(By Kevin Darcy)
During this COVID-19 lockdown period, whether we like it or not, the circumstances have enabled many of us to sit down with a coffee, maybe a Melbourne Bitter and think about our past experiences and endeavours.
We have maybe connected with mates from a previous life time on email, or mobiles, having let this communication waiver due to our busy life styles. Thinking about these memories have just made us smile.
When male mates catch up, most likely chats fall back on to past experiences in sport, whether it be football, cricket, tennis — or even marbles in the school back yard.
This writer tends to remember instances on the football field that have been cherished: The day “Zoffa” Alexander said, “Sit off my big bum” in the goal square, and you will kick a dozen; the day Jim Jess got on to one torp and nearly kicked a goal from full-back at the Catholic School oval; and another when John Dowling came out of the centre circle, pointed to the flank on the sheds side, and delivered a 50 yard pass lace up down the throat of the writer.
The day Ike Isley and George Capuano went at it on the wing at Wycheproof, and again when Ike Isley took on the Hampden league back line at St. Arnaud.
Then for us to be so disappointed when the bounce of the ball eluded a crippled Daryl Campbell’s outstretched hands in the goal square that would have ensured a great home victory for the North-Central Football League.
On a social side. being part of a Donald Football Club trip away to sydney staying at the Texas Tavern, and walking the streets of King’s Cross with Bandy, Alexander, the Davidson brothers, Cockfield and Giles showing us young lads a great time, I am sure the first VB can was opened as we passed the pool.
Reserves
The Donald seconds football team was always a successful team, and, more importantly, so so competitive, sometimes more than the senior side.
The senior coach would do the pre-game warm up, then also the half-time yelling, at three-quarter time the captain would do the talking, Frank O’Shea, “Pickles”, sometimes John Dowling was involved, the younger ones were in awe of Dowling being an ex-VFL St. Kilda star and now playing for the Royal Blues, and coaching us kids – and yes, he could play (the odd bottle of green ginger was consumed on cold wet days to keep the body warm).
After the Game
After the seconds game, and the awards given out (Eddie Harris, Shamrock Hotel, Royal George Hotel and so on) it was a very quick shower then down to the pub, either in “Scoot’s” purple V8 or Colin Campbell’s purple panel van for a quick 6-8 pots, with “Jokka” Scholfield when playing Birchip, “Fizzy” Jackson when playing Wedderburn, and when Donald played Watchem, the bar was full for that hour after the magoos, with such names as Spicer, Hillgrove, McLean, Milne, Pickering, Dickie, Cullen and Vogel.
Great times, fun times and just great company with out of Donald mates.
The Donald magoos was truly a great bunch of blokes who enjoyed their footy, played their hearts out, played a tough brand of footy and later, walking off, patted each other on the back, swore, laughed and finished off with a few beers.
Training
Growing up, as soon as we turned thirteen or fourteen all we wanted to do was go to under-16 football training. Frank O’Shea the coach would always welcome us, although we were still too young and small to join the big boys.
We would play kick-to-kick in the goal square till it was dark; no lights then.
We would then run up to the sheds where the lights were on and continue to play with each of our footballs, dodging, weaving, pretending to be van der Haar, “Jezza” and Timmy.
We were also blessed to have football clinics from Richmond Football Club, the N-CFL being zoned to the mighty Tigers.
Tom Hafey, Barry Richardson, Mike Green and Mick Bowden were some of the Richmond stars that took us kids through various football skills.
Under-16s
The under-16s trained every Wednesday, straight from school, Frank O’Shea would come straight from his police duties and most of the training consisted of circle work, dodging, weaving exercises, and lots of sprints after 3 to 4 laps of the oval before training, and 2 laps to conclude the session.
Once a month, all players, and sometimes parents, would either partake in a pie or sav night.
The pies and rolls would come from Don McKenzie’s bakery, the savs would be supplied by Harry Andison, and the drinks by our favourite milk man, Bill Carroll.
The under-16 teams were always put up on Dennis’s newsagency’s window early Friday morning; we would all rush down to check out the “ins and outs” before walking or riding to school.
Friday nights would mostly be fish and chips from either Nick’s Café or Alby Motti’s Café, while our Mums caught up their shopping and our Dads had a few beers at any of the five pubs – both during the 6 o’clock swill, and later when the pub hours were extended till 10 o’clock.
Being no under-14s then, the under-16s played at 11 a.m., and for home games, all arrived at 10 a.m. for our warm-ups and so on. Away games, most players and also netball girls would travel on the Woods/Stevens bus, leaving from the post office.
The two men in charge on the bus were Les Burton Snr., and Jack Delara, our favourite goal umpire.
If we missed the bus when it left on time, tough, you missed the bus. No mobile phones then!
Success
The Donald under-16 teams from 1965 till 1972 were very successful.
My fondest memory was the 1967 grand final, Donald v. St. Arnaud. Donald had lost only one game for the year, beaten by Charlton, but there was very little difference between the four teams, Wycheproof-Narraport, Charlton, St. Arnaud and Donald.
On arrival to the sheds at 9 a.m., we were greeted by a very nervous coach, who was also captaining the seconds side. Many a time, looking over, you would see the same coach rubbing his hands firmly together — we all knew that sign that his emotions were on tenterhooks, and very excited at being involved.
The side was a truly great one, full of young Donald stars – Dixon and Male in the backline, Campbell, Warner and Boak half-backs, Tonkin and Hunt across the centre, Flett the captain controlling the half-forward line, the Green brothers, O’Bree a true full-forward, John Milne at his goal hungry best, and a ruck combination of Rogers, Andison and “Bokka” Moloney, combined with Harry Harmer, a tough and rugged rover; it was truly a great team.
Issues
With every grand final comes an issue or two that causes some concern with the coach and the selectors, whether it be a player’s playing form, or an injury to a player.
That year’s grand final was no exception. There was concern that one of Donald’s key defenders was coming into Saturday with an injury. “Boakie” has injured his ankle during the week, practising the school high jump with Graeme Rogers. While clearing the bar, “Boakie’ also over-shot the sand and landed awkardly on his ankle on the hard grass.
Once trainer Les Burton Snr. strapped the ankle, coach O’Shea was still not 100% certain that Boak was ready for the big dance.
The coach ordered a late injury test, to be 100% sure that Boak could play. All twenty players then were summoned to the large shearing shed, where Boak was put through the wringer by the coach. Sprinting up and back, twist, turn and then sprint again and finally three short stab passes into the coach’s midriff.
Boak was encouraged by the high level of support, with players shouting and encouraging the player. Coach O’Shea was not convinced, but went with his guts and Boak was in.
As player Boak was leaving the sheds to run through the blue and white banner, coach O’Shea quietly said to him, “You will be playing on Gary Martin or Allan Kell, who could win games off their own boot. If your opponent gets a kick, that I feel comes from your ankle, you are straight off.
The result, Gary Martin did not get a kick, “Boaky” had three kicks, all with his “left” boot (his non-preferred foot) – he had done his job.
“Boakie” went to the doctor on Monday, to be told he had played with a broken bone in his foot.
Treble
Donald won comfortably, beating St. Arnaud, to complete a treble of under-16 premierships — 1965/’66/’67.
From this great team, three members have passed on from this world. May God bless these football mates. Three went to Watchem-Corack to extend their careers with Bill McGrath, while the majority continued their football careers and studies both in Donald and Melbourne
One final footnote: The coach need not have worried, as the magoos comfortably defeated Charlton to complete a successful day for the Donald Football Club.
Donald under-16s went on to play in the finals in 1968, but were beaten in straight sets, with Charlton winning the preliminary final by 2 points, thanks to Graeme Teasdale, Mark Boyle (a hugely creative centreman), Ralph Conlon, who demoralised Donald around the packs.
Donald has always been a leader in sport in this region, whether it be football, netball, hockey, cricket, tennis, basketball.
These sports have all consumed both our Mums’ and Dads’ lives, passing on to individual lives onto our kids and grand kids.
All of us in the Donald and district can only hope that once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed us all, and we can then get on with our lives, that sport in all its forms can once again be part of week-ends and bring relaxation, happiness and success to us all.
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