013

Umpired more than 330 senior games in the field and behind the goals.

Umpired numerous grand finals, intrastate and interstate games.

Field Umpire, Tasmania vs. Richmond, 1980.

Head Coach, NWUA, 1990-1994.

Goal Coach, NWUA, 2000-2013.

Goal coach / observer, VFL and TAC Cup umpires.

NWUA Appointment Board, 21 years.

NWUA Life Member and Hall of Fame.

NTFL Hall of Fame Member.

Wayne Youd is a stalwart of Tasmanian umpiring who has controlled more than 1,500 games of football as umpire, umpire coach or observer at all levels of the game. As he enters his fortieth year of active involvement in the game his motivation knows no bounds. One of his proudest achievements is the development of his son, Ricky Youd, into a 20-year veteran of umpiring also. Young Ricky was a potential draftee playing for Cooee prior to a motor vehicle accident which left him with severe impairment and nearly took his life. Additionally, Youd’s three grandchildren are now all blowing the whistle or waving the flags as they follow in his footsteps. Renowned as a footballer’s umpire with a strong understanding of the game, Wayne Youd names amongst his favourite memories the 1979 intrastate clash between the TFL and NWFU at North Hobart Oval. As the controlling field umpire, Youd paid a controversial free kick against the NWFU’s renowned defender, Vin Waite, which gave the peerless Peter Hudson the opportunity to kick the game-winning goal. During the after-match Youd was confronted by the colourful Vin Waite and he broke the awkward silence by grabbing a chair and standing on it to face off with the colossus, much to everyone’s delight.

bill sorell (270)Volunteer Administrator Inductee

Sandy Bay / Tasmanian Football League (TFL) / Tasmanian Devils / AFL Tasmania, 1970-2013

Sandy Bay Social Committee, 1970-1971.

Sandy Bay Committee of Management, 1972-1986 and 1991-1997.

President, Sandy Bay FC, 1991-1997.

Sandy Bay Life Member, 1986.

Sandy Bay Hall of Fame, 2006.

TFL Merit Award, 1989.

TFL Director, 1991-1997.

TFL Commissioner, 1998.

AFL Tasmania Special Projects Advisor, 1999-2013.

Tasmania Football Club (Tasmanian Devils) Board Member, 2002-2006.

AFL Merit Award, 2005.

Bill Sorell served his beloved Sandy Bay Seagulls in the TFL for 23 seasons. He saw them achieve the highest of highs, winning multiple state and regional titles in the 1970s, and then sink to the lowest of lows, as they failed to consolidate their volunteer, supporter and finance base in the 1990s and went into recess. Before and after that crushing blow, Bill Sorell has shown continuous dedication to Tasmanian football. He was drafted into the TFL management structure to demonstrate his talent for football promotion in the finals series of 1984 to 1987. Subsequently he has served on the Board of the TFL and remains a trusted special projects advisor to AFL Tasmania. Amongst many accolades for this tireless volunteer administrator was the evolution of the Sandy Bay Football Club Grand Final Luncheon into the Bill Sorell Sports Luncheon. This well-regarded event has been led by Bill throughout its history and has been a sell-out for many of its 32 years, with more than 700 guests attending annually at Wrest Point.

Courtesy of The AdvocateCourtesy of The Advocate Courtesy of The Advocate Courtesy of The Advocate

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Player inducTees

Jamie dennis (274)Player Inductee

Scottsdale / North Launceston, Rover, 1979-1993

Around 150 games, Scottsdale 1979-1987.

Around 110 games, North Launceston, 1988-1993.

Scottsdale Best and Fairest, 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986.

Scottsdale premierships, 1982, 1984, 1986.

NTFA Best and Fairest (Hec Smith Medal), 1982 and 1984.

Member Scottsdale team of 1960-2000.

Tasmanian representative on six occasions.

Multiple NTFA representative.

Jamie Dennis was a brave and busy rover who dominated the NTFA in the early 1980s and then became a star with North Launceston in the statewide league. Dennis was the first Scottsdale player to make the transition to the state league after the two clubs had been fierce traditional rivals in regional football for many years. Easily recognisable with his flowing, curly hair, he was always found under packs and creating opportunities around goals. Jamie Dennis played over 250 senior games and tragically succumbed to illness shortly after retiring in the mid-1990s. North Launceston and Scottsdale honoured his memory in annual pre-season games during the 1990s in support of cancer research.

leiGH mcconnon (272)Player Inductee

North Hobart / Carlton / Fitzroy / Clarence, 1973-2013

26 games, four goals, Carlton, 1976-1977.

23 games, four goals, Fitzroy, 1980-1981.

Around 40 games, North Hobart, 1973-1975.

North Hobart premiership, North Hobart, 1974.

Represented Tasmania against South Australia, 1975.

Represented the TFL on numerous occasions.

Senior Coach, Clarence, 1991-1992.

Twice All Australian Super Rules Coach.

Selected as the Coach of Tasmanian Super Rules Best 25 team.

Leigh McConnon commenced his senior football journey as a 14-year-old when he debuted for his hometown of Triabunna on Tasmania's east coast. From these small beginnings Leigh McConnon has embarked on a senior and masters football journey of more than 40 years across Tasmania and Victoria. McConnon's athletic attributes saw him snapped up by North Hobart and then Carlton to play as a lightly framed but speedy wingman. After additional time in the VFL with Fitzroy and the VFA with Williamstown, McConnon returned to Tasmania for further auspicious service to the game as a coach, selector and contributor in the media. Leigh McConnon has been recognised as the pre-eminent coach in Tasmanian Super Rules over the past two decades.

Tony maGuire (273)Overall Contribution Inductee

Wynyard / Devonport / Smithton, Forward / Administrator, 1975-2013

Around 55 games, Wynyard, 1975 and 1978-1980.

Around 18 games, Devonport, 1977.

Around 145 games, Smithton, 1981-1989.

Leading Goalkicker, Wynyard, 1978 and 1979.

Leading Goalkicker, Smithton, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1989.

Leading Goalkicker, NWFU, 1982 and 1983.

Wynyard NWFU premierships, 1975 and 1979.

Smithton NWFU premiership, 1983.

NWFU Grand Final best on ground, 1983.

NWFU 200 Club member, 1986.

Smithton coach, 1990.

Member Wynyard All Stars side 1965–1995.

Tony ‘Birder’ Maguire was a goalkicking machine with Wynyard and Smithton who was a strong mark and rarely missed when shooting for goal. He helped Wynyard to premierships during the 1970s and then spearheaded Smithton’s move into the NWFU in 1981. After the 1982 NWFU grand final loss to Cooee, the Saints bounced back under Stephen Parsons in 1983. With Tony Maguire almost unstoppable at full forward, Smithton achieved a famous grand final victory over Cooee by one point in 1983. Maguire kicked ten goals and was named best on ground. After concluding his playing and coaching career Tony Maguire gave great service on the Committee of Smithton, the highlight being his period as President of Smithton during which the club won their only NTFL premiership in 1991. He has served his club for two decades in various committee roles.

Courtesy of The Advocate Courtesy of The Advocate Courtesy of The Advocate


TrenT barTleTT (275)Overall Contribution Inductee

Deloraine / Brisbane Bears / Brisbane Lions / Western Bulldogs / Tasmanian Devils / Glenorchy, Forward / Ruckman, 1992-2013

22 games, one goal, Brisbane Bears, 1995-1996.

17 games, seven goals, Brisbane Lions, 1997-1999.

42 games, 34 goals, Western Bulldogs, 2000-2002.

67 games, 91 goals, Tasmanian Devils, 2003-2006.

Credited with more than 200 senior games in the AFL and Tasmanian football.

Represented Tasmania against Queensland, 2007.

Represented Queensland against West Australia.

Represented Victoria (VFL) against West Australia.

Trent Bartlett is the ‘big ship’ of Tasmanian football. A schoolboy champion at Deloraine, he captained a Tasmanian underage team before he was drafted as a 16-year-old in the 1993 Draft. He ultimately spent a decade in the AFL with Brisbane and the Western Bulldogs. Having developed as a teenager with the Brisbane teams he transferred to the Western Bulldogs for his three most productive seasons at the national level. In 2003 he returned to Tasmania to play and serve the game with the Tasmanian Devils and AFL Tasmania. He continued to perform as a powerful centre half forward or ruckman for the Tasmanian Devils, leading the team into consecutive finals series in the VFL. In many ways this was a high point of Tasmanian football achievement in the modern era and Bartlett was regarded by Tasmania’s coach, Mathew Armstrong, as the Devils’ most valuable player for his leadership and influence on the game. Trent Bartlett’s playing career was curtailed by severe ankle injuries, a chronic problem since he had been forced to sit out the 1997 season altogether. Subsequently Bartlett has proven himself a tremendous servant of football in Tasmania at the highest level. After serving AFL Tasmania as a business development manager for many years he now continues to assist the development of the game as the Tasmanian Women’s representative team coach.

cHris Jones (277)Player Inductee

George Town / North Launceston / Tassie Mariners / Tasmanian Devils, Midfielder, 1996-2012

Around 180 games, George Town, 2001-2012.

Around 70 games, North Launceston, 1997-2000.

17 games, Tasmanian Devils, 2002.

Inaugural member of the Tasmanian Mariners, 2005 and 2006.

North Launceston TFL premiership, 1998.

George Town NTFA premierships, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

NTFA Grand Final best on ground on two occasions.

George Town Best and Fairest on five occasions.

NTFA Best and Fairest on four occasions.

Member of the George Town team of the modern era, 1990-2010.

NTFA Team of the Decade, 2000s.

Multiple NTFA representative.

Chris Jones is arguably the most decorated footballer in the history of Tasmanian regional football. After debuting for North Launceston in 1997 he retained his position as a speedy midfielder throughout the Bombers’ unprecedented, undefeated run under Mathew Armstrong in the 1998 TFL season. Following a stint with the Tasmanian Devils in 2001 Jones returned to his original club, George Town, and helped create an Australian record for senior football that will be very difficult to better. The Saints won eight consecutive senior titles in the NTFA with Chris Jones as their most distinguished player, securing no less than nine association and club best and fairest awards during this platinum reign over the competition. From 1998 to 2009 Jones competed in 12 consecutive grand finals: four for North Launceston and then a further eight for George Town. This humble centre field specialist played no small part in his clubs’ success thanks to his team play, hard work and genuine pace which allowed him to easily get around his opponents and carry the ball towards goal for his team mates. Chris Jones was the ultimate midfield offensive weapon in Northern Tasmanian football throughout much of the 2000s.

brodie Holland (276)Player Inductee

Tassie Mariners / Glenorchy / Fremantle / Collingwood, Forward, 1995-2013

Debuted with Tassie Mariners as a 15-year-old, 2005.

36 games, 37 Goals, Fremantle, 1998-2000.

118 games, 104 goals, Collingwood, 2001-2008.

Runner-up Collingwood Best and Fairest (Copeland Trophy), 2005.

Grand Final, Collingwood, 2003.

Maribyrnong Park (Essendon District League) senior coach, including premierships in 2009 and 2010.

A livewire forward, tagger and personality, Brodie Holland is well-known in football circles throughout Australia and forged a strong AFL career with Fremantle and particularly Collingwood in the 2000s. After starring with the Tassie Mariners in the TAC Cup competition and being selected All Australian U16, Holland was drafted as a 17-year-old in the 1997 AFL Draft at number 26 overall. He made his debut mid-way through 1998 as a small-forward and played most games following his first appearance. He spent a further two seasons at the Dockers before being traded to Collingwood for the 2001 season. Holland quickly adapted as a successful player for the Magpies and became a fan favourite in his first season, kicking 28 goals in 21 matches. In subsequent seasons he was often used as a tagger and then became a genuine ball-getting midfielder.and gained a record for niggling play and unwanted visits to the judiciary. His tribunal record initially disrupted his transition to becoming a successful playing coach in the strong Essendon District League.

Courtesy of The AdvocateCourtesy of The Advocate Courtesy of The Advocate Courtesy of The ExaminerCourtesy of The Examiner

16

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame GreaT club

laTrobe FooTball club

With 119 VFL games under his belt, many of them as the Saints’ captain, Darrel Baldock was perfectly equipped and qualified to mould talented individuals like John Jillard, Bob Hickman, Denis ‘Mary’ Smith, Ken Luxmoore and Rod Butler into a consistently winning combination. Between 1969 and 1972 Latrobe established an all-time league record by winning four premierships in succession. During this golden era the Demons also seized the 1970 state premiership with a victory over Clarence and were runners-up in 1971 and 1972.

When the structure of Tasmanian football underwent a drastic overhaul at the end of the 1986 season, Latrobe found itself in the newly formed Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL). After a somewhat inglorious start—the club recorded a success rate of just 29.3% in its first six seasons—it has established itself as a key member of the competition.

Having lost the 1994 and 2000 NTFL grand finals to Ulverstone, Latrobe broke a 38-year premiership drought by defeating Ulverstone by 30 points in the 2010 grand final. The club achieved back-to-back success with a hard-fought victory over Penguin in the 2011 NTFL premiership decider, while the 2012 grand final saw Latrobe lose narrowly to Wynyard.

The Latrobe Football Club deservedly takes its place amongst the ‘Great Clubs’ of Tasmanian football.

CLuB DeTAiLS

Home ground – Darrel Baldock Oval (Latrobe Recreation Ground)

Established – 19 June 1881

Playing colours – Navy blue and red

Emblem – Demons (formerly Diehards)

Club theme song – "It's a Grand Old Flag" (Tune: "You're a Grand Old Flag")

Affiliations – NWFL (1882–1909) NWFU (1910–1986), NTFL (1987–present)

PremiersHiP TiTles

nwFL premierSHipS 1891, 1892, 1907

nwFu premierSHipS 1913, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972.

nTFL premierSHipS 2010, 2011.

TASmAniAn STATe premierSHipS 1970.

The Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame Great Club for 2013 is the Latrobe Football Club.

Its population may only be in the region of 3,000, but on a per capita basis Latrobe’s contribution to the sport of Australian football is second to none. The club’s fifteen senior premierships plus one state flag is creditable enough, but when one peruses a list of the illustrious names to have taken the field wearing the Diehards’/ Demons’ navy and red jumper over the years, one’s admiration increases still further.

Along with regular Tasmanian interstate representatives such as Joe Murphy, Len Lawson and Vin Waite, and dual Wander medalists Bob Hickman and John Jillard, Latrobe has produced four champions who warrant legendary status regardless of either the era or the company. Of these, Ivor Warne-Smith and Darrel Baldock have both acquired Australia-wide reputations, while Harry Coventry and Ellis Maney, despite being less well known, can also lay claim to being among Latrobe’s favourite sons.

Formed on 19 June 1881, the Latrobe Football Club had already firmly established itself on the north-west coastal football scene when Harry Coventry began his career. By the time that career was over, the Diehards were arguably the strongest team in the region and Coventry had been a member of their first five premiership teams.

Having spent most of its formative phase in the North West Football League (NWFL), in 1910 Latrobe became a founding member of the North West Football Union (NWFU), along with Mersey, Wesley Vale, Ulverstone and Penguin. It was to remain a member of the NWFU until the competition was disbanded at the end of the 1986 season. Latrobe contested its first NWFU grand final in 1911, losing heavily to Mersey, before breaking through for its first flag two years later.

Coastal football went into recess because of World War One in 1916 and did not resume until after the devastating influenza outbreak of 1919. When it did resume, Latrobe was a forceful presence, contesting all five grand finals between 1920 and 1924 for three premierships, and winning another flag in 1926. It was during this era that eventual dual Brownlow medalist, Ivor Warne-Smith, led the club as captain and coach under the mentorship of Harry Coventry.

Incredibly, Warne-Smith recruited one Ellis Maney from Ulverstone to play in the Diehards’ successful 1924 NWFU title attempt. Maney subsequently led the club to its next prominent era during the early 1930s, winning pennants in 1930, 1931 and 1933, and finishing second in 1932. A further losing grand final followed in 1939. The period following the 1945 resumption of football after the Second World War proved an unusually dismal time for Latrobe. Not even the arrival in 1959 of a new captain-coach from East Devonport by the name of Darrel John Baldock could spark an improvement in fortune.

It would not be until the newly appointed President, Ellis Maney, instigated Baldock’s return from a seven-season stint with St Kilda in 1969 that the Diehards would, at long last, return to pre-eminence. That the club already possessed a nucleus of highly accomplished players was not in doubt—Latrobe players would, incredibly, win every Wander Medal on offer between 1964 and 1971—but such talent was worthless unless it could be harnessed.

Courtesy of Mercury Newspaper


2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame GreaT club

laTrobe FooTball club

individual medal winners

wAnDer meDAL winnerS (BeST AnD FAireST in THe nwFu)1948 – Dave Jeffrey

1952 – Peter Gillam

1956 – Joe Murphy

1959 – Darrel Baldock

1964 – Wally Clark

1965 – Len Lawson

1966 – Bob Hickman

1967 – Bob Hickman

1968 – Brian Waters


1970 – John Jillard

1971 – John Jillard

DArreL BALDoCK meDAL winnerS (BeST AnD FAireST in THe nTFL)

2009 – Gavin Woodcock

ALL-AuSTrALiAn pLAyerS


comPeTiTion leadinG Goalkickers

nwFu LeADinG GoALKiCKerS1920 – H. Hicks (Not available)

1921 – H. Hicks (Not available)

1922 – H. Hicks (39 goals)

1937 – N. Horne (71)

1938 – N. Horne (61)

1939 – N. Horne (84)

1954 – A. Cole (97)

1970 – R. Gilham (83)

1986 – Tom Honner (85)

nTFL LeADinG GoALKiCKerS1989 – Mark Williams (132)

1994 – Terry Keays (117)

2000 – S. French (42)

club records

CLuB reCorD SCore

38.22 (250) v Penguin 9.6 (60) in 2004

CLuB reCorD GAmeS HoLDer

Rod Butler (324)

CLuB / GrounD reCorD mATCH ATTenDAnCe

11,329 – Latrobe v Sandy Bay at North Hobart Oval on 2 October 1971 for the Tasmanian State Premiership Final.

6,493 – Smithton v Scottsdale at Latrobe Recreation Ground in 1989 for the Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL) Grand Final.

laTrobe recreaTion Ground / darrel baldock ovalThe Latrobe Recreation Ground was established in the early years of the Latrobe Football Club and was renamed in honour of Tasmanian and Latrobe football Icon, Darrel Baldock, in 2012.

The ground was a regular finals venue for the North West Football Union and then became the primary Grand Final venue for the Northern Tasmanian Football League from 1993.

Latrobe Recreation Ground is home to the Latrobe Bicycle Race Club, Latrobe Cricket Club, Latrobe Football Club and Latrobe Federal Band (Bandrooms).

The ground has a cycling track surrounding the whole oval with three grandstands on the main wing.

It is the home of the NTFL Grand Final and Preliminary Final each year and also part of the Tasmanian Christmas Carnival series hosting the annual Boxing Day Carnival, which includes cycling, athletics and woodchopping events.

The recent football history of the Ground has seen the venue host the 1989 NTFL grand final with a record crowd of 6493. As well, since 1993 the ground has hosted 20 consecutive NTFL Grand Finals to make it the pre-eminent Coastal football venue come September finals time.

18

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame leGendary Team

1977 sTaTe scHoolboys Team

The Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame Legendary Team for 2013 is the Tasmania Schoolboys team of 1977.

The Tasmania team successfully contested the Australian State Schools National Football Carnival (ASSNFC), which was held in Hobart from 21 August to 2 September 1977 at the North Hobart and KGV Ovals. All teams played in one competition for the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Silver Jubilee Cup.

Tasmania has a history of participation in carnivals for talented high-school-aged players dating back over 100 years. When the program became an official ‘schoolboys’ carnival in 1923 Tasmania was at the forefront of organisation and participation. In more recent times, Tasmania has fully supported the AFL’s decision to manage and fund the program and has competed in Division Two of the AFL National Carnival since 1996.

While many famous football names have first represented Tasmania at this level—including Peter Hudson, Royce Hart, Ian Stewart and Darrel Baldock—the state has also recorded many other football achievements at this level. Arguably one of the highest points for Tasmanian schoolboy football came during the 1977 carnival in Hobart.

The Tasmania Schoolboys team of 1977 was coached by Rod Radford and captained by David Riekie.

Tasmanian scHoolboys Golden carnival – 1977• The carnival consisted of teams from all states and territories and all teams

played each other in a round robin format. As a consequence, the Tasmania team played and won seven games in ten days against the best schoolboy footballers in the nation.

• This was the first and only occasion that Tasmania had won the ASSNFC at a full national level beating all comers.*

• Selection in a 20-player All-Australian squad was achieved by a record six Tasmanians: David Cornelius, Garry Jago, David Riekie, David Douce, Noel Peters and Robert Semmens.

• Tasmanian player David Cornelius won the State Carnival best and fairest award, the Marshall Medal.

• There was incredible public support for the team, especially in the game against Victoria, held prior to a TFL finals game, in which Tasmania won by four points, and again in the deciding game against New South Wales on the last day, which Tasmania won by three points to maintain its unbeaten record.

• The game between Tasmania and Victoria was telecast live by the ABC and commentated by Tim Lane.

• Two members of the team have passed on: Team Manager Denis Scully and full back Max Jamieson, who played an heroic role in the crucial win against Victoria.

Tasmania’s winninG seQuence – 1977

SCHooLBoyS nATionAL CArniVAL – HoBArT, 1977Date Team Score Team Score Crowd Venue

23/8 Tasmania 11.10 (76) ACT 5.3 (33) 300 NHO

24/8 Tasmania 6.13 (49) SA 7.4 (46) 500 KGV

25/8 Tasmania 12.4 (76) WA 8.8 (56) 400 NHO

27/8 Tasmania 8.10 (58) Victoria 8.6 (54) 5,000 NHO

29/8 Tasmania 16.8 (104) Queensland 3.4 (22) 300 NHO

30/8 Tasmania 17.11 (113) NT 4.3 (27) 300 KGV

1/9 Tasmania 7.8 (50) NSW 7.5 (47) 2,000 NHO

* Tasmania has won restricted carnivals in 1954, 1955, 1956, 2003, 2008, 2010.


Tasmania sQuad lisT – 1977nAme preViouS CLuBDavid Riekie – Captain Hobart

Andrew Morton Clarence / Hobart

Brendon Sheehan Devonport

Brett Woodard Riverside / Launceston

Chris Riewoldt Clarence

Craig Fraser Rose Bay / Hobart

Craig O’Halloran Irishtown

David Cornelius New Norfolk

David Douce Latrobe

Garry Jago Red Hills / Deloraine

Greg Bransden Ross

Gregory Ralston Smithton

John MacMurray New Town / North Hobart

John Van Der Wal Devonport

Lester Rainbow Winnaleah / Scottsdale

Mark Coppleman Clarence

Mark Kreune Clarence

Max Jamieson New Norfolk

Noel Peters Glenorchy

Peter Free Glenorchy

Peter Roozendaal Scottsdale

Robert Semmens East Launceston

Stephen Morgan Ulverstone

Stephen Walker East Launceston

Timothy Carter Clarence

Rod Radford – Coach Claremont HS

Denis Scully – Manager Queechy HS

David Probert – Organiser Claremont HS

Peter Fish – Organiser Education Department

Tasmania deTailed resulTs – 1977

GAme 1 Tasmania 11.10 (76) defeated ACT 5.3 (33) Best: Peters, Semmens, Riekie, Riewoldt, Carter, Rianbow. Goals: Semmens 3, Cornelius 3, Riewoldt 2, Peters, Morton, Riekie.

GAme 2 Tasmania 6.13 (49) defeated South Australia 7.4 (46) Best: Carter, Douce, Roozendaal, MacMurray, Ralston, Cornelius. Goals: Riewoldt 2, Sheehan, Peters, Semmens, Morton.

GAme 3 Tasmania 12.4 (76) defeated West Australia 8.8 (56) Best: Semmens, Douce, Cornelius, Peters, Jago, Riekie. Goals: Ralston 2, Roozendaal 2, Peters 2, Kreune 2, Morton 2, Semmens.

GAme 4 Tasmania 8.10 (58) defeated Victoria 8.6 (52) Best: Douce, Peters, Semmens, Riekie, Cornelius, Jameson. Goals: Morton 2, Kreune 2, Peters, O’Halloran, Riewoldt, Ralston.

GAme 5 Tasmania 16.8 (104) defeated Queensland 3.4 (22) Best: Cornelius, Riekie, Kreune, Coppleman, Jago, Walker. Goals: Kreune 6, Cornelius 2, Frazer, Peters, Morton, MacMurray, Woodward, Van Der Wal, Ralston, Riekie.

GAme 6 Tasmania 17.11 (113) defeated Northern Territory 4.3 (27) Best: Riewoldt, Cornelius, O’Halloran, Frazer, Coppleman, Kreune. Goals: Kreune 6, Peters 3, Cornelius 2, MacMurray 2, Riewoldt, Frazer, Jamieson, Riekie.

GAme 7 Tasmania 7.8 (50) defeated New South Wales 7.5 (47) Best: Morton, Semmens, Riewoldt, Rickie, O’Halloran, Carter. Goals: Semmens 4, Ralston, Kreune, Van Der Wal.

20

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame memorable Game

1963 burnie v nTH launcesTon sTaTe Final

Tasmanian sTaTe Grand Final 1963

Burnie TiGerS V norTH LAunCeSTon roBinS

GAme reSuLTS

STATe GrAnD FinAL DATe: 5 oCToBerTeams 1st 2nd 3rd Final

Burnie 2.7 6.14 8.16 8.25 (73)

North Launceston 1.3 1.4 2.12 6.13 (49)

Venue: York Park Umpire: B.Toohey (VFL)

Attendance: 6,585 Gate: £1676

Best: Burnie

M.McCormack, D.Carter, I.Batt, J.Heathcote, R.Cornish, K.Symons, A.Young.

North Launceston C.Thompson, L.Sharp, G.Henderson, H.Boyd, J.Swain, P.Sherry, S.Wing, B.Withers.

Goals: Burnie

J.Heathcote 2, T.Woolley 2, K.Jones 1, B.Murfett 1, K.Symons 1, G.Lynch 1.

North Launceston B.Withers 2, J.Hawksley 2, R.Jones 1, J.Swain 1.

Team lisTs

TeAmS:Burnie B K.Redman R.Cornish M.McCormack

HB G.Thorp A.Young J.Munro

C I.Batt M.Goninon A.Webb

HF P.Sweeney K.Jones K.Symons

F L.Cox T.Woolley G.Lynch

Ruck D.Carter B.Murfett J.Heathcote

Res. I.Parker P.Anderson T.Shadbolt

Coach J.Heathcote

north Launceston

B P.Sherry R.Dargavel J.Swain

HB T.Stingle S.Wing R.Bennett

C K.McLean L.Sharp G.Withers

HF B.Withers H.Boyd W.Hayes

F G.Henderson J.Hawksley D.Ryan

Ruck W.Turner C.Thompson R.Jones

Res. L.Gurr B.Dunstone

Coach B.Withers

The Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame Memorable Game for 2013 is the Tasmanian State Grand Final of 1963 between the Burnie Tigers and North Launceston Robins, which was played at York Park (Aurora Stadium).

Members of the Burnie Tigers 1963 Tasmanian State Premiership team will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their achievement this year. That year the Tigers became the first team from Burnie to become state premiers in a year when north-west coastal football again dominated Tasmanian football.

The memorable 1963 state final positioned the Burnie Tigers at the pinnacle of Tasmanian football for the first and only time in their history. It was a richly deserved win following a golden era under the coaching guidance of Paddy Martin, Don Gale and John Heathcote. The Tigers’ 1963 victory marked their fifth attempt at securing state honours and was the high point in the club’s six-year period of domination over north-west football which saw them win regional titles in 1958, 1959 and 1960 under GB Paddy Martin; in 1962 under Don Gale; and in 1963 under John Heathcote. In 1961 the Tigers were runners-up to West Park co-tenants, the Cooee Bulldogs, by five points.

The 1963 state final was Burnie’s eleventh regional or state grand final in the six-year period from 1958 to 1963. No other club has played in so many grand finals in a six-year period in Tasmanian football history since the commencement of the three-region state premiership competition in 1954. During this era the Burnie and Cooee clubs had competed in the preceding five state grand finals only to come away with the bridesmaid tag each time, including on home soil in 1958 and 1961.

The Burnie team of this era entered the annals of Tasmanian football history on a wave of expectation that ran the length of the north-west coast. Belief was strong that the Tigers would at last prevail after they comfortably accounted for Hobart in the state pre-final at West Park. The state final was watched by a crowd of 6,500 at North Launceston’s home ground of York Park. The Tigers started strongly against the underdog North Launceston and, except for inaccuracy, may have won more comfortably than the final margin of 24 points.



burnie TiGers’ Golden era – 1958 To 1963TASmAniAn GrAnD FinALS – 1958 To 1963STATe GrAnD FinALSYear Premiers Score Runners Up Score Venue

1963 Burnie 12.11 (83) Nth Launceston 9.9 (63) York Park

1962 Nth Hobart 11.10 (76) Burnie 9.10 (64) North Hobart Oval

1961 Nth Hobart 13.8 (86) Cooee 8.10 (58) West Park

1960 City-South 15.17 (107) Burnie 12.17 (89) York Park

1959 Hobart 14.11 (95) Burnie 9.14 (68) North Hobart Oval

1958 Glenorchy 7.11 (53) Burnie 6.11 (47) Devonport Oval

nwFu GrAnD FinALS – 1958 To 1963reGionAL GrAnD FinALSYear Premiers Score Runners Up Score Venue

1963 Burnie 15.15 (105) Ulverstone 13.11 (89) West Park

1962 Burnie 12.10 (92) Devonport 13.4 (82) Devonport Oval

1961 Cooee 8.10 (58) Burnie 8.5 (53) West Park

1960 Burnie 12.10 (82) Cooee 7.15 (57) Devonport Oval

1959 Burnie 16.10 (106) East Devonport 11.10 (76) West Park

1958 Burnie 19.15 (129) East Devonport 13.13 (91) Devonport Oval

TASmAniAn STATe GrAnD FinAL 1963 Burnie TiGerS V norTH LAunCeSTon roBinS GAme DeSCripTion

piVoT SumS up courtesy of Vic Castles of The Advocate

TYPICAL TIGER VICTORY

Burnie brought victory and history to the north-west coast on Saturday, when it easily defeated North Launceston in the state premiership at York Park.

The Tigers’ blistering pace and scintillating play on style overpowered the Robins in the first few minutes and they never relinquished their ascendency even when North Launceston pressed in the final quarter.

Only the Tigers’ atrocious kicking kept the margin within reach through the first three quarters of the game before the final score read: Burnie 8.25 (73) to North Launceston 6.13 (49).

Burnie never looked in danger of defeat but it was a tribute to the fighting qualities of North Launceston that the game was not dull or one-sided.

Burnie’s key position players held the ascendency for much of the day until North’s veteran centreman Lerrel Sharp threatened to drag his team back into the game. However the Tigers found wingman Ian Batt up to the task as he repeatedly used his Burnie Gift winning pace to advantage.

The Burnie backline was well served by the work of Graham Thorp on Bob Withers and the ‘greyhound’ Ron Cornish on Jack Hawksley. Cornish was devastating and delighted spectators with long clearing dashes, sometimes as far up the ground as centre half forward.

Burnie’s determination, big man advantage, pace and close checking tactics, enabled it to outplay North for much of the game and finally achieve their elusive first state premiership.

2013 Tasmanian FooTball Hall oF Fame memorable Game

1963 burnie v nTH launcesTon sTaTe Final


SINCE 1942

22

2013 ausTralian FooTball Hall oF Fame

royce HarT

By then Richmond's game plan, devised by four-time premiership coach Tom Hafey, could be summed up as "long bombs to Royce", and that style of play enabled Hart to take countless great marks during the remainder of his career.

Hart was conscripted into the National Service in 1969. He spent the best part of a year with the Royal Australian Artillery in Adelaide, during which he flew back to Melbourne on weekends to play for Richmond. Hart still kicked 31 goals for the season, and the Tigers became the first team to win the flag from fourth on the ladder.

While living in Adelaide Hart trained regularly with Glenelg and the connection led to an offer of $2000 to play for Glenelg in the 1969 SANFL Grand Final, held a week after the VFL decider. The Tigers' opponent, Sturt, was incensed and its experienced hard men took out their anger on the controversial import. Hart was concussed in the first quarter and Sturt won its fourth successive flag by 65 points.

Appointed captain in 1972, Hart led the Tigers into the grand final with a series of commanding displays, including a six-goal haul in the qualifying final against Collingwood. Although Richmond suffered an upset loss to Carlton in the highest-scoring decider in VFL/AFL history - the Blues won 28.9 to 22.18- he and his teammates rebounded in 1973.

It was the season that proved Hart was as tough as he was talented. Hart tore cartilage in his left knee during the Tigers' round 15 clash with St Kilda but returned for the qualifying final against Carlton, booting five goals in Richmond's 20-point loss. Hart then led the Tigers to a seven-goal win in the first semi-final against St Kilda, however he had to have a large amount of fluid drained from his knee after the match. He was initially left out of the team to play Collingwood in the preliminary final but Hafey included him on his reserves bench, just in case.

Hafey's fears were realised when his team trailed the Magpies by six goals at the long break. After a discussion with Graeme Richmond, Hafey decided to send his skipper into battle. A hobbled Hart booted two goals and set up numerous others as the Tigers came back from the dead and won by seven points. Hart kicked another three majors a week later as Richmond avenged its loss the previous year.

In 1974 Hart led the Tigers to another premiership. "It feels like a long time ago," he said with a chuckle. "Particularly with the way Richmond have gone over the last 20-odd years. I wish they'd win another one and get the monkey off their back."

The latter years of Hart's career were interrupted by knee problems, which eventually forced him to retire, aged 29, midway through the 1977 season. A switch to coaching followed. Hart guided the Richmond reserves in 1979, then had an ill-fated two-and-a-half year stint as senior coach at Footscray, during which time the Bulldogs won only eight of their 45 matches.

An inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Royce Desmond Hart is now one of just 25 official Legends of the game.

Clubs: Clarence / Richmond / Glenelg. Playing career: 1967-1977. Games: 188. Goals: 371. Player honours: Richmond best and fairest 1969, 1972; second Richmond best and fairest 1971; Richmond leading goal-kicker 1967, 1971; Richmond captain 1972-75; Richmond premierships 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974; All-Australian 1969; AFL, Richmond and Tasmania Teams of the Century; Australian Football Hall of Fame; Victoria (11 games, 29 goals); Tasmania Football Hall of Fame.

Tasmanian and Richmond great Royce Hart has become the twenty-fifth 'Legend' of the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and the fifth Icon of Tasmanian football to receive the honour along with Darrel Baldock, Roy Cazaly, Peter Hudson and Ian Stewart.

Hart, who was centre half-forward in the Tigers' 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974 premiership teams and captained the club for four seasons, was conferred Legend status at a gala function at Parliament House in Canberra in early June.

Most arguments about the greatest centre half-forward of all time come down to two members of the Australian Football Hall of Fame: Richmond champion Royce Hart and North Melbourne superstar Wayne Carey.

But the Tigers—who shared four premierships with Hart between 1967 and 1974—have very different thoughts. "In my opinion, Royce Hart is the greatest centre half-forward the game has seen," Hart's former teammate Kevin Bartlett wrote in his autobiography. There are plenty of reasons why Bartlett could claim to be right. Hart's four flags with the Tigers—two of them as captain—are just the start. He also won two best and fairest awards, was the club's leading goal kicker twice, and was selected in the VFL/AFL Richmond and Tasmanian teams of the century.

Now Hart's elevation to Legend status at the Australian Football Hall of Fame induction dinner in Canberra has given his supporters further evidence of his greatness.

"I feel greatly honoured and privileged," Hart said. "On an individual basis it's probably the highest you can get. But I still say that winning premierships is the main thing, because football's a team game and that's the ultimate."

There are many legendary tales about Hart, who was born in Hobart and began his footy career with Clarence. None are more famous than the story of how Richmond recruited him. In a meeting with club secretary Graeme Richmond, Hart's mother told the legendary administrator her son would need some new clothes if he were going to get a decent job after moving to Melbourne. Richmond signed Hart for the princely sum of a suit and six shirts. "There's so much money in the game these days, they'd probably give me a whole clothing factory now," he quipped.

At the age of 19 Hart kicked three goals in his VFL debut for the Tigers against Essendon at the MCG in round one of the 1967 season, and it soon became clear that the Tigers had secured one of the game's great bargains. Seven games into his VFL career, the teenager kicked seven goals for Victoria.

The boy from Tassie's rise to fame was confirmed by his three brilliant performances late in 1967. He kicked six goals against Geelong in the season's final round, then booted another six when Richmond defeated Carlton in the second semi-final. Two weeks later he bagged three vital majors as Richmond won its first premiership in 24 years with a nine-point victory over the Cats.

Hart counts the 1967 decider as the game that he looks back upon most fondly. "There was so much riding on it, with all the supporters, who hadn't witnessed Richmond in a grand final for so long, wanting the club to break that drought. For it all to happen in my first year was way beyond my expectations."



iConS2005 Horrie Gorringe2005 Darrel Baldock2005 Peter Hudson 2006 Ian Stewart2006 Royce Hart2007 Roy Cazaly 2008 Arthur Hodgson 2009 Terry Cashion2010 Alastair Lynch 2011 Rodney Eade2012 Bruce Carter2012 Brent Crosswell 2013 Verdun Howell2013 Tim Lane

LeGenDS2005 Bruce Carter2005 Horrie Gorringe 2005 Roy Cazaly2005 Paddy Martin 2005 Jack Rough 2005 John Leedham2005 Geoff Long 2005 Ian Drake 2005 Darrel Baldock 2005 Jack McMurray2005 Peter Hudson2005 Ian Stewart2005 Royce Hart 2005 Tim Lane2005 Rodney Eade2006 Hec Smith 2006 Arthur Hodgson 2006 Laurie Nash 2006 Terry Cashion 2006 Brent Crosswell 2006 Alastair Lynch 2007 Verdun Howell 2007 Paul Williams 2007 Paul Sproule 2008 Rex Garwood2008 Neil Conlan2008 Jim Ross2009 Stuart Spencer2009 Barry Lawrence 2009 Robert Shaw2010 Graeme Lee2010 Darrin Pritchard2010 Matthew Richardson 2011 Ivor Warne-Smith 2011 Colin Robertson 2011 Robert Johnson 2012 Len Pye 2012 Noel Atkins2013 Peter Jones2013 Michael Roach

GreAT CLuB 2005 North Hobart Football Club 2006 North Launceston Football Club

2007 Burnie / Cooee Football Club 2008 Launceston Football Club 2009 New Town / Glenorchy Football Club 2010 Cananore / Hobart Football Club 2011 Clarence Football Club2012 Lefroy / Sandy Bay Football Club 2013 Latrobe Football Club

memorABLe GAme2005 Tasmania v Victoria 19602006 Clarence v Glenorchy 19792007 Wynyard v North Hobart 19672008 Devonport v Glenorchy 19882009 Ulverstone v Longford 19552010 Tasmania v Victoria 19902011 Tasmanian Devils v Geelong 20032012 Tasmania v Western Australia 19702013 Burnie v Nth Launceston State Final 1963

LeGenDAry TeAm2005 Scottsdale Team of 19732006 North Launceston Team of 19982007 Sandy Bay Team of 19712008 Tasmania Team of 19582009 Clarence Team of 19932010 City-South Team of 19602011 Ulverstone Team of 19762012 Latrobe Team of 19702013 State School Boys Team of 1977

SpeCiAL inDuCTion2007 Queenstown's Gravel Oval 2008 Best of Country Football

- Longford Team of 1957- New Norfolk Team of 1968- Smithton Team of 1983

2009 Giant Killers of Tasmanian Football - East Launceston Team of 1967- Penguin Team of 1977- Hobart Team of 1973

2012 King Island Football Association

24


1 Fred McGinis

2 Roy Bailey

3 Victor Barwick

4 Bruce Carter

5 Jack Gardiner

6 Algy Tynan

7 Viv Valentine

8 George Challis

9 Jack Dunn

10 George Millar

11 James Atkinson

12 Horrie Gorringe

13 Alan Scott

14 Colin Deane

15 Don Scott

16 Hec Smith

17 Ivor Warne-Smith

18 Jack Charlesworth

19 Horrie Mason

20 Fred Pringle

21 Alan Leitch

22 Bill Berryman

23 Pat Hartnett

24 Alan Rait

25 Paddy Walsh

26 Roy Cazaly

27 Hugh Cameron

28 Jock Connell

29 Harry Long

30 Len Pye

31 Roy Cooper

32 Eric Huxtable

33 Leo McAuley

34 Laurie Nash

35 Fred Smith

36 Gavin Luttrell

37 Trevor Ranson

38 Gordon Abbott

39 Jack Donnelly

40 Vern Rae

41 Eric Zschech

42 Jack Hill

43 Albert Chilcott

44 Jack Metherall

45 Terry Cashion

46 Don Clark

47 Noel Atkins

48 Paddy Martin

49 J.A. Gavin O'Dea

50 Jack Rough

51 Ray Summers

52 John Leedham

53 Keith Welsh

54 Darrel Eaton

55 Arthur Hodgson

56 George Viney

57 Jack Hawksley

58 Rex Garwood

59 Geoff Long

60 Peter Marquis

61 Lerrel Sharp

62 Bob Miller

63 John Chick

64 Brian Eade

65 Colin Moore

66 Barry Strange

67 Neil Conlan

68 Ian Drake

69 Don Gale

70 Verdun Howell

71 Trevor Leo

72 Berkley Cox

73 Darrel Baldock

74 Robert Johnson

75 Jack McMurray

76 Burnie Payne

77 Jim Ross

78 Graeme Lee

79 Allan Leeson

80 Stuart Spencer

81 Brian Lowe

82 Kevin McLean

83 Graeme Hamley

84 Peter Floyd

85 Les Manson

86 Bob Withers

87 Paul Sproule

88 Peter Hudson

89 Peter Jones

90 Ian Stewart

91 John Bingley

92 Barry Lawrence

93 Royce Hart

94 John Devine

95 Brent Crosswell

96 Noel Leary

97 Geoff Poulter

98 Craig Davis

99 Greg Lethborg

100 Ricky Smith

101 Daryl Sutton

102 Robert Shaw

103 Bill Fielding

104 Tim Lane

105 Robert Neal

106 Peter Daniel

107 Rodney Eade

108 Des James

109 Terry Fellows

110 Danny Ling

111 Ian Paton

112 Michael Roach

113 Scott Clayton

114 Colin Robertson

115 Greg Wilson

116 David Grant

117 Stephen Macpherson

118 Mathew Armstrong

119 Michael Gale

120 Darrin Pritchard

121 Peter Walsh

122 Steven Febey

123 Alastair Lynch

124 Graham Wright

125 Adrian Fletcher

126 Brendon Gale

127 Paul Hudson

128 Daryn Cresswell

129 Paul Williams

130 Matthew Richardson

131 Harold 'Joe' Littler

132 Ronald Tyson

133 Ellis Maney

134 Ernie Matthews

135 Jim Williams

136 Ted Turner

137 Ray Stokes

138 Bob Parsons

139 Noel Reid

140 Ian Westell

141 Graham Saltmarsh

142 Keith Dickenson

143 Noel Clarke

144 Bill Atwell

145 Athol Webb

146 John Fitzallen

147 Tony Young

148 Garth Smith

149 Kerry O'Neill

150 John 'Jack' Hinds

151 David McQuestin

152 Neil Rawson

153 Ray Biffin

154 Warren McCarthy

155 Garry Davidson

156 Graham Hunnibell

157 Tony Martyn

158 Nigel Hyland

159 Scott Wade

160 Doug Barwick

161 Simon Atkins

162 Chris Bond

163 George Vautin

164 William Leitch

165 Wally Ride

166 Leslie Fyle

167 Len Hayes

168 Roy Ringrose

169 Ivan 'Ike' Hayes

170 Graeme Wilkinson

171 Ken Austin

172 Athol Cooper

173 Royce Viney

174 John Greening

175 David Stockdale

176 Noel Carter

177 Max Brown

178 Gary Linton

179 Wayne Fox

180 Martin Flanagan

181 Chris Fagan

182 Andy Bennett

183 Steane Kremerskothen

184 James Manson

185 Jamie Shanahan

186 Danny Noonan

187 Dale Chugg

188 Scott Jeffery

189 Colin Campbell

190 Keith Roberts

191 Col Stokes

192 Lance Crosswell

193 Les Hepper

194 Harold Dowling

195 Charlie Thompson

196 Kevin Bailey

197 Ron Hall

198 Kevin Williams

199 John Bonney

200 Graeme Shephard

201 Graeme Mackey

202 Tim Evans

203 Ray James

204 Neil Maynard

205 Robbie Dykes

206 Don McLeod

207 Steven Goulding

208 Darren Trevena

209 Andy Lovell

210 Mark Williams

211 Nathan Howard

212 Ben Atkin

213 Harry Coventry

214 Hedley Rooke

215 Gordon Bowman

216 Mike Delanty

217 Kevin Symons

218 Des Graham

219 Roger Steele

220 Robert Jnt Beakley

221 Jim Manson

222 David & Wendell Langmaid

223 Grant Allford

224 Tom Lee

225 Michael Hunnibell

226 Chris Reynolds

227 Steve Carey

228 Gary Dawson

229 Gary Williamson

230 Grant Fagan

231 John McCarthy

232 Mathew Febey

233 Darren Winter

234 Albert Waddle

235 Fred Davies

236 Ray Groom

237 Peter Sharp

238 Kerry Good

239 Hedley Thompson

240 Chris Riewoldt

241 Ricky Hanlon

242 Michael Styles

243 Russell Robertson

244 Brady Rawlings

245 Brad Green

246 Harry McDonald

247 Len Lewis

248 Lindsay Webb

249 Max Griffiths

250 Steven Beaumont

251 Graham Fox

252 Tony Pickett

253 Wayne Wing

254 Trent Nicholls

255 Simon Minton-Connell

256 Gavin Cooney

257 Ben Harrison

258 Paul Vinar

259 Roger Browning

260 Derek Peardon

261 Rod Butler

262 Ian Marsh

263 Peter Johnston

264 Mark Williams

265 Peter Roozendaal

266 Darryn Perry

267 Jade Rawlings

268 Geoff Hill

269 John Heathcote

270 Bill Sorell

271 Wayne Youd

272 Leigh McConnon

273 Tony Maguire

274 Jamie Dennis

275 Trent Bartlett

276 Brodie Holland

277 Chris Jones

inDuCTeeS


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