Australian Football

A member of New South Wales’ 1933 Sydney carnival team, and an interstate player on nine occasions, follower Reg Garvin won the Provan Medal with NSWANFL premiers Newtown in 1936 before heading for the ‘big time’ with St Kilda the following year. As a fireman Garvin had little choice but to remain in optimal shape physically and this probably helped him to compensate for any deficiencies in skill resulting from his late start in the game. As a youngster in Sydney he had played soccer and rugby but, in common with most of his compatriots, regarded Australian football as a ‘foreign’ sport. Once exposed to it, however, his determination, toughness and vigour quickly yielded dividends and he ultimately took to the hurly burly of VFL football as though born to it. Indeed, so thoroughgoing was his assimilation that he was appointed captain-coach of the Saints in 1942, a position he held for two years. He was also a VFL interstate representative player and dual winner (in 1941 and 1944) of St Kilda’s club champion award.

After 129 games with the Saints Reg Garvin finished his senior career with a Prahran side which finished fourth of 12 teams in the VFA in 1947.

Author - John Devaney