2014 Round 8, Quarter time.

29th April Birthdays.

 

Josh Carr 1980, Mark Viska 1971.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Tom McNamara, born 29th April 1990.

Tom was selected by Melbourne at pick 66 in the 2007 draft and was a tall defender from South Adelaide.

He was the youngest player in that draft year and it took him unit 2009 to play senior football.  Playing 3 games that year he didn't appear at all in 2010 and was delisted at the end of the season. 

Melbourne then re drafted him on their rookie list and in 2011 he played one more game late in the season before again being delisted and moving back to Adelaide.

Source: The Encyclopaedia of  AFL Footballers.

Three Time Champion Of The Colony.

George Coulthard played football for Carlton in the VFA from 1876 to 1882, was in the premiership side of 1877 and was the VFA leading goal kicker three times.

Renowned as probably the greatest player of his time having ‘speed, grace and near perfect balance’ he was the Champion of the Colony in 1876, 1877 and 1879.

He was the umpire in a match between Melbourne and South Australian club Norwood in 1880 and choosing to wear all white for the occasion appears to be the first person to do so.

With his career ending in 1882 after a run in with the tribunal he passed away at the young age of 27 due to tuberculosis, leaving behind a wife and daughter.

Source: The Old Dark Navy Blues by Lionel Frost and Wikipedia.

 

The Lakeside Oval.

Constructed in 1878 the Lakeside Oval was home to the South Melbourne Football Club from that year until they relocated to Sydney in 1982.

Its main claims to fame are as the venue for the VFL grand final in 1901 and as home of a night football series from 1952 to 1971.

In 1995 it was renamed the Bob Jane Stadium and became home to the South Melbourne Soccer Club. Further renovations took place 2010/11 and it is now headquarters for Victorian Athletics.

One thing that has remained during all the changes is the historic grand stand built in 1926.

The current capacity of the ground is 15,000 but the record is 41,000 for a game between South Melbourne and Carlton in 1932.

Source: Austadiums Website. 

 

Barry Davis – Hall Of Fame Member.

As an Essendon player Barry Davis played 218 games and kicked 65 goals from 1961 to 1972.

He was renowned as a great half back flanker but was developed into a ruck rover under coach Jack Clarke.  As a part of the Bombers 1962 and 1965 premiership sides, he was captain in 1971-72 and won the Best and Fairest in 1968, ‘69 and ’71.  He is also in Essendon’s team of the century.

Circumstances arose that led to him crossing to North Melbourne in 1973 and he was immediately made captain.  He was in fact their first VFL premiership captain in his final year (1975).

In his time at Arden Street he played 71 games for 54 goals. To show he had not lost any of his class he won North’s Best and Fairest in 1973 and 1975 and is a member of their team of the Century.  He also represented Victoria on 11 occasions.

Source: The Encyclopaedia of  AFL Footballers and AFL Record Season Guide 2013.