TOUGH WAY TO THE TOP: John Bingley’s life has been a mix of emotions – the JOHN BINGLEY former Saint is confined to a wheelchair but is a successful businessman. SAINTS’ EIGHT-GAME HERO I G B N O

In his eighth and final League game, John Bingley became a St Kilda premiership hero – the man who stopped Collingwood champion Des Tuddenham. Fifty years on, the Tasmanian great tells BEN COLLINS about his eventful, and successful, life on and off the field – one in which he has overcome great hardship.

ohn Bingley has never been His final act as a coach was For all his football achievements confined to his wheelchair. to lead New Norfolk in the in Melbourne and , Nor anything else. Tasmanian Football League he is perhaps proudest of his Approaching his 75th Grand Final, which it lost, before efforts in business. birthday, Bingley is If I hadn’t undergoing high-risk surgery. Bingley had vowed not to let technically an elderly “I was happy with the job the his disability “beat” him and, man with a disability. surgeon did, but in those days they’d in 1991, he started Licensing Just don’t tell him created cut through everything to get to the Essentials (LE), a “one-stop he can’t do something. tumour, whereas these days they specialist for licensed merchandise” The irrepressible spirit that this life probably wouldn’t have to and I with brands including the AFL Jwas so evident in Bingley the might be able to …,” Bingley said, (and all 18 clubs), Cricket Australia, footballer – most notably when for myself, pausing momentarily. National Rugby League, the he subdued Collingwood star “Look, I don’t like thinking Socceroos, rock band AC/DC, Des Tuddenham to help St Kilda about it. Can’t do anything Warner Bros, Star Wars and cable to the 1966 flag – remains a I don’t think about it anyway. You just do TV sensation Game Of Thrones. dominant part of his being. the best with what you’ve got.” Bingley’s three sons (Michael, The old Saint faced various I’d be here. Initially, Bingley was a part-time Scott and Darren) have been heavily obstacles in football, but the way he wheelchair user, but his condition involved in the company, which has attacked life while adapting to gradually worsened to partial boasts an annual turnover of his health issues is more inspirational It hasn’t paraplegia. About 10 years ago, $50 million. than any of his on-field heroics. he became permanently attached Bingley, who lives alone in Bingley first realised something been easy to what he calls “the chair”. Melbourne’s east, also owns houses was wrong in 1981 when, as coach JOHN BINGLEY Bingley can still “give someone in Tasmania and on the Gold Coast of New Norfolk in his native a kick up the backside” with his left and takes annual overseas holidays. Tasmania, he kept stubbing leg, but his once-dominant right leg “If I hadn’t created this life for his right foot as he ran. isn’t as mobile. myself, I don’t think I’d be here,” He sought medical opinion and However, he can still drive a car, Bingley said. “It hasn’t been easy.” scans revealed a marble-sized using hand controls. His number Neither was his footy career – an tumour – which was benign but plate reads ‘StK 66’. eventful eight-game, three-season growing – inside his spinal cord In other ways, Bingley has become stint with the Saints bookended by in the middle of his back. more upwardly mobile. successful stints in Tasmania. PHOTO: MATT ROBERTS/AFL PHOTOS

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“‘Wilky’ and I have been good mates for years – that was just a little hiccup,” he said. Bingley was courted by strong TFL club Glenorchy and in 1964, at just 22, became one of the youngest men to be appointed a state league captain-coach. Then the Saints marched in. St Kilda captain Baldock and secretary Ian Drake, who was City South’s secretary when Bingley was a junior, made a few trips across Bass Strait to convince the defender to join them. Others told Bingley, “If you don’t go now, you’ll regret it forever.” The money was also too good to refuse. “I took a while to make up my mind – that’s how I got such a good contract,” he said. “I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone how much I was on. I was on more money than 60-70 per cent of the players. “I also got a rent-free house that the club owned and a Volkswagen.” The recruit impressed immediately, stifling Baldock in an intra-club practice match. “‘Doc’ wasn’t going flat out but I was, because I was playing for my football life,” Bingley says. “I backhanded him, bumped him and upended him when I could. Afterwards, Doc shook my hand Bingley, who also played representative game, receiving a best and said ‘well done’ but I don’t think representative basketball in player award in a winning team. he was too happy with me.” Tasmania, grew up in Launceston. “I don’t know why, but the best Initially, Bingley got his money “As a kid, I couldn’t give a players brought out the best in me,” for nothing. He was forced to sit continental about school,” he said. I took a he said, later expressing pride in his out the 1964 season after the TFL “All I was interested in, and all I efforts to quell superstar spearheads – influenced by bitter Glenorchy ever did with my mates, was play Neil Hawke (South Australia) officials, Bingley believes – football. Even in summer.” while to and Austin Robertson (Western repeatedly refused to clear him. His father, John Bingley snr, had Australia) on a 1963 trip with the Bingley takes up the story of how been a trainer at local Northern make up Tasmanian team. he learned of the dispute. Tasmanian Football Association club In the early ’60s, Bingley received “I was getting changed for my City South, so John junior tagged my mind – a visit from two of the biggest figures first game when ‘Drakey’ came in along and started in the thirds in the game: Melbourne coach Norm and said, ‘‘Bing’, I need to see you (under-19s). Smith and captain , who right now.’ In early 1958, when Bingley was that’s how wanted him to become a Demon. “We went into another room 16, South Melbourne invited him Bingley “couldn’t have been more and he said, ‘You’re not playing to play an intra-club practice I got such flattered”, but wouldn’t budge; he today, mate.’ match. The “skinny runt” bowled was happy at home. “I thought I’d been dropped. over a much bigger opponent to A self-confessed “average guy with I said, ‘Why?’ win a hard ball. a good an average job” who worked in a post “He explained that the TFL “Everyone roared,” Bingley office mail room and received less had originally cleared me by recalled. “It was quite funny. contract than £3 ($6) a game at City South, accident – on the form, they’d Not particularly for him though.” BINGLEY Bingley transferred to North West crossed out the word ‘REFUSES’ Bingley didn’t hear from the Football Union club East Devonport instead of ‘GRANTS’; and they’d Swans for several days, so he (Baldock’s original club) in 1962 for since sent another letter cancelling returned to Tassie. FIERCE CONTEST: £25 ($50) a game and an £18 ($36) the clearance. “History shows that was a smart Bingley (left) fights a week job. “But Drakey assured me, ‘Don’t for the ball in the move,” he said. 1966 Grand Final while He made a big impact, winning worry, we’ll get you playing next Bingley returned to City keeping Magpie star Des the best and fairest first up and the week.’ Yeah, right – it turned into South, where he spent the next Tuddenham (second League award the next year (as a next year!” four seasons, winning two NTFA from right) in check. centre half-forward) and earned a Drake raged to reporters that premierships, a state premiership, reputation as a tough customer. Bingley was the only Tasmanian The Examiner Trophy (which was As the national anthem was denied a transfer to the VFL that stolen soon after) and a spot in the played before an inter-league season, and a “filthy” Bingley sought club’s Team of the Century. game, ex-Richmond player Graeme legal advice. He also played on superstar Wilkinson niggled Bingley, who It was all to no avail and he Darrel ‘Mr Magic’ Baldock in a dropped him on the spot. continued to train with the Saints

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despite knowing “Binga, you’re in the side, and you’re RELAXED: Bingley likes he couldn’t play a to travel so the Record on Tuddenham.” single game at any caught up with him on Drake also gave him a sleeping level until the the Gold Coast. tablet, which had the desired effect. next season. Bingley slept “OK” the next night But Bingley never but on Grand Final morning he felt rued his decision to join tense and tired. St Kilda. In fact, the “But that soon disappeared clearance wrangle proved because the adrenaline took over. a motivating force. My leg felt fine too,” he said. However, the year off made Amazingly, given the importance Bingley rusty and, for the first of Bingley’s assignment in the time, susceptible to injuries and Saints’ quest for their first he played just three League games premiership, Jeans didn’t give him in 1965. any pre-game instructions. The The 1966 season was shaping coach just nodded at Bingley with a as another personal tale of woe typically grave expression. as various ailments made it Battle lines were drawn before tough for Bingley to break into the first bounce. a strong Saints side. “Tuddy strutted over to me with Little wonder he regards himself this smug look on his face, like he as “very bloody lucky” to be part of was the king and I was nothing,” the euphoria that followed. Bingley recalled. “So when he went Again, Bingley played just three to shake hands, I knocked his hand home and away games in the seniors, away and told him where to go.” the last in round 13. But he was The equally tough Tuddenham told fortunate to have the chance to the Record he thought it was merely press his senior claims in a reserves a Jeans ploy to upset him. “But that semi-final and he performed strongly stuff never worried me,” he said. in a losing side. The scene was set for an Then an opportunity presented explosive confrontation. itself. In the senior second semi-final The Pies skipper had been refused the next week, St Kilda went down to his wish to tag champion centreman Collingwood by 10 points, with Pies Ian Stewart, who had just become captain Tuddenham bagging seven a dual Brownlow medallist, so of his team’s 15 goals on young Saint Tuddenham tried to run through him Daryl Griffiths. instead – and just failed. In the days before the preliminary Bingley: “I told Tuddy, ‘If you final against reigning premier try that again, I’ll kick ya’ head Essendon, coach in – and I don’t care if they put me took Bingley aside and said: out for a year!’” “We’re going to pick you, because Apart from “a few threats, a if we make the Grand Final we (from 3am) and night to loosen the push-’n’-shove and the odd one in want you to play on Tuddenham. knot in his thigh. the guts”, their duel never erupted. Can you do it?” “They didn’t think I’d make it,” “It was more about playing Tuddy Bingley replied: “Well, I won’t let he said. close and staying on his inside so him kick seven.” The gruelling fitness test on he couldn’t break through centre Bingley tells the AFL Record: As much as the Thursday night was one of half-forward,” Bingley said. “Daryl Griffiths was a much better the toughest challenges of “But as much as I was under player than me, but he played so I was under Bingley’s career. pressure to stop him, he was under loose that ‘Tuddy’ could’ve kicked Jeans worked him so hard that more pressure than me to kick 10 goals.” pressure to Bingley “felt like decking the coach”. another bag.” In Bingley’s first final against About a dozen times, he was In that classic Grand Final, the Bombers, he did the job on paired off against a fresh player in Tuddenham kicked three goals resting on-ball stars Jack Clarke stop him, fierce one-on-one contests. – two of them on Bingley – and and and his presence Bingley looked at Jeans and assisted in two others. allowed Griffiths to dominate he was thought, ‘If you tell me to do that Bingley had a hand in a goal as a ruck-rover and also released again, I’ll tell you where to go.’ himself. One of his eight kicks, a high other defensive options such “I think ‘Jeansy’ knew, because punt to centre half-forward, resulted as Verdun Howell to play more under more he said, ‘Righto, that’s it. Do a lap in a major that put the Saints 10 attacking roles. and in you go,’” he said. points clear early in the last quarter. Bingley faced more adversity when pressure than “I didn’t think I could do that lap, “That was a big thing for he copped a bad corked thigh. but thankfully Jeansy said, ‘You, me,” Bingley said. “I thought, But before he limped from the me to kick Bingley, go straight in.’ ‘Great – at least I’ve done field, he was swung forward and “I went straight in all right – something positive, rather than kicked the only goal of his League straight to the toilets and was sick being negative all game.’” career. It was a beauty too – another bag for about half-an-hour.” Around that time, Tuddenham “a left-foot hook across the body JOHN BINGLEY ON Bingley also became sick with was moved on to the ball and soon that bounced through”. DES TUDDENHAM worry about whether he had done became so influential that Bingley The Age reported Bingley was enough to convince the selectors. sent a message to Jeans: “Is someone restricted to light jogging on the He was having a sleepless night going to pick up Tuddenham or do Tuesday night before the Grand Final when, around midnight, there was you want me to do it?” but, unbeknown to most, he rode a a knock at his front door. It was No change was made and it could pushbike for an hour each morning secretary Drake, who announced, easily have proved costly. In fact,

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Bingley felt the Pies should have winning a premiership, while Bingley ˜˜FACT FILE ULTIMATE PRIZE: holds the shifted Tuddenham into the middle became a legend in Tasmania. premiership cup while teammates including immediately after half-time. A fortnight after becoming a Bingley (second from right) lap it up. When the final siren signalled St Kilda immortal, Bingley returned JOHN BINGLEY a one-point St Kilda victory, to Tasmania for family reasons. Born: November 10, 1941 In the late 1970s, they were tricked Bingley felt “excitement that just He then accepted a godfather Recruited from: into it by a mutual mate. stays in you”. offer to captain-coach TFL club East Devonport Melbourne’s late great ‘Big Bob’ Old Sainters still feel indebted to Clarence for an astounding $30,000 Career: City South Johnson invited both men to his Bingley, but he’s perplexed by that. a season, provided by a wealthy 1958-61: 101 games; house, telling them separately that “I did all right at negating local benefactor. East Devonport he wanted them to meet someone. Tuddenham, but I didn’t do anything “It was the biggest contract they’d 1962-63: 42 games; “When I got to Big Bob’s place, great,” he said. heard of – and I wouldn’t let them say St Kilda 1964-66: the bugger introduced me to bloody Tuddenham rued some missed a word about it,” he said. 8 games (2 finals), Des Tuddenham,” Bingley recalled. chances, but conceded Bingley Clarence made the finals in 1 goal; Clarence “For a moment I thought, “did his job”. each of Bingley’s six seasons 1967-72: 128 games ‘What’s Des going to do?’ But Bingley revealed the most there, contesting three consecutive Player honours: we finally shook hands without humbling endorsement came from Grand Finals and winning Tasmanian Football either of us knocking the other’s Jeans, who died in 2011. the club’s first premiership Hall of Fame; Clarence hand away. It had been a bloody “After the game, Jeansy looked me in 1970 – a triumph he rates Team of Champions long time coming! in the eyes, shook my hand, put his as a bigger personal achievement (centre half-back); “I told him I was rapt we were arms around me, looked at me again, than the St Kilda one. City South Team doing it and he said he felt the shook my hand again, looked at me Clarence’s flag (against of the Century same way. We laughed about it once more, then patted me on the Glenorchy) was celebrated (half-back flank); and found we actually enjoyed back and walked away,” Bingley said. harder, and the local council even Wander Medal each other’s company. “Once again, he didn’t say a single named a street after Bingley. (NWFU best and “We’ve become friends, so it was word, but by his actions he’d said so “Boy, have I had some photos fairest) 1963; East terrific by Big Bob.” much. I knew exactly what he meant taken with people under that street Devonport best Tuddenham agrees: “John’s a – and it meant more to me than sign,” he says. and fairest 1962; ripper bloke, he’s overcome a lot anything. Even more so now that That Clarence team was this St Kilda premiership of adversity and I’m proud of him.” Jeansy’s no longer with us.” year inducted into the Tasmanian side 1966; Clarence Tuddenham jokes that he “made The Tuddenham/Bingley clash Football Hall of Fame. (Bingley had (TFL) premiership a nobody from Tassie famous”; that spawned a surprising postscript. previously been inducted as both side (captain-coach) Bingley “didn’t know whether it was After the siren, Bingley had a player and as part of City South’s 1970; City South a Sherrin or Ross Faulkner because offered his hand to Tuddenham, 1960 team.) (NTFA) premierships he didn’t touch it”; and that if he had who responded in kind, telling Earlier in that 1970 season, 1959, 1960; City played only eight League games he’d Bingley where to go. when Tasmania upset ‘Polly’ South state be “too embarrassed to tell anyone”. This curt exchange was later Farmer’s Western Australia, premiership, To it all, Bingley has the ultimate repeated as they walked to the Baldock had passed to Bingley 1960; Clarence comeback: “Where’s your cup? after-match function. They didn’t for the winning goal. captain-coach We’ve got ours.” meet again for more than a decade. For some time, Bingley had 1967-72; Tasmania “He’s got me there,” a wry In between times, Tuddenham been thinking about making (5 games); New Tuddenham said. Norfolk coach 1981. achieved greatness despite not peace with Tuddenham. @bencollocollins

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