2014 Round 22, Half time.

7th August Birthdays.

 

Blake Campbell 1982, Alf Crump 1922.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. David Grant, born 7th August 1966.

With St. Kilda from 1984 to 1995 David played 191 games for 75 goals after being drafted as a 15 year old from Tasmanian club City South.

Having the ability to take a one grab mark, once he got his fitness up he became a reliable back man.

He played for Melbourne in 1996 in 7 games and throughout his career he was on the Tasmanian State team and was All Australian in 1991.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

Essendons Johnsons.

The Johnson boys could have just about been twins.  Both were born in 1978, both were with the Calder Cannons and they played together for Essendon from 1999-2007.

Jason Johnson was first to play senior footy, in 1997, and was with the club until 2008 playing 184 games for 109 goals.

After a slow start he was making his mark by 2000 and became one of the hardest and most skilled mid fielders of his time.

A member of the clubs 2000 Premiership side, he also won the Best and Fairest twice and was All Australian in 2001.
 

 

                                                      Mark (back) and Jason Johnson.

Mark Johnson played 194 games with Essendon from 1999 to 2007 and was also in the 2000 Flag winning side and was Best and Fairest in 2002.

Becoming a 'Mr fixit' he was used to tag some of the best players from opposition teams and also spent time in defence and the mid field.

He was delisted at the end of 2007 and moved to Fremantle where he spent 1 season and played 14 games for 8 goals.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

THE FIRST RECORDED GAME.

There were a number of scratch matches played between groups of men from early in 1858, but they were very informal with no real structure.  The first game that we have a record of is renowned to be between Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College.  This match took place over 3 Saturdays, the 7^th and 21^st August and 4^th September.  Whilst this arrangement seems strange, it was common practice in inter school matches in England.

The game was played in the ‘Richmond Paddock’ believed to be parklands near to where the MCG now stands.  It is hard to say how big the area of play was or how many players represented the schools, however we do know that Thomas Wills was the umpire for the Grammar School and Dr.John Macadam for Scotch College.

We also know that after the 3 days the game ended in a draw as both teams had scored one goal and it had been decided that a team needed 2 goals to win the game.  Imagine if that was all it took to decide a game now!

Source: More Than A Game & A National Game.

Peter Caven – Journeyman.

Getting his grounding at Fitzroy, Peter played 39 games for the Lions and kicked 17 goals between 1991 and 1993.

In 1994 he moved to Sydney where he spent the next 2 seasons and was in 18 games for 4 goals.

Discarded by the Swans, he was not sure what the future held, but he was picked up by Adelaide.

It still took him a while to find his niche but eventually he settled into the centre half back position.  With the Crows from 1996 to 2000 he played 82 games and scored 34 goals and was part of their back to back Premiership teams of 1997 and 1998.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.