"Barney " Herbert Tells How Richmond Won the Premiership
Grand Final the hardest game of his career — Was Clover enticed too far from goal?
By "Leander"
There have been so many accounts of the League grand final match given by persons outside the arena fence that the appended version, related, with characteristic breeziness by one who was in the thick of the fight, makes a pleasant variation.
Any Richmond supporter—and for that matter any Carltonian—can tell you how the "Tigers" won the League premiership, but the two opinions hardly coincide. The players are agreed on one point—that the game that decided the honors was the toughest they had ever taken part in, and the general public award the palm to Richmond for handsomely beating the mighty Blues on two successive Saturdays.
A year ago, after they, had won the first League pennant, the Punt road "man-eaters" gave vent to their famous "eat-'em-alive" battle cry, with a little addition about gobbling the "Magpies, feathers and all." This year they are whooping out how they tore the bright plumage of the "Blue Birds." Like Tarzan, the ape-man, they went forward to the "kill" conscious of their strength and confident of their supremacy, and, having accomplished their purpose, the atmosphere has since resounded to their wild yells of victory.
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A typical "Tiger" is "Barney" Herbert (right), the gigantic veteran follower of 13 seasons. Now 32 years of age, and on the point of retiring from the game, he has battled with Richmond since he was an awkward lanky youth of 19. Never in those years has he swerved in his loyalty to his club, and his mighty efforts in the two concluding games this year, even when it meant skating on a floor of ice and slush, will not readily be forgotten.
"Barney" is as fine a type of man as he is a footballer and a Richmondite to the marrow of his bones. I was fortunate this week in catching "Barney" in the company of Mr W. A. ("Dad") Maybury, the secretary of the club, just as he was telling how the Tigers won. Being in search of a story of the triumph from one who had played a large part in it, I stood by with my ears open and heard something like this:—
A HAPPY FAMILY
"Well, 'Dad,' you ask me how we won the premiership against such a formidable team as the Blues. I'll tell you how we did the trick. You will remember one thing above all others, and that is if a team of any kind is to he successful, they must be a contented and happy family. With a 'Dad' like you at the head of the table how could we be otherwise?
"About six weeks ago the Tigers came out of the jungle and commenced to feel a great deal better than they had been doing for some time. It was then I said, 'We are going to gain another pennant this year, and it will be at the expense of the Blue Birds.' People said. 'Poor old Barney, he is not a bad fellow, but be must be getting peculiar as he gets older, when he says Carlton are not going to be premiers.'
FORM AND CAPTAINCY
"Several people asked me to explain myself, and I did. My idea of the position was that as the Blues were at the top of their form from the beginning of the season, it was too much to expect them to maintain it to the finish. About that time we were just striking form, having had the luck to win matches previously, so I considered we had an excellent chance.
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"Now, 'Dad,' you know Dan Minogue. He is a man with what is known as a good nut, otherwise head. Dan told us players just prior to going out to play the Blues in the first final that we were up against a hard team in more ways than one. He told us several other things also, but as we were in caucus, we were not allowed to divulge the other things. How did we win the match? Well, you were there, 'Dad.' and you saw how we beat them on land. Then we tackled them on water, and did as we liked.
WHY CLOVER FAILED
"The cry of the Carlton barrackers then arose: 'Wait till next week, when we will have Clover in, and see how I you will get on then.' I wonder if the barrackers have woke up yet to the reason why Clover did not succeed in winning the game for them. I'll tell you. Clover, who played a good game, will know a little more with expedience, and will not go up between the half-forward and centre line when he gets the ball, but will be between the forward and half-forward line, where it is not so hard to kick goals. How I did he get so far away from the goal? Leave that to Dan Minogue, and Max Hislop and Co., back play specialists.
"The 'Blue Birds' forgot something when they met us in the finals, and that was we were not the same team they played earlier In the season at Carlton. If the finals were played about six weeks ago, then you could have written your own ticket on it.
"SHOT THEIR BOLT"
The grand final was about the hardest game ot my career, and, when I saw Max Hislop streaking away with the ball, and about a minute to go, and not a 'Blue Bird' on the ground able to get up enough wing to follow him, I said, 'They have shot their bolt.' "
BEST "MUG" GOAL-KICKER
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Here "Barney" digressed for a moment to talk of another matter dear to his heart. "Did you hear about the goal-kicking contest I won recently," he was saying. "Oh, yes, it is a fact, and who do you think I beat? Why, the redoubtable Hughie James (right). Ask him about that angle shot of mine. There is only one thing left for Hughie now, and that is to challenge Les. Hughes, of Collingwood, for the booby prize, because I consider I am out on my own as the best 'mug' goal-kicker, and I intend to accept any challenge whenever I think fit."
HOW HUGHIE JAMES MISSED
Then he goes on, again at the expense of his comrade of many years. In season and out of it these two have been at loggerheads over goal-kicking, and neither will admit that he is worse than the other.
"Did I tell you about the goal Hughie did not kick in the final against the "Blues?'" said "Barney" to "Dad." "It was this way. Hughie got a mark about 40 yards in front of goal and had the audacity to drop kick for goal. Of course you know the result. He kicked it about 20 yards, and turned to me and said, 'Blimey "Barney," I should have punted it.' I said. 'No, my boy, you should have given it to me.' The rest I will tell I you some other time when there are not so many people about. I don't know if I can remember it all, Dad, but I will write down what I can't repeat. Hughie went to the war and as you know, Dad, the soldiers learnt a lot of French, and I could not quite follow him at times."
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PRAISE FOR THE UMPIRE
Just before he finishes his story "Barney" pays a generous tribute to that most maligned of beings—the umpire. "A word about little McMurray. He carried out a very great task with full honors and deserves the best praise for his very fine exhibition. It was his first engagement in the finals. I think he did as well as any man could have done. Of course the umpire is not born that will please everyone. More power to the little chap and may he long continue to carry on the good work."
RETIREMENT DEFINITE
Already with his mind on next, year's premiership "Dad" broaches the subject of the big fellow's reported retirement from the game and asks is it true? "Yes, I am quite serious, 'Dad,' he says, "I am retiring. I consider it wise to get out while the going is good, sound in mind and limb, and with the knowledge that I have never injured anyone wilfully in my 13 years of league football. I intend still to take an active part in the affairs of the club, but will be content to be attached to the staff and hope to be with the "Tigers" and see them 'eat 'em alive' for many years to come."
If "Barney" is really as serious as he says he is—and I believe it is only too true — every Richmondite will want to see him connected with the club as long as he lives. He should be as successful as an official us he has been on the actual field of play.
Footnotes
Title:"Barney " Herbert Tells How Richmond Won the Premiership
Author: Leander
Publisher: Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)
Date: Saturday 22 October 1921, page 6
Link: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242637814
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