Jim Main's 100 greatest: Gordon Coventry
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WHEN VFL TALENT SCOUTS recruit full forwards they look for players with height and great marking ability. In today's football, few footballers under 6' 2" would be considered for full forward. If they are, they must show exceptional pace and ground ability. Few talent scouts would be interested in a full forward a shade under six foot, heavy in legs and body and badly lacking pace. And on today's standards they might miss one of the greatest full forwards of them all, Collingwood's immortal Gordon (Nuts) Coventry.
The great Magpie joined Collingwood in 1920 as a shy 18-year-old from Diamond Creek. He was slow and fairly awkward, but immortal Collingwood coach Jock McHale could see the champion in the rough. He persevered with Coventry, who rewarded McHale by becoming the first player in VFL history to top a century of goals in a single season. However, that was nine years after Coventry joined Collingwood.
In the meantime, Coventry often struggled to get a game with the Woods. He kicked only 13 goals in five games in his first season, and 19 in 11 games in 1921. The the tally grew and grew, until that magical century figure in 1929. Coventry just missed in 1927 when he kicked 97 goals and again in 1928 when he kicked 89 goals. But there was no messing around in 1929, when he kicked a then unbelievable 124 goals.
And just to prove it wasn't a fluke he kicked 118 goals the following season. Collingwood built their style around Coventry, brother of Magpie skipper Syd, and few teams could stop them. Fitzroy certainly had trouble with goal ace Coventry, the brilliant Magpie once kicking 17 goals against them. This 17 goals in a match is the second highest individual number of goals in a match and was a record until Melbourne full forward Fred Fanning bettered it with 18 in 1947 in a match against St. Kilda.
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In all, Coventry kicked 1299 goals, easily a Collingwood record, and still a VFL record. Coventry was never fast, but could stand his ground against packs. His vice-like grip pulled in many marks and he rarely missed when shooting for goal. He loved kicking goals and destroying the opposition. However, he was also a great team player, often giving away goals to teammates in better positions. Coventry, as well as being a goal machine for the Magpies, also kicked 94 goals for Victoria in 21 interstate games
Coventry played on until his 36th birthday in 1937, but almost retired the year before because of an unfortuante incident. He was reported in a game against Richmond in 1936, and was rubbed out for eight games. The suspension was a body blow to Coventry, who had never been reported previously, He immediately announced his retirement, being forced to watch Collingwood's 1936 finals efforts from the other side of the fence.
The Magpies proved their strength by winning the grand final against South Melbourne easily. However, they were not prepared to let Coventry go without a fight. They talked him into returning in 1937 and the great Magpie helped the club to the finals again, Indeed, he kicked three goals in Collingwood's losing score of 12.18 against Geelong in what has been described as one of the greatest matches of all time.
It was Coventry’s 36th birthday, and this time he retired for good. Collingwood just didn’t seem the same without the great forward. He stayed around the club offering advice when needed, but Collingwood went into mourning when he died in 1968 aged 67. Coventry was part of the great Collingwood legend. And legends never die.
Footnotes
This is an excerpt from Australian Rules 100 Greatest Players, by Jim Main, published by the K.G. Murray Publishing Company in 1978. Click here to read Jim Main's 2013 article, in which he revisited and revised his 100 greatest players.
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