VFL | PAUL AMY Hall of fame gets VFL STABS the Lions roaring They’re the pride of the old contribution to the reserves Lions. teams in the 1920s and 30s, as Coburg launched its hall of a player, captain and coach. fame by inducting 31 players Dave Starbuck: Started with and officials, with seven being Coburg in 1945 and one of elevated to legend status: Ian the last VFA players to use the Liversidge, Dave Starbuck, place kick. Played 219 games, Eric Lines, Brad Nimmo, Vin coached the Under 19s for Taranto, Graham Douglas and five seasons, was president in Inside Football’s own Phil 1973-74 and his earthmoving Cleary. business was the major Burgers general manager sponsor for many years. Graeme Blow said more Clarrie Mears: champion than 300 people attended the rover who took the 1925-26 function in Brunswick on May best and fairests and was Gent: Some of the hallmarks of Sam Mitchell. 10 and the feeling in the room part of the 1926 and ‘28 n ern Blues, a knee strain will “couldn’t be bottled”. premierships. Finished with IF THERE WAS AN AFL keep ace midfielder Adam The inductees were: 166 games, 278 goals and mid-season draft this year, Marcon out until Round 9. Trevor Price: aggressive key team-of-the-century honours. you suspect Port Mel- defender who played in the Legendary figure: Phil Cleary in the Coburg rooms. Clarrie Butcher: played 23 bourne’s Chris Cain would n IN A CASEY MIDFIELD 1970, ‘74 and ‘79 premiership senior games (and many more be the first player picked. studded with Melbourne- teams. Selected in the team of fairests. Captained the club, Graham Douglas: counts as in the reserves) and joined The all-class right-footer listed players, Mitch Gent the century and was made a was runner-up in the 1978 JJ one of the greatest officials the committee in 1979. Won won the Frank Johnson receives less recognition life member in 1978. Liston Trophy and was part of in Coburg’s history, having plaudits for his work as junior Medal as the Vics’ best than most of his team- Robert “Patchy” Wilkinson: the 1979 premiership. Named served as president, vice- development officer and player against the WAFL mates. But the third-year joined the club in 1947 and in the team of the century. president and delegate to running the Thirds. and has been Port’s most Scorpion has quickly went on to 137 games. Also Lance Collins: gun forward the VFA. Joined the senior Bryan Wells: former mayor consistent in 2013. Bor- earned the faith of coach a long-serving trainer and a who piled up 432 goals from committee in 1967. of Coburg who served as the ough boy Sam Dwyer’s rise Rohan Welsh and estab- groundsman at the City Oval. 98 games, including centuries George Parry: another great club secretary and delegate to at Collingwood this year lished himself as a senior Robert Evans: star full back in 1936 and 1939. Appointed clubman, contributing as a the VFA board for many years. has many VFL watchers regular. “I sort of liken him who won the 1985 best and captain-coach in 1940 and, timekeeper, bingo helper, kiosk Made a life member in 1970. thinking Cain can also go to a Sam Mitchell,” Welsh fairest and figured in the 1989 with at full forward, attendant and Record seller. Brian Allison: Tough to the next level. Hook says said. “He’s a very inside premiership. Elected president he moved out to centre half Awarded life membership in little man recruited from there’s no doubt. “Similar midfielder with great hands in 1998 and instrumental in forward and still kicked bags. 1982 and the Coburg board­ Essendon and essential to to Dwyer, Cain has been and an ability to win the striking the alignment with Won the best and fairest in room is named after him. Coburg’s success in 1988 a regular top performer at ball around the stoppages Richmond. 1941 then joined Carlton. Gary Sheldon: one of the and ‘89. Notched 174 games VFL level against AFL- and make good decisions. Ray “Slug” Jordon: claimed Ken Ingram: nicknamed “The greatest Lions of all, he shared and represented the VFA in listed players, and that’s Quality kid, too. Just wants best and fairests in 1959-60-61, Bear” because of his strong the 1988 JJ Liston Trophy, carnival matches. Made the a pretty fair way to judge to improve and he’s always the only Burger to win three in build, and was a key member won two best and fairests team of the century. them,” he said. “He’s got looking to do extra stuff.” a row, and was captain for two of the 1988-89 premierships. (and had a string of top-three Brad Nimmo: grand full good skills, he reads the Gent is pleased with his years. Played 98 games and Won two best and fairests and finishes) and was a star of back who met and matched play well and he’s a quality progress this season but kicked 169 goals. Later became was captain in 1992-93. Cleary’s 1988-89 premiership the VFA’s best spearheads. A young man. He deserves said: “I’m going OK but I’ve a great under-age coach. Jim Sullivan: team-of-the- sides. Also a regular state star of the 1979-88-89 flags a chance. If a club picked got to keep it up to hold my Rae Liversidge: went to century player who won the representative. and voted captain of the team him he wouldn’t let them spot. There aren’t any easy Coburg in 1992 to help out her 1967 JJ Liston Trophy and the Fred Cook: put in many years of the century. Received life down.” Hook also believes games.” He joined Casey brother Ian and worked in the 1969 Field Medal. Played in to the club’s off-field efforts, membership in 1990. AFL clubs should be inter- from the Dandenong Sting- administration with dedication the 1970 premiership. acting as chairman of the Anthony Alessio: pulled in ested in Northern Blues rays in 2011 but problems at a time when the club was Jim Jenkins: ruckman from bingo and kiosk committees many a mark with hands that midfielder Kane Lambert. with his hips delayed his struggling. Tasmania who joined Coburg and helping raise an enormous could pass for clamps. Best n progress. They’d surfaced Phil Cleary: played 205 games in 1925 and was a major player amount of money. and fairest in 1992 and captain HEAVY BLOW FOR NORTH in his bottom-age TAC and kicked 318 goals as a small in the 1926-27-28 premiership Frank Connor: took on the from 1997-2000 as he totted Ballarat and its star small Cup year and eventually forward with a deceptive turn treble. Won two best and presidency when the local up 163 games. Admired for his forward Billy Driscoll, with required surgery. Finally of foot. Played in the 1979 fairests and served as captain- council booted Coburg loyalty, sticking with the Lions the right-footer having a feeling hip about his hips, premiership, coached the coach. off the City Oval in 1965, through rugged times. foot operation last week. he’s gained confidence Burgers to the 1988-89 flags Ian Liversidge: began at the allocating the ground to North Alan Walsh: outstanding Roosters football man- and consistency. and became president in 1995. club as a player in 1966 but Melbourne. Walked the streets administrator whose ager Marg Richards said A Lion from head to toe. gave it greater service off the campaigning against the contribution continues today Driscoll had fractured the n A WHACK FOR PORT WITH Norm Tobitt: long-serving ground, acting as president, decision and was instrumental in his role as vice-president fifth metatarsal in his foot Collingwood recruit Luke volunteer who was made a life vice-president and treasurer. in the Burgers regaining the and property steward. Joined and had it pinned during Rounds leaving the club for member in 1951. Also ran the kiosk, bingo and oval. Continued as president the club in 1984, helping with surgery. “He’s confident work reasons. Coach Gary Linton Jones: became operated the scoreboard. until 1972. the Thirds, and was added to he will be only six to seven Ayres said the defender treasurer in 1971 and earned Henry Kerley: kicked five Ernest “Snowy” Martin: the senior committee in 1987. weeks away,” she said. had taken up an appren- the nickname “Scrooge” for his goals in Coburg’s first match in joined the Burgers from Vin Taranto: Powerfully built “But it is a very tricky injury. ticeship in the building unwillingness to part with club the VFA in 1925 and was part Carlton in 1925 and was a player dubbed “The Tank” It happened in the game industry sooner than the money. Helped with bingo and of the 1926-27-28 premiership wingman in the 1926-27 who became a cult figure at before the bye and was the club expected. Port had was an inaugural member of teams, captaining the first premiership teams. Also won the City Oval during a senior result of a stress fracture. high hopes for Rounds the coterie group. two and captain-coaching the the Recorder Cup (equivalent career that spanned 1984- It’s very disappointing for but he was dropped to the Laurie Burt: champion third. Landed a pair of best to the Liston) in 1927. 1999. Played in the 1988-89 him. He’s been playing very reserves after Round 4. player who finished with 157 and fairests and was picked in Eric Lines: Nicknamed premierships and finished with good footy.” At the North- games and three best and the team of the century. “Tiger” and made a lasting 208 games.

34 INSIDE FOOTBALL Wednesday May 22, 2013