Treasure trove of old stats

Match statistics from a golden era have been rediscovered. BEN COLLINS

nline database Trove Collingwood rover/forward Alby is overflowing with Pannam produced one of the great treasure for football Grand Final efforts in the 1936 win history buffs, particularly over South when he had 32 in old editions of The kicks and slotted 5.3 out of 11.23. His Sporting Globe. accuracy compensated for spearhead OTrove features every edition of ’s 4.9 from 16 shots. the now-defunct “pink paper” from Todd redeemed himself in the 1922-54, when it was a must-read 1938 preliminary final with 11.4 for footy fans with its detailed match from 19 shots, 23 kicks and 15 XXXX reports and first-person features by marks, brilliantly supported by Des greats of the game. Fothergill’s 26 kicks and 5.0. XXXXXX A surprising feature is individual The best kick-winning feat was 37 player statistics. by Geelong on-baller Len Metherell XXXXXX For several seasons in the 1930s, in the 1931 preliminary final against The Sporting Globe published Carlton. He followed it up with 28 in match stats from one game a week, the Grand Final win over Richmond. XXXXX compiled by ex-Richmond was a key to South vice-president Dave Stewart. Melbourne’s 1933 flag with 29 kicks XXXXX XX The results aren’t as and 13 marks, while teammate Len BALL MAGNET:XXXXXX XXXXXXXX Fitzroy legend Haydn Bunton comprehensive as those produced Thomas had 32 kicks and 10 marks averaged almost 27 by Champion Data, but still reveal and was superb for the kicks in the 13 matches a surprising level of detail. losers with 26 kicks and 15 marks. he was monitored. Most importantly, the data In Dyer’s fifth game, the reinforces the greatness of some 1931 second semi-final against players and highlights some Geelong, the then 17-year-old and 6.1), Melbourne star Percy long-forgotten stars. contributed 3.3 from 18 kicks. Beames (34 kicks and 5.2) and Nash Fitzroy legend Haydn Bunton In a 1937 game dominated (29 kicks, 14 marks and 5.4). was a statistical phenomenon. by Dyer (27 kicks and 12 Richmond’s big-mark specialist In the 13 games he was monitored, marks), three Tigers – Jack Gordon Strang took a high of 19 he averaged 26.8 kicks, 8.8 marks Titus, Dick Harris and Percy grabs and had 31 kicks against and 1.5 goals. Bentley – between them Carlton in 1933, while Jack In two games against South mustered just 13.14 from Beveridge, grandfather of Bulldogs Australia in 1931-32 – his first two 36 shots. Lucky for them, coach Luke Beveridge, enjoyed a seasons, when he won Brownlow Richmond won. 32-kick game for Collingwood. Medals – Bunton amassed 63 kicks, Inaccuracy reigned. In the In a 1931 game, Collingwood 21 marks and kicked 3.5. 1936 second semi-final, South and Carlton tallied more than In the first of those state games, superstars and Laurie 700 kicks. Carlton champion Harry ‘Soapy’ Nash kicked only five goals Full-backs were credited Vallence bagged 8.7 from 21 kicks between them from 20 shots, with kicks for kick-outs and and 13 marks. costing them victory against a often benefited from a rule that Vallence’s two famous finals Collingwood without forward penalised players for kicks out performances against Collingwood duo and Todd. of bounds, which explains how were also recorded – in the 1931 In 1938, Todd had 26 kicks, Footscray full-back Bill Cubbins first semi-final he tallied 11.4 from 17 marks and 22 shots, but blazed once had 43 kicks. 21 kicks and eight marks, and in the 7.12 in a 10-point loss to Richmond. Oh, and ‘passed to comrade’ 1932 preliminary final he piled on Special minor round efforts referred to foot passes. 11.9 from 26 kicks and 16 marks. came from Fothergill (28 kicks @bencollocollins

20 | AFL RECORD | afl.com.au

AR06 p20 Ben Collins Feature.indd 20 27/04/2016 2:56 pm