The famous six McShane brothers
Fifty years ago Geelong club achieved its first signal success in gaining the title of "Champions of Victoria," defeating teams that represented the then so-called Melbourne [sic, Victorian] Football Association (the Victorian League was not formed until 1897), and also the leading provincial teams. In that champion team were three famous McShane brothers— Jack ("Shacko"), Phil ("Shilly") and Tom ("Carter"), whose three younger brothers, Joe, Jim and Henry entered the team in later years.
The doings of the McShanes furnish the motive of this story. What of "the McShanes as a family of footballers?" I questioned Dave Hickinbotham, a veteran of the 70-odd mark and captain of the team in the season of its championship glory, and still as keen an enthusiast as one might meet. "A truly great family of footballers," the veteran responded, "and every one a finished player. "
Then I fired the same question to Jim D'Helin, who was in the team contemporaniously with the younger three McShanes, and who later became one of the crack central umpires of the Victorian League. "As great a family of "ballers as you would see anywhere," quoth Jimmy. Their names were household words in their day and they are still remembered for their prowess."
D'Hellin called up Joe McShane from the "ruck." where he was in the midst, of a serried group intently watching the play and I put him in the witness box. Joe and his brother Jim by the way are the two survivors of the six brothers: Phil died a year or so ago. Remarking that he could not do more than give approximate figures, Joe McShane epitomised the periods of service of himself and his brothers thus: Jack, 1881 to 1887 (when he died from pneumonia supervening on a cold contracted on the field; PhiI and Tom, about 1886 to the nineties; Joe, a 15 season stretch from 1887 to 1902; Jim and Henry, each about seven seasons during Joe's connection with the team.
Called upon to take up the theme again, Dave Hickinbotham gave me some interesting details. He remembered Jack as a great ruck man, and Phil (who had captained Fitzroy in 1884, their first skipper [Editor's note: It was actually Australian test cricketer and umpire, Pat McShane, not one of the six brothers, who captained Fitzroy in their first season]) as a wonderful goal-kicker, about the best he had ever seen. He was the first to kick 50 coals in a season and that was at a time when sharpshooters had to run close to the sticks to score a goal.
Here is a story of Phil McShane’s prowess as a goal-getter, told by one group. Geelong, playing at South Melbourne, badly needed a goal, either to win or to even the scores. The ball went across the ground into a pocket where the wind did not help its progress. Phil marked it on the boundary line, and, holding the ball while he ran beyond the line, he kicked, but the kick was disallowed. He got the ball again, and again faulting, kicked the ball through. Back again to his mark, he had a third kick, and this time he scored a goal for his side with an unerring shot. "A surer goal-getter I had never seen," said the narrator.
A great plaver also was Tom McShane, said Dave. He was a fine forward and gave the team great service. Joe McShane, said Dave, was a good all-round player. He was vice-captain of Geelong for six years, and was promoted to the captaincy in 1895. Then he went to Carlton and captained the team for three years. He was smart along the wing, as befitted the winner of the Terang Cup and many other races, from 130 to 880 yards.
Jim was described by Dave as the "headiest" of the family. He gave any amount of pep to his field work, and judgement was always sound. He now lives in Elgin Street, Hawthorn. Henry, baby of the ilk, gave good service to Geelong before going over to Carlton, where he served a season as captain, took over a pub, and made it a popular house with football fans.
Jim D'Helln pointed out a remarkable circumstance in regard to the McShanes' family history as footballers. Not one of them had given the game a son who might be regarded as a typical McShane!
Footnotes
Title: The famous six McShane brothers
Author: M.M. McC
Publisher: Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic: 1922 - 1954)
Date: Saturday, 3 October 1936, p.8 (2nd Ed)
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