What are you up to these days?
I’m currently the Managing Director of a civil engineering, surveying and planning consultancy based in Shepparton. I’ve been involved in the industry since moving up here in 1984.
I played my last senior game of VFL for Fitzroy in June of 1982 and attempted an unsuccessful comeback in 1983. Then I retired and moved to Shepparton where I, in the first instance, took up the position of playing/coach with Mooroopna Football Club in the Goulburn Valley Football League.
I coached there for three years and we went on to win back-to-back flags in 1985-86 - breaking a 47-year drought!
Then it was time for me to pursue a professional career.
What are your fondest memories from your playing days?
My fondest memories were probably playing Finals in 1979 and 1981. We got knocked out in the first Semi Final in both years by Collingwood - but in both years we had won an Elimination Final against Essendon which was quite a coincidence. Our 1979 Finals campaign was under Bill Stephen, whereas 1981 was under Robert Walls who was in his first year as coach.
That was a great experience because we had a lot of years where we weren’t that successful.
Also, very early in my career, I was part of the 1974 reserves premiership side. That was my earliest taste of the Finals.
Do you still catch up with any of your former team-mates?
Yeah, I’m still good friends with Kevin O’Keeffe who’s still involved with Past Players Association. I also still catch up with Neville Taylor and the likes of Dan Harrington and Gerard Noonan. I struck up good friendships with a lot of the players that were recruited to Fitzroy from the Hampton League which was the Club’s country zoning.
We tend to have dinner in Melbourne and/or arrange weekend away.
Ron Alexander from Perth has some acquaintances in Shepparton so he drops by whenever he’s in town.
What are the main changes you’ve noticed in the game since your playing days?
It’s a whole lot quicker and the skills have certainly improved.
I wasn’t the fast. I wouldn’t have been quick enough to survive in today’s game.
My style of footy was to use my body to protect the ball and my team-mates. I’d be umpired out of the game now with the new rules that are protecting players from bumps and knocks.
The game has also been sanitised a lot from when I played in the 1970s and early 1980s. I played most of my career wearing a helmet, mostly to help soften the blows on my head. I suffered from migraines even if I got a small knock to the head.
I actually gave Garry Wilson his first helmet and suggested he try it on. He had suffered from some bad concussions and I thought it might help.
There was actually a time during my playing days when myself, Peter Keays and Gerry McCarthy all wore helmets across the half-back line. We used to call ourselves the ‘half-helmet line’.
A lot of the juniors still wear them and I certainly promote it among the Goulburn Valley League. I advocate young players to ‘pad up’ because it helps you soften areas where you can’t put muscle - including your head. But it doesn’t befit the image the AFL wants to project.
The Club is holding a past players reunion in Victoria at next week’s match between the Lions and North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium. Are you looking forward to attending?
Yes, it’s always good to re-acquaint yourself the guys that you used to see every day.
Regardless of how long it’s been since you’ve seen your mates from all those years ago, those friendships remain and are revived instantaneously once you get-together again.
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The Brisbane Lions are currently in the process of updating their database of past players and coaches. If you played a senior match with Fitzroy, the Bears or the Brisbane Lions (or know someone that has) and haven’t remained in contact with the Club, please email your phone and address details to melbourne@lions.com.au so that we can keep you in touch with any future events with past players.
