2014 Round 11, Quarter time.

Martin Pike – Journey man.

Martin pike seemed to attract premierships to clubs.  He played for 4 clubs and 2 of them won the flag within a short time of him joining them.

His career started at Melbourne in 1993 and in the 2 seasons he was there he played 24 games and kicked 25 goals.

In 1995 and 1996 he was with Fitzroy and played most of his 36 games there as a rebounding back man; a job he did well.

Off field indiscretions saw him overlooked when Fitzroy merged with Brisbane, but he was thrown a lifeline by Denis Pagan at North Melbourne in 1997. He repaid the faith by playing some great football in 81 games up until 2000 and was part of their 1999 premiership team.  He also managed to kick 19 goals in his time there and was selected in the South Australian team in 1997.

Brisbane did finally recruit Martin in 2001 and once again his skills showed as he played 106 games and kicked 67 goals before finally retiring at the end of 2005.

During his time with Brisbane he was part of their three-peat of flags in 2001, 2002 and 2003 giving him 4 premiership medals in all.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

The Jock McHale Medal.

The Jock McHale medal has been awarded since 1950, which was the year after the legendary coach retired, to the coach of the winning grand-final team.

For premiership coaches from 1897 to 1949 the Premiership Coaches Medal was introduced in 2004 and recipients were announced at a special event in July that year.

Jock himself got 8 Premiership Coaches Medals, all with Collingwood. Some multiple winners of the Jock McHale medal include Norm Smith (5), Kevin Sheedy (4) and Mick Malthouse (3).

Source: AFL Record Season Guide 2013.

Up There Cazaly!

There wouldn’t be many people, particularly in Victoria, that haven’t heard the cry ‘up there Cazaly’ at some stage.  Even people who don’t follow ‘the great game’ would have had it on their televisions during the football season. But who was this Cazaly fellow and where did the saying originate?

South Melbourne ruckman Fred Fleiter is credited with coining the phrase  as he called it out when he wanted Cazaly to fly for a mark or take a ruck tap.

Roy was one of 10 children in his family and played his junior football at Albert Park School and then for the Middle Park Wesley team.  Carlton was his team of choice and he did play a few reserves games with them but issues led to him moving on to St. Kilda.

He started with the Saints in 1911 and was there until 1920 for 99 games and 39 goals. Part of their losing grand final team in 1913, he was voted their best player in 1918 and Captain in 1920.  Unfortunately unrest at the cub saw him seek a transfer back to Carlton; but instead he got traded to South Melbourne.

Having two terms at the club, 1921 to 1924 and 1926  to 1927, he played a total of 99 games for them and kicked 128 goals.  Though he was 28 when he started with South, an age where a lot of players are slowing down, he played some of his best football. This was a testament to his physical condition and a lifestyle of no alcohol, no smoking  and no fried food.

1921 was the first year he was picked in the Victorian team but he ended up representing them 13 times.  He was Captain-Coach of South Melbourne in 1922 and Best and Fairest in 1926.

His year away in 1925 was spent as Captain-Coach at Minyip and after he left South he also coached Preston, South again (non-playing), Camberwell, Hawthorn and Newtown (Tasmania), where he in a game at the age of 58.

Interestingly, he is credited with changing Hawthorns nickname from the Mayblooms to the Hawks.   Roy was fittingly inducted into the Australian Football Hall Of Fame in 1996 as a legend of the game.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

The Tribunal.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em the tribunal is a necessary part of Australian football.  Do they always get it right? Probably not, but they are only human, just like the players that appear before them.

From 1897 to 1912 the panel was made up of club representatives, headed by the League president. The members for each case were made up of people not associated with the clubs involved.  Charges could be laid by the umpires at the game or by a club.

In 1913 there was a change to an independent tribunal, with the League president still in charge.  This was again changed in 1976 when Alf Foley was appointed as the first chairman not connected to the League administration.

The Match Review Panel was introduced in November 2004 and it is their job to look at all charges laid, whether on match day or by video.

Currently the Tribunal is made up of the Chairman and 3 jury members who are usually past players. It is the jury’s task to hear the evidence and decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused player and the penalty that will be imposed.

Of course a player can avoid facing the tribunal if they accept the early guilty plea.

Source: AFL Record Season Guide 2013.