Tom Outridge selects his best ever team
Recently I visited the home of Tom Outridge, one of the greatest footballers the game has seen. Until the early hours of the morning, we talked of epic games of bygone years, players who made them possible and champions of the past and present.
We probed records, delved into the early history of the game and, as a result, Tom gives you his choice of the best possible all-time W.A. side comprising players from his time to the present day. This modest ex-carnival captain, first Sandover Medallist and hero of many never-to-be-forgotten matches, does not include himself.
It is sufficient to point out that many years ago when the sending of an all-Australian team to America was mooted, a leading critic named Outridge as one of the first who would be chosen.
This is what he told me: Who will represent the State? Hundreds of keen followers of the game have already asked themselves this question and can be heard arguing the merits of their personal selection in buses, trams — wherever they can find someone willing to talk football. And once again league players are living in the hope that their ambition will be realised.
These thoughts take my mind back more than a score of years, when I anxiously awaited the final choice of the State selectors. I remember vividly a day in 1920 when I tore open a letter from the W.A. Football League and read that I was to wear the State colours against the South Australian team, Sturt the first visiting side since the war.
We beat Sturt, but it was not until the following year that was played the first of the vivid encounters between W.A. and Victoria during the 1921-27 era. With few exceptions every meeting between Victoria and W.A. during that period produced a fierce and spectacular struggle.
Carnival win
The 1921 carnival was the first and only carnival W.A. has won and, until that time, I had not seen football played like the Victorians played it.
Our five-point victory that year was gained by a team which I consider was the most outstanding W.A. has put into the field.
However, while this was a stirring game, it seems indisputable that the greatest encounter of all times was the 1924 carnival meeting at Hobart. A public holiday was declared throughout Tasmania and, although the brilliance of the 1921 game against Victoria was not present, for sheer slogging, determination, thrills and action, the Hobart epic is one that will live long in the history of football in Tasmania.
Candles
As we fought rather than played, no thought was given to injuries. With the timekeepers studying their watches with the help of candles and the street lights burning, the game ended in favour of Victoria.
The progressive scores were:
Victoria: 4.8; 9.10; 13.10; 15.13.103
W.A.: 4.6; 9.8; 13.10; 14.11.95
Three years later we again clashed, this time in Melbourne, and again a hard, fierce and, at times, vicious game resulted. After having trailed for three quarters Victoria made a sensational recovery and ran out winners (11.19 to 10.12).
In 1930 we went to Adelaide and, as usual, there was skin and hair flying. The State teams experienced atrocious, weather. The Adelaide Oval was more like a lake than a football ground, when after being beaten by South Australia we opposed Victoria.
There ensued a totally different type of game from that with S.A. While South Australia concentrated on artistry, a fact which let them down in interstate competition for some years, the clash of W.A. and Victoria brought about the usual rugged, blood-stirring exhibition.
This is just a brief survey of a span of memorable years during which time W.A. rivaled Victoria more than they or any other State have done since.
Best side
My choice is as follows, with the year in which each player was, or is, at his top, mentioned in brackets.
:---- | :---------------------------- | :---------------------------- | :------------------------------ |
---|---|---|---|
B: | Don Gabrielson (1946) | Lou Daily (1935) | Reg ‘Nashy’ Brentnall (1931) |
HB: | Alan Shepherd (1930) | Carlisle ‘Bub’ Jarvis (1930) | Arthur Green (1924) |
C: | Jack ‘Snowy’ Hamilton (1924) | W.‘Nipper’ Truscott (1921) | Jackie Guhl (1930) |
HF: | Keith Shea (1937) | W.‘Paddy’ Hebbard (1924) | George ‘Staunch’ Owens (1924) |
F: | George Prince (1946) | George Doig (1937) | Johnny Leonard (1924) |
1R: | Jack ‘Fat’ McDiarmid (1924) | J. Sunderland (1927) | Larry Duffy (1924) |
2R: | George ‘Staunch’ Owens | George Prince | Johnny Leonard |
:---- | :---------------------------- | :---------------------------- | :------------------------------ |
Bunton out
In choosing this team, I hope I will have supporters but I know I will receive a storm of caustic criticism for having omitted several prominent names.
Outstanding among these will probably be Haydn Bunton, the idol of thousands of good judges. I leave Bunton out of the teams simply because I feel that he could not possibly be chosen anywhere else than rover and he does not, in my opinion, measure up to the calibre of Leonard and Duffy.
Here are my opinions of the other named men. Daily was a truly brilliant goalkeeper. Superb high mark and kick. Had the ability to swing his team from defensive to attack.
Jarvis is the finest half-back I have ever seen play. Nothing he could not do. Capable of playing anywhere.
Truscott: Never played centre in a carnival, but in league and State games proved himself a player with complete knowledge of what the position required.
Hebbard: Only true half-forward ever to have played for W.A. Not brilliant but the entire attack always hinged on him.
Doig: Not an easy choice with Campbell, Moloney and others to be considered. Had all-round ability and unerring accuracy.
Gabrielson: His dash and speed place him among the greatest back men I have seen.
Brentnall: Had the ability to stop any forwards. Rugged, tenacious and fearless.
Temperament
Shepherd: Big, strong, had ‘big match’ temperament. Determined, capable and reliable.
Green: Similar qualities to Brentnall.
Hamilton: Doubtful if a better player ever played in W.A. Nothing: he could not do whether on the wing or at half back.
Guhl: One of the best wingers ever seen in Australia.
Owens: Probably our greatest all-rounder. Brilliant mark and foot pass and fast for a big man.
Shea: Ideal half-forward flanker whose complete game left nothing to be desired.
McDiarmid: Hardly a thing in the game he could not do. Combined kicking and marking and general ability with coolness and courage. An inspiration to any team.
Sunderland: Powerful influence always and a lion-hearted champion.
Prince: Have watched him for some years. Has more speed and catching ability than most players his size and never gives up.
Footnotes
Title: Former star selects best all-time side Author: 'Pivot' Publisher: The Daily News (Perth, WA: 1882 1950) Date Thursday 1 August 1946 Edition: City final p.12. Web: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/77822994
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