Wednesday 16 July 2014

2014 Round 19, Half time.

17th July Birthdays.
 
Andrew Leoncelli 1974.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Garry Wilson, born 17th July 1953.
As a courageous, goal kicking rover, Garry played 268 games for Fitzroy from 1971 to 1984 and kicked 451 goals. 

Though he was not a very big man, he stood up to the rigours of VFL football and as a sign of how good he was North Melbourne offered to sign him from the Lions as they considered him the best rover in the league.

Winning the clubs Best and Fairest in 1972, 1976 and 1978-1980, he also captained the club from 1981 to 1984.  He  represented Victoria on 12 occasions.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


The Brothers Brewer.
Ross Brewer is the younger of the brothers and started his football journey at Melbourne in 1972.  From then until 1978 he played 121 games for the Demons and kicked 196 goals, topping their goal kicking in both 1973 and 1974.
After Melbourne he moved to Collingwood where he spent 3 seasons (1979-1981) for 47 games and 85 goals.
His final club was Richmond. He kicked 8 goals in just 6 games with the Tigers in 1982 and 1983.
Following his VFL career he became a power full forward at VFA club Sandringham.

Ian Brewer was unlike his brother in that he only played senior football for the one club. As a servant of Collingwood from 1956 to 1961 he played 84 games for 164 goals.
Like his younger brother he was a sharpshooter and topped the clubs goal kicking in 1957 and the league goal kicking in 1958. He was part of Collingwood’s 1958 flag side and was also in their 1960 losing Grand final side.
In 1962 he tried his luck at St. Kilda but did not play a senior game, then he went to Claremont (WA) for 2 years, leading the goal kicking in 1963 and in the Premiership side in 1964.  1965 found him at Norwood (SA) where he was top goal scorer in the SANFL.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.
 
Greg Williams – Dual Brownlow Medalist.
Greg Williams overcame knock knees and rejection to become one of the most talented Australian Rules footballers of all time.
From Golden Square in the Bendigo league, he tried his luck at Carlton a couple of times but was rejected as being too slow.
Geelong though could see something in this Bendigo league Best and Fairest, and in his 34 games in two years (1984-85) he let his skills do the talking.
His former Geelong coach, Tom Hafey, had moved to Sydney to lead the Swans and players such as Williams were on his shopping list.
Greg decided to move north to the new franchise and from 1986 to 1991 he played 107 games and kicked 118 goals for the Swans, winning his first Brownlow in 1986.
By 1991 things had started to sour in the harbour city and Greg told them he wanted to transfer back to Victoria.  The lucky club to get the services of this champion was Carlton, the club he had wanted to join so many years before.
It took him a time to get used to the new club, but by 1993 he was up and flying and in 1994 he won his second Brownlow medal.
 
Playing in Navy Blue from 1992 to 1997 he was in 109 games and kicked 89 goals.
He won the Norm Smith medal in the clubs Premiership year of 1995 and was a Victorian representative 9 times and All Australian 4.
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.


C is for Commentator.
And here are 3 commentators who’s surnames start with C.
Wayne Carey or Duck or the King, played 244 games for North Melbourne from 1989 to 2001 and kicked 671 goals.  During this time he topped North’s goal kicking 5 times.
Always an easily recognised figure, he didn’t just talk he acted, and was one of the best centre half forwards of all time.
He captained the club from 1993 to 2001, which included 2 Premierships, and was All Australian 7 times.
In 2003 he transferred to Adelaide where he played 2 seasons for 28 games and 56 goals.

Leigh Colbert played 105 games for Geelong between 1993 and 1998 and kicked 50 goals. He showed his talent right from arriving at the club and was used to quell the influence of some of the best players around, while also being able to play his own game.
His transfer to North Melbourne in 2000 came as a bit of a surprise to the Geelong folk and in 6 seasons (2000-20005) he played in 104 games for the Kangaroos kicking 14 goals.
Though he suffered some quite serious injuries during his time at North Melbourne he kept soldiering on and was a fine player right up until his retirement.

Dennis Cometti played for West Perth during the late ‘60’s and was the clubs highest goal kicker in 1968 with 60 goals.
Signed to Footscray in 1971, he did not play a senior game and moved back to Western Australia.
In the 1970’s he coached some minor league teams, leading Maddington to 3 Premierships as Captain Coach and Osborne Park to the 1979 flag as Coach.
Prior to taking up his permanent broadcasting roll he did spend 3 seasons as Coach back at West Perth (1982-84).
Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers and Wikipedia.
 

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