One of the greats - Dave McNamara
The town of Benalla has supplied at least two great athletes. About 40 years ago George Palmer, than whom Victoria has never produced a more gifted bowler, came from there. Then in 1905 Dave McNamara left the north-eastern town, and coming to Melbourne made himself famous as a footballer.
McNamara refers with evident amusement to his introduction into senior society. Somehow the club that lured him to town (South Melbourne) had no place for him on the Saturday following his arrival, the team for the day having been selected. But St. Kilda supporters had also heard of his powers, and invited him to play. When he found that the Saints were to meet South he agreed to strip for them. But it is one thing to strip, and another thing to re-robe. The only available togs were built for a 5ft. 4in. man, while McNamara is 6ft. 3in. high, and weighed about 15 stone. The Benalla arrival squeezed into them, and took the field, feeling grotesque enough. But St. Kilda people soon realised that the togs were the only misfit in McNamara's city debut, and before evening were congratulating themselves upon the happy accident that had brought them a champion. It is interesting to remember that St. Kilda won this game, and many another during the three and a half years that their fortunate find remained in the team.
With Essendon Association
It has been said that to attain success a city football team requires to have a star in each position. However true this may be, there can be no denying the fact that a single player can exercise a vast influence upon the fortunes of his team. Essendon's experience under McNamara's direction, and with his aid, yields all the evidence that could be asked in this connection. For four years after leaving St. Kilda he captained Essendon, the period yielding two successive premierships, and the 120 guinea trophy presented by the proprietors of Wolfe’s Schnapps for such a performance. In the other two years Essendon were runners-up. What had McNa- mara to do with this success?
In the first season of premiership (1911) he kicked 81 goals. In the second his amazing count was 107 goals. During these two eventful seasons McNamara took part in 41 of the 42 games played. There was a thorough-going enthusiasm in his club work that could have only one result when joined with each conspicuous personal prowess.
A maker of records
In a recent article reference was made to distance kicking, and 50 yards was set down, as a really good kick. At Launceston, in 1913, McNamara, with a positively stupendous place kick, drove the ball 86 yards 1 foot. In the following year, when competing at Sydney for the Australasian championship, he covered 76 yards. His chief measured effort in Victoria reads 84 yards 2 feet 5 inches — at St. Kilda in 1909 — but goodness only knows how many times he equalled, even exceeded, these distances in match football. His greatest day out in the matter of goal-making was against Melbourne City, the afternoon yielding him 18 sixers. None of these extraordinary performances have been equalled by any other player. His goal aggregate exceeds 400, and "the cry is still they come."
How Is It Done?
Because a man stands 6ft. 3in, and has an exceptional reach, it does not of course follow that he can play football. It is only when a player is endowed with the faculty and power to use them that these things become an advantage. With McNamara's aptitude for the game he might still have been a champion even had nature shortened his stature by a foot and built him many pounds lighter. After all, it is not distance that is the main consideration in kicking for goal — accuracy of aim is the greatest factor, and in it McNamara shines. Height is of course an enormous advantage in marking, but what footballer of less than champion class could use it as McNamara does? At various times he has played half-back, half-forward, on the ball, and in the centre.
Many men make a speciality of filling a certain place, but McNamara can fit in anywhere. In summing up a player's qualifications, too, allowance must be made for any special circumstances. In McNamara's case it has to be remembered that he gets about as much personal attention from opponents as any man in the game. A player needs to be pretty good, and pretty good natured, who can shine week by week, although the energies of maybe the smartest man in the opposing team are entirely devoted to the task of blocking him. That McNamara has been 'fed' by his comrades there can be no doubt. Only last week a St.Kilda player was heard to complain that the team did not play to him as they ought in the interests of the side.
Trophies and Photos
McNamara considers St. Kilda to have what he describes as a good rough chance of winning through to premiership. It is partly on this account, but chiefly in response to persistent pressure, that he continues to play. So far the preliminary to each match has been a period of gentle persuasion eliciting such a modified concurrence as "Well, just this time." Filling a place does not require the active preparation that he put into his training when on the ball; but if the Saints get into the finals there may be for McNamara more work and less devotion to home life.
The home of a sport usually betrays his fancies. McNamara's rooms are decorated with trophies, medals, photos, and other mementoes of the outdoor hobbies to which he is partial. Bearing a suitable inscription, there is the football with which he won the long-distance kick, and also the one that he propelled eighteen times through the Melbourne City goal.
Notable Fellow Players
During his earlier years with St. Kilda, McNamara played in two or three carnival matches, and remembers with pleasure that Victoria was successful on each occasion. He considers the carnival team of 1908 to be the best side he has ever known. The list reads:— B. Bailcs, W. Busbridge, G. Bruce, A. Franks, G. S. Johnson, H. Kelly, W. Luff. R. Lee, H. Milne, R. McGregor, D. McNamara, R. Nash, T. Ogllvie, W. Payne, H. Pierse, P. Shea, A. Woods, and H. Young (captain).
Among great players discussed, the St. Kilda champion placed Vic Barwick first among the rovers, and described Henry Young, the Geelong follower, as a wonder. He liked McGregor's centre work the best in that position, referring particularly to the way in which the Carltonian plays to his forwards.
In Kindred Sports
With the gun McNamara is a master hand. On Anzac Day this year he carried off the gold medal against 66 competitors in a starling shoot at Brighton. On the running track he has scored many a success, particularly over hurdles. Rowing has also interested him and brought him victories, chiefly in pairs and fours. His chief present hobby, however, is horse racing. His ownership includes the champion pony Dante. Other winners in his group are Bowmore, Lord Linacre, and L.K.G.
A correspondent recently wrote to this paper comparing Dave McNamara with Percy Trotter, and placing him ahead of the old Fitzroy player, who last year was selected by "Lynx" as the greatest footballer of modern times. The Benalla youth wanted to excel. This comparison should satisfy him that his endeavor to do so has been by no means a failure. It can at least be said of him that he has had few equals, and his name will live with that of Albert Thurgood as one of the greatest half-forwards of all time
Striking contrast
Enthusiasts have been known to argue that football has a greater claim than cricket to be regarded as a national game. Some ardent advocates of the summer sport would meet such a proposition by protesting violently that football is only for those who are big and strong, whereas a national game should cater for all sorts and sizes. The subjects of our special articles last week and this furnish an example that football quite meets these conditions. Could there be a more interesting athletic contrast than is provided by McNamara and Charlie Hardy? They are champions at the same game, the one standing 6ft. 3in. and weighing 15st., the other scaling 8st. 6lb. and measuring 5ft. 1in.
If the votaries of football should wonder whether cricket has supplied just such a pretty contrast as this one, old-timers would recall the appearance together of the famous internationals, little Alec Bannerman and gigantic George Bonnor, who stood 6ft. 2 1/2 in.
Footnotes
Title: One of the greatest footballers. Dave McNamara's career. Publisher: The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950) Date: Thursday 25 July 1918 Edition: THIRD EDITION p 2 Article Authors: ‘Rover’, from the "Weekly Times." Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/81365868
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