Hawthorn's high hopes
HAWTHORN has striven long and pluckily for honours in the football world, but with but little success it must be admitted. It has, however, earned a reputation as the home of good sportsmen who take their occasional successes with a modesty which is most refreshing, and face their many reverses with becoming grace and a firm resolve to do better next time. It has always been a mystery to me why Hawthorn, the centre of a prosperous residential area, has not done better. The answer, I think, is that football thrives best in an industrial suburb. Prahran, St. Hilda, Brighton, and Hawthorn have turned out many splendid players who go elsewhere for their football: One of the oldest members of the Hawthorn Club, who knows more about it than most people, said to me last week, "Hawthorn will never be premiers until the local residents realise that they have a football club and should support it. Even the committee is drawn from outside Hawthorn. I do not think 25 per cent, of the committee lives in Hawthorn."
THERE was a Hawthorn team as early as 1873, playing in Grace Park, and it carried on for many years as a junior club. The first record of that club I Can find is in 1876, when Reginald Thompson was captain and L. Suhard was vice-captain. In that team were William Snow ball, afterwards a well-known Melbourne doctor, and his brother, John; and George Meader, who was described as "plenty of weight and strength and uses both well." Then in 1877 came J. Cook as captain and W. Cleverdon as his right-hand man. Just about that time there were Willie Ray, the doctor who died a year or two ago; Harry Darlot, George Whitney, a very fast runner; Stuart Murray, J. Clark, captain in 1891; Harry Crawford, captain in 1880; and Frank Spear, captain in 1881. In that latter year came Albert ("Eskey") Duckett, who afterwards played with South Yarra and Essendon; and Rupert Nicholson, who did likewise. I met "Eskey" Duckett the other day, and he recalled some of the names of the players in those days, and laughed when I quoted the description of him In the "Footballer" in 1881: — "A splendid follower, and is a little wonder." Then, as now, players went to the senior clubs instead of remaining in Hawthorn, Essendon and Melbourne benefiting most.
HAWTHORN Is the youngest member of the family of senior clubs in Victoria, as the present club dates back only to 1902, when it was formed to join the Metropolitan Association, now the Amateur Association. At that time there was a competition known as the Eastern Sub urbs Association. The clubs ail round the district vied with one. another for local supremacy without desiring outside notoriety. That this preference for isolation could not last was evident, and the first attempt to establish the name of Hawthorn as a football centre was the formation of the Hawthorn club to play in the metropolitan association. In 1914 the team joined the Victorian Football Association, and in 1925 was admitted to the League.
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THE Hawthorn Rovers played in the Eastern Suburbs Association, of which body they became premiers in 1904 and 1905. The captain of the team was Charlie McBean, an old Scotch Collegian, and Les Kennon was the vice-captain. Among the players was J. W. Kennon, known to all Hawthorn as "Bill," who became president of the senior club, and was for many years one of its strongest supporters, in fact he still is. Others in that, team were Russell Martin (now his Honour, of the Supreme Court Bench), Vernon Ransford (now secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club), "Hughle" Carroll, the well known East Melbourne and inter state cricketer; Lindsay Maine, who played with South Melbourne and Essendon Association; Archie Dean, the Richmond cricketer; and Charlie Taylor. The clubs in that association included Canterbury, Camberwell, Auburn, St. Paul's, Canterbury and Richmond Juniors, and others.
IT is good to hear veterans tell of their experiences as juniors, and Bill Kennon is full of reminiscences. One story he hold me is well worth retelling. "We had to play off with Richmond Juniors one year," he said, "and they came to the ground between the Hawthorn Bridge and Burnley wearing hatbands with the words 'To-day every man has to do his duty,' and, by Jove, they did it! I know I was unconscious after the game, and it took some time to bring me round. In fact. It was reported that I was dead, but it was not as serious as that."
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WHEN the move came for Hawthorn to be represented as a senior team, the Hawthorn Rovers disbanded, and their leaders supported Hawthorn. R. W. Lord, J. W. Kennon, and Bill Hulse were the moving spirits in the negotiations which led up to the establishment of the club. The No. 1 of the members' roll in 1914 was Bill Hulse, and he takes a special pride in recalling the fact that each season since No. 1 ticket has been issued to him, and to prove it he brought along his bundle of tickets on Saturday to show me. Bill Kennon, who was later president for 10 years, with Bill Owen, built the stand, which had to be demolished to make room for the present structure. B. W. Lord, whom I was sorry to miss, and Bob Bell, the first treasurer, who recalled to me an incident in which Sonny Elms, of South Melbourne, and Albert Thurgood, of Essendon, were concerned, were also there on Saturday. They were stalwarts in the early days and still support the old club. Another of the early identities I would have liked to meet was Bob Field, who I was told is in Tasmania.
HAWTHORN played its first game in the Association against Port Melbourne, and it is interesting to recall the names of some of those who took part. Alex Gough, from Essendon (Association), was captain, and Joe Hiker, from Ringwood, was vice-captain. What a pity young men from Ringwood and what they call "up the line" at Hawthorn have not helped Hawthorn more. Among the others were Don McConvllle, a splendid rover from Sydney, who was brought to Melbourne by St. Kilda; Joe Larkln, a good full back; Doug. Chapman, a big ruck man from Essendon (Association); Don Wilson, a slashing centre man; Ralph Murphy, whose father was there on Saturday; Arthur Morris, from Wesley College; Alec Salvado, and Arthur Fewster, from a Richmond junior team. As was to be expected, Hawthorn did not win many matches that season, and had hardly become established when foot ball was suspended owing to the war. Just about that time there were Syd. Reeves, from Richmond; Arthur Rademacher, from South Melbourne; Eric Hood, from Xavier; and Bill, Roberts, now a solicitor at Warracknabeal.
ONE of the men who has been long and enthusiastically keen on anything pertaining to Hawthorn is R. W. Lord, who was in the Hawthorn Council for years, and was secretary to the Hawthorn Football Club in its Metropolitan Amateur Association days. He told me a good story about that very fine sports man Joe Slater the other day. Slater was the crack centre at Geelong, but in 1913 he did not begin the season with his old club, and R. W. Lord induced him to coach Hawthorn and play as an amateur. In the match against Colllngwood District Joe broke his collarbone early in the game, and, after having the bone set by Dr. Newman Morris, he insisted on going on to the field again. All attempts to dissuade him were in vain. "We have a good lead," he said, "and we have to keep it. With one off the field they would have a loose man, but if I am there they will have to put some one to mind me, and I can keep him quiet." Joe went on to the field, and by his leadership and influence brought Hawthorn out victors. Of course his accident kept him out of the field for some weeks, and then he resumed with Geelong. Before long, however, the war came, and he enlisted. He had not been long in action before he made the supreme sacrifice, and Australia lost a good soldier and sportsman.
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WHEN football was resumed after the war the team was gradually built up until, in 1923, it reached the semi- finals and was third to Footscray and Port Melbourne. There was great enthusiasm over the success, as there was in 1922 when Hawthorn put up the record score of 30 goals 31 behlnds against Prahran. In the building up process the team had had the benefit of coaching by Eddie Drohan (Colllngwood). The 1923 team which gained third place was coached by "Billy" Walton from Port Melbourne and Colllngwood, and among the notable players were:— Jim Jackson, of Colllngwood, who succeeded to the captaincy and led the first team to play in a League match; F. Latham, a good goal-kicker, who scored 53 goals in the season; "Snowy" McKenzie, a sterling half-back; "Tich" Utting, also from Colllngwood; Jim McCashney, a dashing wing man; C. Lethlean; "Ginger" Brown, a very strong follower; "Snowy" Finch, who played for five years with the Association and five years with the League. He was a great centre man who knew every inch of the ground at Glcnferrie.
AT the end of 1924 politics played a great part in football. The League could not resist the claims of Footscray for inclusion in its ranks. In the negotiations North Melbourne put in its claim and very nearly succeeded in being included, but for opposition from Essendon and Carlton, each of which clubs would be affected. Eventually it was agreed that if any clubs were admitted Footscray and North Melbourne should be two. That would perpetuate the odd club blot with the inevitable bye each week. It was finally decided to take in three clubs and bring the number up to 12. The trouble was to decide on the 12th club. Wherever they turned there were difficulties. Finally it was felt that no club would be affected by the inclusion of Hawthorn, and so it came about that Hawthorn joined the League with Messrs. R. Hunt and R. Field as its first delegates.
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HAWTHORN'S first team in the League, which met Richmond at Hawthorn on May 2, 1925, was a strong combination. "Jimmy" Jackson was captain, with Cyril Nott vice-captain, and Alex. ("Joker") Hall as coach; the centre line was particularly strong, with Jim' McCashney and Jack Gill on either side of "Snowy" Finch. P. Burke and M. Sellers, with H. Yeoman as rover, made up the ruck. Yeoman was a great little battler. Stan. McKenzie, a fine half back, was well supported in defence by E. ("Tich") Utting and M. Carbarns, and L. Woodford was the goal-kicker. Later in the season Mick Ennis came in as a forward, and Bert Hyde made his appearance. He was later one of the best forwards in Victoria.
IN the years that have passed Hawthorn has had many fine players. It has had as coaches Bert Chadwlck, of Melbourne; Len. Thomas, of South Melbourne; "Jiggy" Harris, of Collngwood'. the late Fred Phillips, from St. Kilda; Ivan McAlpine, from Footscray; and now its own production. Bert Mills. And among them may be mentioned such excellent players as Stewart Stewart, "Bluey" Lonsdale, Teddy Pool, the india-rubber man; A. Chandler, J. Sharpley, A. McComb, R. Williams. W. Lathlain, B. Williams, G. Cathie, jun.; Jim Francis, now with Carlton; Bill Hudd, W. Ware, G. Bennett, now of Footscray; Norman Collins, from Carlton; E. Loveless, from St. Kilda, who won the Fred Phillips trophy as the best and fairest In the club in 1934; Leo. Murphy, who won it in 1936 and 1937; and R. Hammond, and others of more or less fame and reputation.
AND so we leave Hawthorn a well-managed club, upholding the traditions of the League. It has the faculty of every now and again playing at its very best, and then it is a menace to any League team. The only League club it has not yet defeated is Collingwood, and all Hawthorn awaits that day. At times Hawthorn plays excellent football, and at others it seems to lack all ability. Any one who watched the second half of the game Hawthorn v. St. Kilda must have been impressed by Hawthorn's skill and football ability. It was in marked contrast with Its play in the first half. I asked a Hawthorn official, who is a bit of a student, how he accounted for it. "It is psychological," he said. "They have no confidence in themselves, and so play about as well as they think. Then when they find they are not getting beaten they pick up the shreds of their confidence, bind them together, and play as well as they have done to-day. There may be something in it. No club has more loyal supporters than Hawthorn. Many of them have been hoping and waiting. May we hope they will not have to wait too long for the success for which they hope.
Footnotes
Title: Hawthorn's High Hopes
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic: 1864-1946)
Date: Saturday, 27 Jul 1940, p.15 (Article)
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