'Old Boy' lists his greatest players
The champion player
A correspondent, writing from Fitzroy, says: "In a discussion the other night one man claimed that Fred McGinis, of Melbourne team, was the best player who ever played the Australian game. Another man said Thurgood, of Essendon, and another thought Banks, of Fitzroy. What do you think and why?
As long as football lasts the same question will be discussed, and the same old arguments will be used. It is not easy to cast your mind back over the years, and when one recalls such players as George Couthard, (Carlton), John Worrall (Fitzroy) James Wilson, George Watson and Henry Young (Geelong), Peter Burns (South Melbourne), Billy Hannaysee (Port Melbourne), Fred McKnight (Port Melbourne and South Melbourne), Fred Leach and Dick Condon (Collingwood), Percy Trotter and Mick Grace (Fitzroy), Jack Baker (Carlton and Geelong), Jack 'Dookie' McKenzie, J. C. Pearson, Billy Bushbridge (Essendon) Alf Smith and Dave McNamara, J. Stewart (St. Kilda), Dolly Christy (Melbourne), George McKenzie (Ballarat and South Melbourne), and Bill Strickland (Carlton and Collingwood), all of whom in their days were hailed as champions, the difficulty in choosing the best is tremendous.
I have never had any doubt myself that A.J. Thurgood is the best all-round man I ever saw play the game in Victoria. He was a champion goal-kicker, could get the ball for himself, and wherever placed was a champion. In the Essendon premiership and championship teams between 1891 and 1894 he played in every position on the field, and in all was a success. Further than that, he was a match-winner; a man who could do the seemingly impossible and turn a forlorn hope into victory.
There will, I know, be many who do not agree with this, for each of those I have mentioned has a following, and it would be interesting to hear what they have to say in support of their champion. In a consideration of the question, I have looked at it from an "all-round" point of view. One might discuss the respective merits of men for particular places in the field, thus:
Goal-kickers: Dick Lee (Collingwood), Roy Pork (Melbourne), Phil McShane (Geelong), Jim Freake (Fitzroy), Horrie Clover (Carlton), George Bayliss (Richmond).
Full-backs: Joe Pearce (Melbourne), Edward Officer (Essendon), Harry Lever (St. Kilda), Vic Thorpe (Richmond), Bill Proudfoot, Ted Rowell, Harry Saunders (Collingwood).
Half-backs:- Joe Hogan (St. Kilda), Jack Monohan (Collingwood), Jim Sharp (Fitzroy), Hugh Gavin (Essendon), Billy Dick (Carlton and Fitzroy), Pat Hickey (Fitzroy), Max Hislop (Richmond), Paddy O’Brien (Carlton).
Centres: Rod McGregor (Carlton), Jock McHale (Collingwood), Bill Windley (South Melbourne), Bill Crebbin (Essendon), Charles 'Nipper' Young (Melbourne) Lal McLellan (Fitzroy), Dave Hickinbotham, Joe Slater (Geelong).
Wings: Charlie Pannam, E. Drohan (Collingwood), Barney Grecian (Essendon), W. McKenzie (Melbourne), George Bruce (Carlton).
Ruck: Charles ‘Tracker’ Forbes, Alan Belcher (Essendon), H. Milne (Fitzroy), Vic Cumberland (Melbourne and St. Kilda) George Moodie, Herb Fry (Melbourne), F. Hailwood, Con McCarthy, Les Hughes (Collingwood), G. Currie, R. Hiskens (Carlton), Joe McShane (Geelong), I. Charge, J. Cameron, Dinny McKay, Roy Cazaly (South Melbourne), Hughie James (Richmond).
Rovers: Les Millis (Fitzroy), George Vautin, Colin Campbell (Essendon), George Haines, Hedley Tomkins (Melbourne), Alec Eason (Geelong), Bruce Sloss (South Melbourne), William Mahoney (Richmond), W. McKechnie (Carlton), Clarrie Hall (Richmond), Lyle Downs (Carlton).
Here again there are sure to be many opinions, and I expect to have the claims of numbers of players urged. It is an interesting discussion, and one which will arouse a deal of comment among football followers.
The feedback - one week later!
The discussion as to who is the best player ever seen in Australian football has aroused a great deal of interest, and I have had many queries on the subject. Wherever you go there are strong opinions, but they are mostly those who think their own club mates the best. One was bound to miss some names in a long list, and I think the worst omissions I made last week were Jim Grace and Hugh McLean, both of whom were champions in their day.
An old Melbourne player urges the claims of Dave Aitken, "Jim Bennie" Lamrock, "Toppy" Longden, J. McDonald (as good a forward as you ever saw), Bob Sillett, Fred Baker, and adds:— "H. Latchford, Tom Bushell, Mat. Minchin, Jack Rosser, J. Young (the little wonder), C. Thomas (South Melbourne), 'Joe' Tankard, 'Joe' Shaw, Jim Gardiner, H. Fuhrop (North Melbourne), Ted Barrass, 'Paddy' Gunn, W. Goer, George Coulthard (whom you mentioned), George Robertson, and Harry Wilson (Carlton) were the champions of the early eighties."
From St. Kilda I have an indignant critic, who says, "Have you forgotten 'Billy' Shaw, Victor Barwick, Sanson the wing man, Wells, Eicke? And how can you put anyone ahead of Cumberland. Wherever you put him he was a champion?"
A correspondent from Geelong writes:—" Your recent notes on old-time footballers were of very great interest. Old followers of the game consider that Percy Douglass was the most stylish footballer that Geelong has turned out. P.D. is now acting chairman of the Geelong Gram- mar School council, and proprietor of the 'Geelong Advertiser.' His brother 'Monty,' as you know, was also a fine player. Another brilliant old Geelong Grammarian was Hughie McLean. Among old Geelong Collegians who were Prominent players in blue and white colours were 'Shacko' Timms, Tom Parkin, Bob Reid, E. Greaves and Gus Kearney.'
Another Geelong enthusiast says:—"What about 'Firth' McCallum, Ted Rankin, Joe Marmo, Alec Eason, and Tom Parkin? How can you leave them out?"
"Tren" writes from Northcote thus:— "In reference to your article on the champion player, I noticed you had omitted Bert Franks. I regard him as the ideal follower. He could mark and kick with the best of them also, and was exceptionally neat and fast for so big a man. Henry Young and 'Mallee' Johnson were both, in my opinion, better men than 'Joker' Cameron or Rupert Hiskens, whom you place in your list; and 'Dick' Grigg (Geelong) and Barney Herbert (Richmond) would have hosts of supporters for a place among the champion ruck men. Among the smaller men 'Ernie' Cameron (Essendon) was, of course, overlooked by you; and do not 'Dookie' McKenzie, 'Percy' Ogden (Essendon), J. Caldwell (South Melbourne), George Holden (Fitzroy). Vince Coutie (Melbourne), 'Jerry' Brosnan (Fitzroy), and 'Tammy' Beauchamp (Fitzroy) deserve to be mentioned?
But if the player who could take his place anywhere on the field and still dominate the game is meant, Bert Franks, 'Jumbo' McShane (Geelong), Martin Gotz (Carlton), 'Billy' Dick (Carlton), Bruce Sloss (South Melbourne), and Roy Cazaly (South Melbourne) would be a good half dozen to choose from."
An Essendon enthusiast writes:- "I was disappointed you did not mention 'Billy' Mcader, 'Jumbo' Carter, W. Kent Hughes, 'Tom' Rout,
George Vaution, 'Joker' Hall, or 'Tim' Woods in your list of great players."
Footnotes
Title: The champion player.
Author: Reg Wilmott (‘Old Boy’)
Publisher: The Argus (Melbourne, Victoria, 1848-1957)
Date: Friday, 29 June, 1923, p.4 (Article)
Comments
Pete McLean 25 March 2013
"Old Boy" was former Essendon player Reginald William Wilmott and worked as a journalist for more than 40 years. His son was Chester Wilmott a war correspondant, he reported on the the Australian Army's efforts to halt the Japanese on the Kokoda Track and he was highly critical of Generals MacArthur and Blamey. Blamey withdrew his accreditation. He died in one of the first Comet jet airliner crashes in the early 1950s.
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