Geelong's six year cycle
Geelong ranks next to Melbourne as the oldest Victorian club and, like Melbourne, owes its origin to the late H. C. A. Harrison, "the Father of the Game." It was founded in 1859, and all through its career it has taken a leading place. It has even been the home of great sportsmen, and if in the story of its history I omit some names, it is not that they have been forgotten but because space is limited and one cannot include them all.
Geelong has always been football minded. Its two public schools, Geelong Grammar and Geelong College, have more than held their own against the metropolitan schools and have provided many of the best players in the senior club. In the hey-day of its success half the Geelong team came from the College and the Grammar.
More important than all its successes on the field, however, has been the reputation for keen, clean sport created by its pioneers and maintained by its players and officials. As far as the players are concerned I will discuss them presently, but no reference to football in Victoria, and especially in Geelong, would be complete which did not contain the name of Charles Brownlow.
He was a player and then secretary of the Geelong Club, but it was as chairman of the Permit and Umpire Committee of the League, and later as acting president, that he gained his highest reputation. His single mindedness and his unswerving loyalty to the Australian game made him an outstanding man throughout the Commonwealth. The Brownlow medal for the best and fairest player of the year, established by the League in his honour, is a fitting memorial to a splendid sportsman. It was appropriate that the first Brownlow medallist should have been a Geelong player—E. G. (‘Carji’) Greeves.
When the famous meeting was held on May 12, 1874, to establish [sic, reconstitute] the rules of the game, Geelong was represented by Messrs. G. A. Down and H. A. Reichman, and they sat as Geelong’s first delegates when the V.F.A. was established in 1876. Ever since, Geelong has taken a foremost place.
It gained the height of its fame in 1878, when it won its first premiership, and from then it won the premiership seven times in nine years, between 1877 and 1886. After that burst of success Geelong, though frequently winning a place in the semi-finals, did not regain the premiership until 1925, and since then won it in 1931 and 1937.
On its own ground Geelong has always been a hard nut to crack. The journey of nearly 50 miles by train, or more recently by motor-car, is not conducive to physical fitness. Geelong has to make the trip to Melbourne nine times in the first round, and for each of its games in the second round. Nine clubs have to make the trip to Geelong. Some day, when a Geelong team with trainers and officials complete, will step from an aeroplane in full uniform on to the Melbourne Cricket-ground to play in a final, the disadvantage will not be so great.
Albert Austin was the captain of the Geelong team which won its first premiership in 1878, with Jack Sandilands as his first lieutenant. There were some noted players in that team. The first of them is Percy Douglass, whom I have heard described as the best player of his time. The Footballer said this of him: — "Sets a laudable example to footballers in general by not playing for the crowd, a magnificent dodger and kick, very unselfish in his play." Then there are three of whom I give you the details provided by the "Footballer'
×
Left ▼
Jim Wilson — "A splendid man anywhere. Good at all points, and a fine general”.
Billy Wilson — "As a ruck man he is unequalled, always on the ball, never tires has great courage. Noted for his splendid marks under difficulties."
George Watson — "A splendid kick and fast runner; the heavy-weight of the team. First class in every point of the game; plays 'ninepins' with his adversaries."
Another in that first premiership team was G. A. Stephen, who as far back as 1876 was called ‘the old stager’, a most reliable back player, a sure and long kick, and a good mark. He told me a few days ago how well he remembered the transference of the Geelong team from the old Argyle ground to the Corio Oval, and recalled some interesting incidents. Then there were Harry Steedman, the smallest man in the team; W. Boyd ("plays the fair game of football right up to the handle"), F. Payne, C, Smith, Steve Fairbairn, three boys from Geelong Grammar School; A. Christey, an accurate kick; W. Hall, Henry Upton, Peter Dwyer, and W. Noble.
Jim Wilson was captain in 1880, when the team had its third successive premiership with practically the same side. In 1881, the season began with Geelong not so strong, but under the leadership of Wilson, who was acclaimed the best man in Victoria, it soon pulled up and was beaten only by South Melbourne. Among the recruits were four Geelong Grammar schoolboys, Dick Broughton, Dan Curdle, Bill Moffat, and Tom Manifold, and two Geelong Collegians, R. H. Morrison and Willie McPherson.
Another three years of premiership followed. Some of the old champions had dropped out, but there were reinforcements from the schools. Geelong College supplied five to the team in 1882: J. Boyd, R. Edols, Willie McPherson, C. McArthur, and Hugh McLean.
Then there was Phil ("Shilly") McShane, one of the cleverest goal sneaks who ever eluded a full back or goal-keeper, as he was then known. In those days pushing behind was allowed, and "Shilly" McShane was an adept at it. He was the first of a long list of brothers—Jim, who once told me that he trained Geelong by making them chase the hares at Avalon; Jack, a good follower; Joe and Henry, who each captained Carlton, as well as Geelong. Joe was a splendid ruck man and leader, and Harry shone in the centre. It used to be said of Shilly McShane that you could blind fold him, turn him round three times on the Corio Oval, and give him the ball, and so keen was his knowledge of the position of the posts that he could kick a goal. His skill was remarkable. He was the first player to get 50 goals in a season, his total for 1886 being 59.
That premiership side was led by Dave Hickinbotham, who was not only a highly skilled centreman but an inspiring leader. He had with him such clever players as Hugh McLean, who has never had a superior as a wing half-forward. Jack ("Jumbo") Kerley, a magnificent follower; H. Matson, Jim Julien, almost as good as Hugh McLean on the half-forward or centre wing, and Harry Steedman, one of the smallest men who ever played. It was no small feat to win the premiership in the 'eighties for South Melbourne and Carlton were very strong and Essendon was just working up to that great team which won for it the premiership for four years.
Right ▼
Geelong came again in 1886, with Dave Hickinbotham still the leader. He had with him Dick Talbot, Percy Douglass, R. H. Morrison, Jim Bailey, Jim Galbraith, W. Boyd, Fred Furnell, Gus Kearney, Hugh McLean, who kicked 32 goals, and Phil McShane, who kicked 59. The pair accounted for 91 out of the 151 goals kicked by the side in its 19 matches, of which 17 were won and two drawn, the team going through the season unbeaten, a feat accomplished only by Essendon.
Then came a long struggle in which five times the team was second, and on seven occasions filled third place, until at last, but not until 1925, the premiership was regained. Since then the feat was repeated in 1931 and 1937, although since the League was established in 1897, Geelong has won three premierships, second twice, third five times, and fourth eight times. As I have said, the team has always been handicapped by having to travel so much. Especially is this so in the semi-final and final matches.
In 1889 the team was very strong, but South Melbourne was stronger and Geelong lost the premiership. The side was being constantly reinforced by boys from the schools, and Tom Parkin, Hubert Parker, from Grammar, Mick and Gus Kearney, Matt Armstrong, Vin O’Farrell, Bob Reid, "Shacko" Timms, who later represented Scotland against England in Rugby, and won the amateur athletic championship of Scotland; and H. Waugh came from Geelong College; Joe Brush and Dobie Thomson had also come from the Grammar. Then came more successes, but not sufficient to win the premiership.
×
Left ▼
As I recall those years, and think of Tom Parkin, Arthur (Pommey) Green from South Australia, two grand all-round Grammar School athletes, Joe Marmo, has there ever been a better half-back? Dick Houston, Peter Burns (who had come from South Melbourne), Jack Baker (who had transferred from Carlton), Alex Boyd, Jack Conway (who still takes a keen interest in things), "Joss" Adams (who played with Melbourne, Essendon, and Geelong), Dick Gullan, Clive Morrison, Bob Reid (one of the best, both on and off the field), H. Leahy (the fast wing man), Dave Decoit, Eddie James (the giant), Barney Murphy, Billy Bell, Ted and George Lockwood, Henry Young (another grand athlete, leader, and sportsman), Firth McCallum (the brilliant centre man), Ted Greeves (whose son later followed in his father's footsteps, and was the first winner of the Brownlow Medal), Billy Pincott (now coach of Geelong Grammar School crews), Ted Rankin (whose sons Cliff and Bert later lent lustre to the team and their family reputation), Norman Belcher, T. Newling, G. Holltgan (a fine wing player), Jack Wright, W. Bennion, Alex, and Billy Eason, Jim Munday, H. Quinton, and Percy Scown. This brings us up to 1913, the year before the Great War, when Geelong was becoming strong.
Just when Geelong seemed to be regaining strength came the war, and one of the clubs to draw out was Geelong. As I look through the list and recall those fine players I think of Billy Orchard, George Haines, Billy and Alex Eason, P. Martini, H. Marshman, J. James, Dick Grigg (who had few superiors), Jack Baker ("young" Jack, of course), L. Armstrong, the two Brownlees, and last but by no means least that great footballer and athlete generally, Joe Slater, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War; P. Ellingsen, and J. Armstrong. The team lost so many players that it dropped out of the competition, and after the war was over had to be rebuilt.
After the Great War, Alex Eason was in charge, and a new forward was discovered in Lloyd Hagger, a wonderful high mark and a good goal-kicker. V. Gross, Basil Collins (now president of the club), A. Johns, Cliff and Bert Rankin, S. Thomas, A. Bendle, Harold Craven, and "Jumbo" Sharland all showed up well. In 1921 GeeJong was fourth, and it repeated the performance in 1923, but the side dropped back in 1924, though it had that very fine player, "Carji" Greeves (who won the Brownlow Medal). Then came the first Geelong premiership since 1886, and never was there such enthusiasm.
Geelong had a strong side, led by Cliff Rankin, who played a very fine game, and kicked five goals. He had as his assistant Tom Fitzmaurice, who had transferred from Essendon after that team had gone down before Footscray in the "championship" match. Lloyd Hagger (who kicked 78 goals during the season and headed the list for the year), Eric Fleming, Keith Johns, Jack Williams, Arthur Rayson, J. ("Dugger") Warren, "Jocka" Todd (a great full back, who played 232 games with Geelong, beaten only by Ted Rankin, 241, and Reg Hickey, 250), and Dave Heagney {were all fine players}.
Six years later, in 1931, Geelong again became premiers, very few of the 1925 team being included. Teddy Baker was captain, with Reg Hickey as vice-captain, the side including such splendid new players as George Moloney (the West Australian forward, who kicked 74 goals in the season, and kicked 109 in 1932), the Hardiman brothers. Arthur Coghlan, Len Metherall, Tom Quinn, Jack Carney (now with Carlton), Jack Collins (the dashing centre or half-forward), Jack Evans, and R. McDonald.
An idea as to how the composition of League teams changes may be gathered from the fact that of the 18 which represented Geelong in the grand final in 1931 not one is left, but Joe Sellwood, now in the Geelong team, was on the training list. Of this Richmond team, which Geelong beat in the Grand final, only Jack Titus, Kevin O'Neill, and Jack Dyer are still playing.
Although its cycle of six years is not yet complete—Geelong won in 1925, 1931, and 1937—it is not beyond the realms of probability that the 1940 pennant should go to Geelong. It has lost the experience of Reg Hickey and Tom Quinn, its two veterans who recently retired, but their support is still there, and the club spirit of Geelong is as keen as ever. After its brilliant victory over Melbourne on Saturday all Geelong people returned to their homes satisfied that this year's premiership is not out of reach.
Footnotes
Title: GEELONG'S SIX YEAR CYCLE
Author: Old Boy
Publisher: The Australasian (Melbourne, Vic: 1864-1946
Date: Saturday 6 July 1940, p.14 (Article)
Comments
This article does not contain any comments.
Login to leave a comment.