What are you up to these days?
Well, my wife and I shifted to Hervey Bay six years ago and have both just retired within the last three months. We moved from Mount Gambier which is where I went after finishing with Fitzroy.
We just decided it was time for a bit of a change and the warmer climate up here was very appealing.
We’ve only recently bought a caravan and are planning on going on a tour around Australia for as long as we can. We’ll most likely have Christmas here in Hervey Bay and then leave in January.
What are your fondest memories from your time at Fitzroy?
Even though we didn’t have a lot of success, everybody within the Club - including fans, players and committee - were very supportive.
During my time we didn’t enjoy a lot of on-field success. In my nine seasons at the Club, I think we finished in the bottom four every year. At one stage we went two and a half years without winning a game.
But there are a few games that stand out for me during my career. One was playing in front of the Queen against Richmond and the other was beating Footscray to win our first game in over two years. It was almost like we had won a Grand Final that day.
And naturally any time we beat Collingwood was pretty special.
What were your proudest achievements as a player?
For four years I was the Club’s leading goal-kicker and one year I came third in Best & Fairest.
With regards to my best individual performances, it was probably against North Melbourne when I kicked a career-best seven goals.
Do you still catch up with any of your former team-mates?
Not really. I used to regularly go along to the Past Players events at Fitzroy, but I’ve missed the last couple because of work and getting time off.
Every now and then I run into the likes of Bob Beattie, Norm Brown and John Newnham and I still keep in contact with Barry McKenzie
I’m actually heading down to Brisbane for a Past Players Reunion at the Gabba for the West Coast game which I’m looking forward to. It seems as though the Club is really trying to get a Past Players group going up in Queensland now which is great to see.
Did you stay involved with football after finishing with Fitzroy?
Yes, I actually took on the role of playing/coach at East Gambier after moving and stayed there from 1971-76. We won four premierships and finished Runners-Up twice during my six seasons which was very pleasing.
I went back to East Gambier as a non-playing coach in 1982 and we went on to win another premiership in 1983 and finished Runners-Up in 1984.
I’ll be honest, in 1976 and 1977 Fitzroy actually invited me to go back and coach the Club, but unfortunately my wife didn’t want to move. It’s probably still my biggest regret in football never going back.
Do you still keep a keen eye on modern-day football?
Of course. My wife and I are both country members of the Brisbane Lions and probably get down to 3-4 games every year.
The pace of the game has certainly quickened and, as a result of that, it has taken out a lot of the one-on-one contested situations. At times you get good games, but sometimes it just goes from one side to the other.
The skill level these days is a lot better. When we trained, we only trained for five hours per week - on Tuesday and Thursday nights for 2-3 hours.
The Brisbane Lions are currently in the process of updating their database of past players and coaches. If you played a senior match with Fitzroy, the Bears or the Brisbane Lions (or know someone that has) and haven’t remained in contact with the Club, please email your phone and address details to melbourne@lions.com.au so that we can keep you in touch with any future events with past players.
