Girgarre names football Team of the Century

Every available match report from the Free Press up until 1962 was scrutinised to compile a list of nominees from the first 40 years of the club’s history.

Nominations were then received from club members to add to the list, resulting in a total of 85 players being considered.

It was decided to select a squad of 26, the first 15 players effectively picked themselves because of their illustrious record at the club. For the remaining 11 nominations, length of service, both on and off the field, then became a consideration. This meant that someone with a lengthy playing career and also involvement off the field may have been preferred over someone of similar ability who was only at the club of a couple of years. The squad was eventually reduced by four players, who were named as emergencies.

WHY THEY WERE PICKED

Backs

Col Scripps was appointed coach of the club in 1973. He was used to onfield success, having played in nine grand finals (both junior and senior) with the Shepparton Football Club. A tough and courageous player, he was also a successful coach and is fondly remembered around the club. After four years at the helm, he stayed on for another season and was a member of the 1976 premiership side under John Murphy. His fine finals series performance played no small part in achieving the premiership.

Ross McDonald established a reputation as one of the KDFL’s best key defenders during the mid-1970s and won consecutive club best and fairest awards in 1974 and 1975. He was an important member of the 1976 premiership team and was among the best in the victory over Nagambie.

Algie Tonkin spent much of his time at Girgarre in the midfield but was also suited to a defensive role. He was recruited as assistant coach in 1974 from Kyabram, where he had won a best and fairest award. Another tough and courageous player who gave the club wonderful service, he was best and fairest in the 1976 premiership season.

Half Backs

Alan Carson came to Girgarre in the mid-1960s, when he purchased a dairy farm on Wigg Rd. He was a powerfully built key position player, equally at home at centre half forward or centre half back. Alan won the club best and fairest and McNamara Medal in 1966.

Gus Wallis was a prolific kick winner and if required could play in virtually any position on the ground, a very versatile player. His career at Girgarre included two best and fairest awards in 1982 (when he also won the McNamara Medal) and 1988. He was named best afield in the 1983 premiership victory and was also a member of the successful 1991 team.

Maurice McDonald was regarded as perhaps the best player in the first couple of decades of the club’s existence. He was equally at home in defence or attack and described by those who saw him play as a footballer before his time, with silky ball skills. He won three best and fairest awards during the 1930s and was coaxed out of retirement mid-way through the 1952 at the age of thirty-eight, to become a member of Girgarre’s first premiership side.

Midfield

Tom Atkins was born in Tasmania but moved to Melbourne in 1923. He was a talented footballer and was invited to train with both Collingwood and Fitzroy while playing with an Essendon district side. Towards the end of 1926 he began visiting his sister in Girgarre, his arrival was eagerly awaited as he played a few games for the local football team. Tom eventually moved to Girgarre and became a stalwart of the Girgarre Football Club. He was small in stature and played most of his football as a wingman or rover. In 1937 he was appointed captain-coach of Kyabram in the GVFL.

Keith (Snowy) Dunstall is regarded as Girgarre’s greatest player, his record certainly justifies the claim. A club best and fairest and McNamara Medal with Girgarre in 1946 before following up with a Morrison Medal in the Goulburn Valley Football League with Stanhope-Girgarre in 1948. He won three club best and fairest awards with the Stanhope-Girgarre club. After his successful GVFL career he returned to Girgarre in the twilight of his career.

Jack Mannes was a school teacher appointed to the Timmering East school in the early 1930s. He had previously played football with Rochester in the Bendigo league, where he won a best and fairest award. Jack was highly regarded as a person as well as a footballer. He won at least one club best and fairest during his time at Girgarre and also coached the side before receiving a transfer to Strathmerton.

Half Forwards

Maurie Varcoe coached the club for three years during the 1960s after returning from a stint with Stanhope-Girgarre. He won best and fairest awards in 1968 and 1969 and added the McNamara Medal in the latter year. A classy player and perhaps the last exponent of a long raking drop kick to grace the Girgarre ground.

Ray Doolan was considered by many to have been one of the club’s greatest products, best suited to a key forward position. He was recruited by North Melbourne and spent part of a season playing there with the reserves. Ray was an excellent high mark with a great leap and great ball skills, he coached the club in 1963 (when they were narrowly defeated in the grand final by Tallygaroopna).

Austin Maxwell played in both the 1983 and 1991 premiership sides and was a three-time best and fairest winner. Few players in the club’s history have provided more excitement than Austin, a skilful player and superb high mark.

Forwards

Laurie Doolan emerged as teenager with great potential in the early 1950s, winning the club best and fairest and McNamara Medal as a 16-year-old in 1954. He remains the youngest player to receive the award. He went on to win another two club best and fairest awards in 1957 and 1964 and has played more games of football for Girgarre than any other in the club’s first hundred years.

Andy Jones is the only Girgarre player to have won the league goal kicking award with 83 goals in the 1976 premiership year. He also spent much of the season playing as an onballer, making the achievement even more remarkable. Not tall, but strongly built and fast, he was a tough, versatile and skilful player

Jeff Turpin holds the club record with five best and fairest awards, had he not had successful stints with Rushworth and Picola this tally would almost certainly been higher. Jeff was another prolific possession winner throughout his lengthy career. He played a key role in the 1991 premiership win.

Onballers

Jack Brown was a club stalwart, serving four years as club president from 1950 while also playing. He has a record second only to Jeff Turpin in terms of club best and fairest awards, winning the trophy four times, as well as the McNamara Medal in 1953. He was a fair and skilful player admired by all, who retained his love of the Girgarre Football Club despite moving from the district.

George Arthur purchased a dairy farm on White Rd in the 1950s and he quickly established a reputation as the KDFL’s premier ruckman, his play around the ground a feature of his game as well as his ruck work. He won consecutive best and fairest awards in 1958 and 1959 and again in 1962.

Lawrie Casey emerged as a player of quality in his first year of senior football in 1976. He was a key member of the 1976 premiership team under John Murphy and was named among the best in the grand final. He went on to win the club best and fairest and McNamara Medal in 1978 before having an illustrious career with Kyabram in the GVFL. He returned to coach the club in 1996 and 1997; and again in 1999.

Interchange

Peter Myers won the first of his three best and fairest awards in the 1983 premiership year under David Marshall, the last a decade later in 1993. He was fierce competitor who was at his best (and meanest) on the big stage in September. Peter was a member of the 1983 and 1991 premiership teams.

Brian (Jack) Casey spent most of his long career as a midfielder. A dual best and fairest winner, there have been fewer tougher and more committed players at the club. His great game in the 1991 grand final played no small part in ensuring victory. He won club best and fairest awards in 1989 and 1995.

Jake Hyland had been playing with Kyneton in the Bendigo league before being recruited to play with Girgarre in 2016. His class was soon obvious and he went on to win the best and fairest award in his first year and again in 2018.

Kelly Hewitt was another skilful player, ideally suited to the half-forward flank. A tall and fast player with great ball skills, all of which were on full display when he kicked six goals from the flank in the 1976 premiership win. Kelly also coached the club in 1980.

Emergencies

Phil Tomasini patrolled the defensive goal square at Girgarre for over a decade and was a member of the 1983 and 1991 premiership teams. A close-checking defender he was often the springboard for attacking moves with a well-timed run and a long raking kick.

Andrew Parsons arrived at the club with little fanfare in 2001; however, it was soon obvious that he was a classy player. A prolific possession winner, he won the best and fairest award in each of his three years at the club. He also coached the team in 2002.

Gino D’Angelo was a member of the 1991 premiership team. He was a strongly built player and excellent overhead mark. He was versatile enough to play in many positions but was most at home on the forward line. He was certainly the longest kick seen at Girgarre for many decades.

Paul Parsons was recruited from Lancaster in 2012 and immediately established himself as a quality player with wonderful foot skills, winning the club’s best and fairest in 2013. He enjoyed a long and successful career with the club, albeit restricted in recent years by injury. Most of his football at the club was played in the midfield, but he was a very versatile player

Coach

David Marshall

Each of Girgarre’s four premiership mentors was considered for the coaching role: Jack Walsh 1952, John Murphy 1976, David Marshall 1983 and Brendan Flanagan 1991.

All were worthy of the honour; however, the nod was given the David Marshall. The 1983 team was comprised almost entirely of local players, they almost missed the final four and went into the final series clear underdogs. The result is history, the 1983 premiership win was full of character and courage. David extracted the very best from his team in achieving the ultimate glory.