2014 Round 18, Three quarter time.

12th July Birthdays.

 

Luke Darcy 1975, Damien Peverill 1979.

 PLAYER OF THE DAY. Shane Woewodin, born 12th July 1976.

As a teenager Shane was an all round sportsman, playing cricket, softball and basketball as well as Aussie Rules. 

He had a hard graft to get into the big time, being overlooked in 2 drafts before Melbourne showed an interest in him. The reward they received however was 138 games and 63 goals from 1998 to 2002.

So serious was he about his trade that he had a special diet and even had the times of day he should eat planned out.  The result was a fine player who was always first at the ball and was a Melbourne favourite.  In 2000 he won the Brownlow medal and the clubs Best and Fairest as well. 

Salary cap pressures saw him traded to Collingwood in 2003 where he played 3 seasons for 62 games and 31 goals.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

Copeland.

The Best and Fairest award at most football clubs is named after a great player or players.  Collingwood however is different.

E. W. Copeland never played a game for the Magpies but he was still an important member of their club. Whilst he was the chief clerk of the Metropolitan Gas Company, he also found time to be Collingwood Secretary, delegate to the VFL and Victoria’s representative on the National Football Council.

He did take up the role of vice-president at the club and it was after his death in 1947 that they decided to name the award after him.

The 2 players to have won the medal the most times are Nathan Buckley 6 and Len Thompson 5.  Both of these players are also Brownlow Medalists.

Source: Our Game by Jim Main.

Wayne Harmes – Norm Smith Medalist.

The Norm Smith Medal has been awarded since 1979 and Wayne Harmes was the first recipient.

Playing for Carlton from 1977 to 1988 he was in 169 games and scored 86 goals. These games included 3 Premierships and he also played for Victoria in 1979 and 1986.

He was able to find the ball and loved nothing more than running through packs, either from the back line or out of the centre.

It is quite fitting that he won this first medal as he was the nephew of the man the award was named after.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.

 

Neil & Michael Roberts.

When Neil Roberts joined St. Kilda in 1952 he was played in the forward line and after a couple of years it looked like he may not make the grade.  Then he was moved to the back line and  seemed like a different person.

Playing at centre half back he dragged down some great marks and launched attacking moves for his team.  By 1955 he had improved so much that he won the Best and Fairest, was on the state team and came 3^rd in the Brownlow.

By the time he finished playing in 1965 he had been in 169 games for 40 goals, played 11 times for Victoria, was All Australian in 1958 and also won the Brownlow medal that year.

 

Michael Roberts followed his father to St. Kilda and played 77 games for 45 goals from 1978 to 1985.  While at the club he represented Victoria in 1981.

The 1986 season saw him at Richmond where he played 12 games for 4 goals.

Then in 1987 he spent a season with Fitzroy playing just 2 games and kicking 1 goal.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers. 

3 X 32 at Essendon.

Len Webster played 145 games for the Bombers in the number 32 jersey between 1927 and 1938 and kicked 100 goals.

He was a strongly built ruckman who used his strength to advantage. He played 2 games for Victoria and was appointed Essendon Captain in his last year.

From 1961 to ’72 Barry Davis was Essendon’s number 32 and was in 218 games for 65 goals. In his early days he played in defence and was one of the hardest back men to beat. Then around 1968 he was moved into the middle as a ruck rover and his game took on a whole new look.

During his time with the Bombers  he was in 2 Premiership sides, won 3 Best and Fairests and was Captain from 1971 to 1972.

There are a few names that are synonymous with the Essendon Football Club and one that is right up there with the best is Tim Watson.

Starting his career at the club as a teenager in 1977, he proved himself to be a real talent and a barometer for the teams’ performance.  When he missed a year with a knee injury the side went on a downward slide.

Tim had 2 stints at the club, 1977-1991 and 1993-1994 and along the way he was in 3 flag winning sides, won the Best and Fairest 4 times and was a Victorian representative on 10 occasions.  Overall he played 307 games and kicked 337 goals for Essendon.

Source: The Encyclopaedia Of AFL Footballers.