Mick Malthouse - 40 years on
Last Sunday (July 15) marked the 40th anniversary of Mick Malthouse’s debut as a player in the Victorian Football League. It’s doubtful that Malthouse, then a month shy of his 19th birthday, would look back on his first senior game with the St Kilda Football Club with fond memories. From a team perspective the Saints stumbled to their second defeat in a row and Malthouse didn’t complete the game.
During the first quarter of the Round 15 1972 clash with the Bulldogs at the Western Oval, Malthouse, the future coach of the Footscray Football Club was met solidly by Laurie Sandilands, a future captain of the Footscray Football Club. Malthouse suffered concussion as a result of the collision and was subsequently replaced at half time. Sandilands, who had his number taken by boundary umpire Neville Thomas was found not guilty by the VFL tribunal and received a reprimand. Malthouse wasn’t as lucky, the head injury he received ruled him out of the following weekends match against South Melbourne.
Recruited from the North Ballarat club, Malthouse’s first four and half seasons in the VFL were spent in the Red, White and Black of St Kilda. Transferring midway through the 1976 season to Richmond prior to the June clearance deadline (remember those?), the highlight of his seven plus years at Punt Road was being part of the Tigers 1980 Premiership victory over Collingwood.
But when Michael Malthouse is inevitably inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame it will be due to his incredibly successful record of 28 years as a VFL/ AFL coach rather than the solid, if unspectacular, 174 game playing career he carved out over a dozen seasons. For those who need reminding Malthouse’s coaching resume includes his teams qualifying for 19 finals series, capturing three premierships - two in the early nineties with the West Coast Eagles, the third and (perhaps) final flag two seasons ago with the mighty Magpies. Delivering the ultimate glory to two of the biggest clubs in the competition has ensured Malthouse immortality.
But do the three premierships he helped pilot necessarily represent his finest hour as a coach in the indigenous games premier competition? I’ll try to convince you otherwise.
Malthouse’s first six seasons as a league coach were spent at the Footscray Football Club. Whenever Mick’s Western Oval tenure is examined it’s the Bulldogs scintillating 16 win/6 loss 1985 campaign that is remembered as the highpoint of Mick’s Dog Day Saturday Afternoon’s. Footscray supporters will tell you not all fairytales have a happy ending, the Dogs surprising finals run coming to an end with a heartbreaking two goal defeat at the hands of a finals hardened Hawthorn side on Preliminary Final day. The loss left the Footscray faithful shattered, but confident for the first time in many years the light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t oncoming traffic.
If Malthouse and the long suffering Doggies supporters knew what the next twelve months held in store they may have decided to spend their Saturday’s in bed, the curtains drawn, hiding under the doona.
Some of the travails that the FFC faced during its ill fated 1986 included
“Bulldog Airways”
Enough has been said regarding the shenanigans that occurred on player’s end of year vacation. What happens on the end of season footy trip stays on the end of season footy trip.
Seeking pastures greener
When Jim Edmond ventured up the Hume Highway to join the Edelsten All Stars in Harbour Town he became the fourth incumbent captain of the Footscray Football Club to transfer to another team the following season. The star studded list included David Thorpe (1973), Gary Dempsey (1978) & the great Kelvin Templeton (1982).
Retirements
The recruitment of Tony Buhagiar for the 1985 season proved to be a masterstroke. Buhagiar appeared in all 25 games, kicking 36 goals and averaging almost 16 possessions per game. Footscray were unable to find an adequate replacement for him when he retired following his solitary season with the Dogs.
Many a medical mishap
The squad that went mighty close to reaching the clubs first Grand Final in almost a quarter of a century was blessed a relatively clean bill of health. With the exception of Peter Foster, who sustained a facial injury against Melbourne in Round 4 that cost him a month of footy, Malthouse and the match committee had the luxury of a settled side throughout the year. Eight players - Simon Beasley, Tony Buhagiar, Brian Cordy, Brad Hardie, Steve MacPherson, Brian Royal, Jim Sewell & Stephen Wallis played every one of the Dogs twenty five matches. Les Bamblett, Allen Daniels, Doug Hawkins and Andrew Purser all missed just the one game playing in 24 of the Dogs 25 contests.
Obviously someone broke a mirror whilst walking under a ladder holding a black cat in the early part of 1986, as the Injury Gods who looked down on the boys from the Western Oval and smiled so sweetly the previous season abandoned them.
Two vital cogs of the Preliminary Final squad Les Bamblett (24 games/51 goals) and reliable defender Brian Cordy were injured in the pre-season. Bamblett’s knee injury effectively finished his VFL career, the brilliant small forward would take the field on just a further nine occasions over the remainder of this playing days in the VFL. Brian Cordy, an “ever present” in 1985, was restricted to just six games in 1986.
The injuries to Cordy & Bamblett started a horror run during which time the Bulldogs were unable to get their best team on the field at any time during 1986. Malthouse’s options across the backline were severely depleted with the absence of Peter Foster & Jim Sewell for the vast majority of the season. Foster was limited to just half a dozen games, and after playing the first six games of ’86 Sewell, who’d appeared in every Footscray game since his debut in Round 1 1983, had performed a valuable “swing man” role for the Dogs in his first three seasons in Victoria after crossing from East Fremantle at the end of the 1982 WAFL campaign. Used primarily as a key defender, Malthouse would often send Sewell into attack to provide another marking option.
Doug Hawkins’ season came to an abrupt end with a serious knee injury in the Round 17 loss to Collingwood, the champion wingman’s return to the playing field delayed until June 1987. Whilst replacing Hawkins was impossible, it’s disingenuous to suggest the severe poundings suffered by the team during his absence – a 57 point belting from North Melbourne (Rd 19), a 79 point smashing by Carlton (Rd 21) – the infamous “Jumpergate” game at Waverley or the crushing 70 point loss to Hawthorn (Rd 22) could’ve been reversed had Braybrook’s favourite son been available for duty.
Whilst the Bulldogs had the luxury of the eight players suiting up for all 25 matches in 1985, only Beasley, Hardie, Purser & star SA recruit Tony McGuiness played all 22 matches the following season. 32 players played senior VFL football for Footscray in 1985, the number increasing 25% in 1986 [to 40.
Ability is permanent, form is temporary
Two players who suffered massive form slumps in 1986 were small forward Stephen MacPherson and on baller Allen Daniels. MacPherson saw his production drop from 39 goals in 25 games, averaging just under 16 possessions per game in 1985, to 19 goals in 18 games averaging around 14 possessions a year later. An even more dramatic form reversal was suffered by Allen Daniels, the West Australian recruit surprised many in his rookie season in 1985, averaging 18 and a half possessions a game in 24 appearances and adding 17 goals to complement his excellent work. Those numbers dipped to an average of 13 possessions in the 8 games he managed in his second and final season at The Kennel, his 32 game VFL career coming to an abrupt end following a dismal 8 touch performance against Geelong at VFL Park in Round 18.
Not up to it
Unfortunately the “newbies” of ‘86 didn’t come close to covering the departures. Murray Rance & Tony McGuiness, the clubs marquee interstate recruits, experienced differing levels of success during their respective stints at the Western Oval. McGuiness provided superb service to the club over a five year period (109 games/108 goals). Despite playing 40 of a possible 44 games during his two seasons with the Dogs, Rance’s two seasons with the Dogs were a little disappointing, the key position player unable to consistently provide an option either end of the field. Rejects from other VFL teams included Dean Chiron, Michael Rolfe, Andy Preston and Tim Gepp, all proving to be relatively ineffective. Max Crow, injured in Rd 1, managed to appear in just a dozen games in what was to be the last of his twelve season VFL career. Tony Liberatore’s debut season was uneventful, the future Brownlow Medallist managing just four senior games.
Murphy’s Law & the FFC’s annus horribilis
Taking into consideration the trials and tribulations listed above how did Footscray manage to remain so competitive in 1986? I’ll do my best to provide an adequate answer.
13 and a half wins was required to land a place in the 1985 finals, the following year the “magic” number to ensure September action was reduced to 12. In 1986 the Dogs prevailed in 11 of their 22 battles, five wins less than ’85, registering a win against all teams with the exception of Sydney, performing the double over an odious St Kilda. Its percentage dropped from a healthy 120.9 in ’85 to 97.9 twelve months later. From a "points allowed" perspective the undermanned backline were superb, allowing only 10 points more over the season than they had the previous year (2000 – 2010) - a phenomenal effort considering the loss of Foster, Sewell & Brian Cordy for large chunks of ‘86.
The multiple avenues to goal available to Malthouse in 1985 were drastically reduced by the start of the new season. The team that reached a Preliminary Final averaged just under 16 goals (15.9) a game. That number that fell to just over a dozen (12.2) per game the next year. The 2417 points they tallied over the 1985 home and away fixture was far and away the most the club had scored since the introduction of the 12 team/22 round fixture in 1970.
The table below gives you an indication as to how severely depleted the Dogs goal kicking options became in such a short period of time.
Player | Gms ‘85 | Gls ‘85 | Ave Gls ‘85 | Gms ‘86 | Gls ‘86 | Ave Gls ‘86 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beasley | 25 | 105 | 4.2 | 22 | 88 | 4 |
Bamblett | 24 | 51 | 2.1 | 3 | 2 | 0.6 |
MacPherson | 25 | 39 | 1.6 | 18 | 19 | 1 |
Edmond | 25 | 38 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Royal | 25 | 37 | 1.5 | 20 | 27 | 1.3 |
Buhagiar | 25 | 36 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ultimately it was a lack of consistency that sabotaged any hope of emulating the feats of 12 months earlier. Following a slashing five goal victory over Carlton in Round 1 the Bulldogs sat inside the Top Five, where they remained for the rest of the 1985 season. After commencing 1986 with a less than convincing win over St Kilda, the Dogs sat in fifth position. They would return the top bracket on only four occasions in 1986, achieving consecutive victories on two separate occasions. On the heels of a despicable 52 point defeat at the hands of a deplorable Demons side in Round 8, a renaissance of sorts occurred during Rounds 9-14, the Dogs saluting in five of their six contests. A rich vein of form saw it register fighting wins against eventual finalists Hawthorn, Carlton, Fitzroy and Essendon.
The following two years saw the same fighting qualities on display with the Bulldogs entering the final round of the home and away fixture a chance of advancing to September action. Unfortunately on both occasions they fell just short of a return to the post season, succumbing to a resurgent Melbourne in 87 & John Todd’s West Coast Eagles in 88. The Dogs kicked off their 1989 season in the best way possible by pole-axing Carlton at Princes Park (shades of ’85), on the opening weekend’s round of fixtures. Sadly it was all down hill from there a 6 win/1 draw/15 loss season a sad end to Malthouse’s time in the western suburbs of Melbourne. By the time he’d cleaned out his office in the bowels of the Whitten Stand only six players who represented the club in the 1985 Preliminary Final were still on the playing list – Foster, Hawkins, Kennedy, MacPherson, Royal & Wallis. It was around the time of his exit the Footscray Football Club almost ceased to exist.
Congratulations are in order to Michael Malthouse on this milestone anniversary. This year (2012) is the first time since 1971 Malthouse isn’t actively involved in VFL/AFL football as either a coach or player. Rumours of a return to a senior coaching role have been circulating since his “retirement” at the completion of the 2011 season. Will he or won’t he? Never say never!
Despite taking the premiership points on that Saturday afternoon 40 years ago, July 15 1972 remains a sad day in the history of the Footscray Football Club. In just his sixth game of VFL football Gippsland recruit Stephen Boyle suffered a horrendous facial injury that cost him the sight in his right eye and ended his promising league career.
Comments
Lovely work as always, Mic. As a Doggies fan, I did indeed harbour high hopes for '86. Looking back at all that went wrong, I can see that it was not a bad effort from the club. If I remember correctly, Allen Daniels' last game at Waverley (that you mention above) featured an incident that highlighted his dramatic loss of form. The ball came towards the wing boundary and Daniels, with no other player anywhere near him, fumbled the ball so badly that it rolled over the boundary line. There was almost a palpable sense of embarrassment for him in the crowd, and we knew at that moment that his VFL career was over.
Nice work again Mic. Andrew if you happen to have access to a copy of the 1985 final against Norffff at the 'G' in the last few minutes of the game (which the dogs had in their keeping) the ball was trickling towards the boundary line in front of the Members stand,Daniels was in pursuit,but pulled up abruptly when he heard a set of footsteps in pursuit,and he let the ball run out,unfortunately the footsteps belonged to Steve Wallis!
Shane Caldwell 20 July 2012
Great article Mic. Malthouse has easily been our best coach in my time (Wheeler & Eade did OK as well). Many a happy (and drunken) day spent at Western Oval during his tenure. Will history repeat itself ? - Malthouse left in 1989 and we almost went under; Rodney Eade gets the heave ho (apparently he is too old and we need "a new direction") and the following season the club is again on it's knees. Mick can come back tomorrow if he likes. The way we are going if "Shorty" Daniels was playing he would most likely be the toughest player out on the ground.
Michael Rees 20 July 2012
Gentlemen - Thank you very much.
Andrew: I think the incident to which you refer occured in front of the Luke Stand. Yes, it was a case of off the ground, up the race, out of the state thank you. Not good.
Peter: I can and will get a copy of that game. Beasley notched the ton that day - Good times!
Shane: I don't think we've got the cash to entice MM back. Not sure it's the bloke in charge that's the problem he hasn't got a lot to work with at the moment.
As a tiger fan I have fond memoirs of Mick M, a very reliable defender and good for a whacks on opposition forwards to boot. A much better player at Richmond than he was at St.Kilda, where he struggled for a game under Allan Jeans.
Michael Rees 30 July 2012
Adam.
I believe the Tigers were one of the teams that were interested in securing the services of A Lockett (St Kilda) during the 94/95 off season. Had they been successful it would've completed a double as Mick M and Plugger were North Ballarat boys who both debuted for the Saints wearing the Number 37 guernsey.
Lockett would've been handy in '95 considering the Tigers got as far as a PF despite losing Richo mid season to a knee injury sustained at the SCG.
MCR
Was 1986 the year of the Sydney trip and the Doctor X sign?
Julien Peter Benney 5 November 2014
This study of Footscray is very familiar - in 1989 the Bulldogs were actually a very strong team in the back three-fifths of the ground despite their poor record, probably just as strong as in 1985. Hawkins was still in superb form and Terry Wallace, though in the twilight of his career, was about the leading possession-winner in the league, whilst young Simon Atkins showed himself a budding star.
The defence, if some of the old names were gone, was very solid, but the Bulldogs' attack was absolutely woeful - worse than any team between 1973 and 1995 on points scored, and really much worse than that given the amount of possession the Bulldog midfield garnered. The loss of Beasley, upon whom the Bulldogs had depended for a third of their goals, was totally irreparable - at almost 33, he played just six games for fifteen goals and replacement Phil O'Keefe kicked only nineteen goals from nine matches.
It's interesting to note that Malthouse intensified his defence-oriented play when coaching West Coast, but one can imagine that if Malthouse watched the 1989 SANFL Grand Final where a brutal Port defence held a strong North Adelaide team to one goal (which might have been none had a shower not cut out Port's speed advantage and made North more competitive for a bit), he would have despaired at doing anything in a national competition (which he would have seen coming even before 9 October) except trying to match that effort.
Michael Rees 9 November 2014
Carl: Lovely to hear from you. In answer to your question - Yes.
Julien: Thank you very much for your comments, they are greatly appreciated. Having endured all Victorian games (19) the Dogs played in 1989 I wouldn't suggest they were a strong side - back/forward/on ball. That winter (89) was an absolute stinker, most grounds taking a hammering from an incredibly wet June and July. In my opinion (for what it's worth, which ain't much) the swampy, sloppy, almost quagmire conditions of arenas at the time gives a "rosier" picture of what the defence did. When the Dogs returned to the finals in '92, Tony Campbell and Bernard Toohey had been recruited to add some steel to the back half. Peter Foster who'd played 19 games in 1989 missed all but one game of the second half of 1992 after breaking his ankle/leg against Hawthorn. Stuart Wigney, who'd shown plenty of promise early in his career and played across the backline in '89 , was gone. So the defence had undergone major re-construction work in Terry Wheeler's first three years in charge.
That '89 SANFL Grand Final should've received an "R" rating - no one under the age of 18 should've been subjected/allowed to watch that pummelling.
MCR
Julien Peter Benney 11 November 2014
Michael,
the unbalanced character of the 1989 team is pretty obvious from the figures which show they had the third best defence in the league, yet clearly the worst attack! I admit their defence was flattered by the wet conditions and by a couple of isolated rainy losses at Carrara in Round Six and against Essendon in Round 18 – when the weather at other games was good. However, other clubs, especially Sydney and top clubs Hawthorn, Geelong and Essendon, were certainly equally flattered in defence, and my ‘Football Year’ says that with Wallace, Hawkins and Atkins Footscray had enough possessions to win three times as many games as they did.
Moreover, when the Bulldogs were losing in the dry of April, May and the last few rounds, their defence was almost never smashed – only one score of 20 goals was amassed against it, by Richmond in the first of a pair of games that makes an amazing “double repeat” of the Bulldogs/Tigers clashes of 1958 and 1979 (see ‘http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/footscray-richmond-matches-of-1958-1979-and-1989-three-remarkably-parallel-pairs.671557/’ for details). No club in 1989 conceded fewer 20-goal scores than the Bulldogs, and eight centuries against was bettered by only five other clubs (of whom only Collingwood was definitively less flattered by the bad weather in June). Not scoring more then 15 goals in 21 straight games, however, was not equalled in the VFL/AFL between 1973 and 2010!
In fact, if one looks at Footscray’s football between 1984 and 1996, one sees clearly that the deviations from a mid-table position seem to be related almost exclusively – despite the personnel turnover you note – to fluctuations in their forward work. In their great seasons of 1985 and 1992, the Bulldogs had many potent forwards (Bamblett in 1985, Del Re, Kolyniuk, Hawkins and Coleman in 1992) who played elsewhere or did less in other seasons, whilst their 1989 and 1996 seasons saw them lose goals from key forwards Beasley and Osborne.
I can understand why you say that 1989 SANFL Grand Final should have received an “R” rating – Port’s play was so tough it’s football’s nearest equivalent to the violent continuous short-pitches bowling of the West Indies fast bowlers, or of the music bands like Ministry and Pantera who were taking over the working classes of Eurasia, New Zealand and the Americas in that very Bush Senior era – but from which most suburban Australians were and are as cloistered as a Poor Clare or Discalced Carmelite nun.
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