Fitzroy's fighting forces
FITZROY, standing as it does in close proximity to the manufacturing centre of the metropolis, is surrounded by strong League clubs; Collingwood on the east; Carlton on the west; Richmond on the south. In this respect it is like the tongue of a boot, of which Carlton and Collingwood form the two sides of the upper and Richmond supplies the foot. In that narrow strip bounded by Smith street on the west, Hoddle street on the east, and Victoria parade on the south, much football history has been enacted, in which Fitzroy players and officials have played a prominent part.
SEVERAL of the teams which won the premiership for Fitzroy are depicted in colour, in very large frames, in the Fitzroy committee rooms, and the bright maroon and blue uniforms make quite a splash of colour. There is hardly a square inch of wall space left to record future successes in the committee room, and I had an enjoyable half hour looking at the pictures on Saturday, and recalling many of the old players. In an obscure corner is a small frame, in which are two photographs, cartes-de visite, I think they used to be called. One is James Simpson and the other is George Toms, described as "convener of the first meeting, 1884." In all, the story of premiership teams and interstate representatives, Brownlow medal winners, pictures of teams on tour, of captains and old players with long service, this little frame might easily be overlooked, and I was glad I did not pass it by. As a matter of fact, I took off my hat and bowed to the memory of the pioneers. Not quite a pioneer, but still a leader of 20 years' standing, was D. J. Chandler, who was president from 1911 to 1930. He was there on Saturday, hoping, as they all do at Fitzroy, for a return of the days when the Maroons were a power in the football world, and between 1898 and 1905, eight seasons, won the premiership four times and were runners-up twice. Altogether Fitzroy has won the premiership seven times, a record exceeded only by Coliingwood. Its last premiership was in 1922. The old pavilion at Fitzroy, with its comfortable training quarters, is full of memories recalling dashing players, keen contenders, and an undying club spirit.
P. G. McSHANE, the first Fitzroy captain, was a very fine athlete. Like my late colleague, Donald Macdonald, he came from Keilor, and played for Essendon before taking charge at Fitzroy, He was described in the "Footballer" thus:- "One of the club's mainstays; always plays with great dash and untiring energy; runs well with the ball; is a fair kick and good mark; judges time and ball with success." He led Fitzroy for two years, and played cricket for East Melbourne, gaining a place in the Victorian team, and taking part in three Test matches.
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JACK WORRALL, who succeeded George McShane as captain, led the side for years until a knee injury forced him out of the game. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest players Australian football has produced. Like his great friends, Con Hickey and Tom Banks, he came from Maryborough. No man I have ever known had such a "football sense" as Jack Worrall. He was a great player, a born leader, and as a coach-well, what he did not know was not worth knowing. He was followed in the captaincy by that redoubtable player, Tom Banks, whose physical strength was only equalled by his fairness and good sportsmanship. He played the game as hard as it could be played, but no one could cavil at his methods, except to say they were too good for most players. Then came Alex. Sloan, Bill McSpeerin, Gerald Brosnan, Ernie Jenkin, Jim Sharp (afterwards with Collingwcod), "Lal" McLennan (a brilliant centre man, now president), Jack Cooper, Bill Walker, Percy Parratt (one of the cleverest players who ever kicked a ball), George Holden, Gordon Rattray, J. Atkinson (still playing in Tasmania), W. J. Adams (the famous "Bull," now coach of the Melbourne seconds), Len Wigraft (with whom I sat on Saturday), Charlie Chapman, Colin Niven (also from Maryborough), Haydn Bunbon, and now Frank Curcio. No club has held a better array of captains.
C.M. HICKEY is a name that must live long in the annals of Fitzroy and of football generally. He was secretary of Fitzroy for many years and a first rate player. He was one of the founders of the Victorian Football League and of the Australian National Football Council, of which he was the first president and later secretary. He was in some of those early teams which included Jack Worrall, Tom Banks, Bill and Con Buckley, Sam McMichael, Jim Grace, Geoff Moriarty, B. Rappiport, Bill Cleary, Ted Melling, Joe Kerrigan, Bill Delahunty, Jack and Bill Dalton. What fine fellows they were!
GRADUALLY Fitzroy developed, and its growth was along the lines of solidity. The straight-through methods adopted by those early teams have been copied and turned to advantage by opponents, but unfortunately Fitzroy has departed from them. When one thinks of the first side which won the premiership in 1895 and brought Fitzroy its first success one realises what can be attained by purposeful men. It was not a big side in point of stature, but beneath those maroon jerseys beat hearts which never quavered, no matter what the opposition. Essendon, Collingwood, and Geelong were very strong then, but Fitzroy vanquished them all. Just look at some of the names - Tom Banks (captain), Bill Cleary (vice-captain), Bill Buckley, Jim and Mick Grace (the one strong, vigorous, and determined, and the other built on more delicate lines, but making up for his lack of weight and strength by extreme cleverness), Roger Lamley, Bill McSpeerin (never a burly man, but tough as leather and supple as whipcord), Geoff Moriarty, and Sam McMichael (a determined defender, a first-rate boxer, and an interstate cricketer).
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THE 1895 team fell back a little for a while, but in 1898 and 1899 the maroon flag flew from the top of the mast when Alex. Sloan led the side. There were no "beg pardons" about Alex. Sloan. The ball was his objective, and if you chose to get in his way it was your own lookout. His determination was also shown in rowing, for he was a splendid oarsman. Paddy Hickey - a brother of Con - had come into the side, and at centre half-back he was invincible. He was one of the "straight-through" brigade. His methods were not gentle, but they were always fair. He believed that hips and shoulders were given to men for bumping purposes, and he lived up to his belief. I wonder how many will remember the famous duel between him and L. Cumberland, of Melbourne (not the great Harry Cumberland, but his brother). He played at centre half-forward on the Fitzroy ground that day, and Paddy Hickey was at his usual post, centre half-back. Somehow it got about that Cumberland had said that he would stop Paddy Hickey's rushes, and the in formation was carried into the Fitzroy room. As soon as the game began the bail went to Hickey, and off he started with one of his devastating rushes. In his path stood Cumberland all set in oppo sition. Paddy never faltered but went full steam ahead, and the players clashed - Cumberland crashed and Paddy went straight on. Three times the incident was repeated, and then Cumberland was car ried off the ground, battered and shaken, and as a tribute to his courage the crowd cheered him. Alf. McDougall, Eddie Jenkin, Jack Dalton, Fred Fontaine (also a champion cyclist), Bill Dalton, J. Deas, Chris. Kiernan (one of the cleverest players of all time), Pat Descrimes, and Bill Potter were all members of that team. I met Bill Potter the other day, and list ened to his views of all sport. He is one who believes that "fair play is bonny play" and nothing else should exist. He was a fine all-round athlete, representing Victoria in football, rowing, and bowls. We were discussing the multiplicity of trap-shooting championships, and he told me he had won more than 400 trophies at various sports.
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IN 1902 and 1903 Fitzroy was building up again into a premiership side, and in 1904 and 1905 the flag again went to fitzroy, with Gerald Brosnan captain. Those were the days when Percy Trotter, the spectacular half-forward and rover, was all the rage with his maroon and blue cap. How he loved to delight the crowd with his dashes. In the centre "Tammy" Beecham was in the first class, and Ger ald Brosnan was one of the best half forwards of the day. B. Sharp, Alf. Sharp, Jim Sharp, Lou Barker (a very fine player), A. Wilkinson, and the remnant of the former premiership team were still to the fore.
SCOTCH COLLEGE has supplied many fine players to the Fitzroy team. Among these may be mentioned H. C. Winneke (now a Victorian County Court judge), J. W. Leckie (now a senator), and A. E. V. Hartkopf (now a well known Northcote doctor). Clive Fergie and Fred. Chapman were also old Scotch Collegians; and so was Stanley Reid, who made the supreme sacrifice in the South African war.
EIGHT years passed before Fitzroy gained another premiership, and it was not until 1913 that the maroons triumphed. Bill Walker was the captain that year, with H. Lenne vice-captain. What a fine centre line that was - R. Millen, Lal McLennan, and George Holden - and there were such good players as C. ("Leather") Lethbridge, Ted McDonald (afterwards the Australian XI. fast bowler), Ted Buisst, Charlie Norris, Percy Parratt, and Jimmy Preake (the elusive forwards), and Wally Johnston. Then the war years Intervened, and it was not till 1919 that football was in full swing again.
WHEN play was resumed after the war Richmond went to the top of the premiership list, but in 1922 Fitzroy again triumphed. The 1920 team had finished fourth, but it had somo very fine players - J. Atkinson, Percy Parratt (captain), C. Lethbridge (vice-captain), Gordon McCracken, Stan. Molan (a typical Fitzroy determined diehard), Clive Fergie (a brilliant rover), Fred. Williams, Charlie Keller, Tom Heaney (on his day a real champion), Len. Wigraft, Bob Merrick, Gordon Rattray, and Jimmy Preake. And to these were added Norman Cockram, E. Elliott, Goldie Collins (a very strong and brilliant ruck man, who played the game for all it was worth). In 1923 Fitzroy was beaten in the grand final by Essendon, Gordon Rattray being captain and Jimmy Freake vice-captain. The Fitzroy ruck that year was very strong, Goldie Collins and Gordon McCracken being well backed up by its rover, Clive Pergie.
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SINCE 1922 Fitzroy has not shown up. Its last appearance in the finals was in 1924. and generally it has been well down the list. The cause, I think, of this period of failure is the inability to reproduce the old spirit of Fitzroy. Now, under the coaching of Dan. Minogue, it is hoped that there will be improvement. He certainly knows the game and has a ripe experience. He played with Collingwood for six years, and then went to the Great War. On his return he played for six years with Richmond, and then transferred to Hawthorn as captain and coach. He has coached Richmond, Hawthorn, Carlton, St. Kilda, and now is at Fitzroy. He has to build up a side and is going the right way about it. Fitzroy supporters must not be impatient if it takes time to develop a system. There are some very promising players, and the side should improve.
IN recent years Fitzroy has been noted more for brilliant individual effort than for concerted work. Three Fitzroy players have won the Brownlow medal - Haydn Bunton, "Chicken" Smallhorn, and "Dlnny" Ryan; but premierships are not won by Brownlow medallists, but by concerted team work. Haydn Bunton has been hailed as in the champion of champion classes, but I have never felt that he was to be compared with such men as Ivor Warne-Smlth (Melbourne), Syd. Coventry or Harry Collier (Collingwood), "Carji" Greeves (Geelong), or "Dookie" McKenzie (Essendon and Brunswick), to say nothing of the past. Among the outstanding players for Fitzroy in the last 15 years one may refer specially to Jack Moriarty, one of the cleverest forwards the game has known; Jack Cashman, A. Batchelor, "Jacky" Millen, G. Helwig, Horrie Dawson, and Frank Curcio, the present captain.
FITZROY has a history, a tradition worth emulating, and should inspire the present-day players to increased effort. Having seen the side against Richmond on Saturday, I would say to the players, discard some of the ineffective handball, go in for long kicking, be more alert, and remember go for goal all the time.
Footnotes
Title: Fitzroy's fighting forces
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic: 1864-1946)
Date: Saturday, 1 Jun 1940, p.14 (Article)
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