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Adrian McAdam (Darwin, Southern Districts, North Melbourne)
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| After
joining North Melbourne in 1993, Adrian McAdam
enjoyed a brief but stellar career at the top level. Playing mainly
in a forward pocket alongside John Longmire, McAdam created havoc among
AFL backlines during his debut season, registering 68 goals in 17 games,
and being widely acknowledged as one of the most exciting newcomers to
arrive on the scene in years.
A younger brother of Greg and Gilbert McAdam, Adrian had earlier played with South Alice Springs, Darwin and Southern Districts. He was a member of the NTFL side which defeated Essendon by 30 points at Gardens Oval in 1990. Two years earlier, in Canberra, he was captain of the Northern Territory's Teal Cup team. At North Melbourne, McAdam's career never again captured the heights of his inaugural season. He played just 19 further senior games for the 'Roos over the next two seasons, adding 24 goals. Nevertheless, at his best, as exemplified in 1993, he was both exhilarating to watch, and highly effective. Like his brother Gilbert, he had electrifying pace, as well as - perhaps more importantly - a tremendous change of pace. He also possessed extraordinary skills of evasion, and was a deadly kick for goal. Had he been capable of exhibiting these skills at the highest level for longer than a solitary season he might well have verged on genuine greatness. |
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Gilbert McAdam (Claremont, Central District, Waratahs, St Kilda, Brisbane)
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| Hailing
from the South Alice Springs Football Club, Gilbert McAdam was recruited
by Central District in 1988, having
previously spent a brief period with Claremont
a couple of years earlier, and having also spent a time with Waratahs. In
1986, he was one of the NTFL representative side's best players in its
15.19 (109) to 14.6 (90) Australia Day win over Essendon
at Gardens Oval.
Possessing the gait of a champion trotter, and the elusiveness of a roebuck, McAdam was following in the footsteps of his older brother Greg, who had been a star performer for North Adelaide, and who would join Gilbert at Elizabeth Oval in 1989. While with Centrals, Gilbert McAdam formed one quarter of the 'awesome foursome', a quartet of highly talented aboriginal footballers which also included Phil Graham, Eddie Hocking and Derek Kickett. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, Gilbert McAdam played 73 games, winning both the club best and fairest award and the Magarey Medal in 1989. In 1988-89 and 1989-90, he played once again for Waratahs in the NTFL. Moving to St Kilda in 1991, McAdam gave frequent evidence of his talent in 53 games over the ensuing three seasons. He ventured north to Brisbane in 1994, and gave good service for the remainder of an AFL career which came to an end in 1996 after a total of 111 games. Despite a nagging feeling that he could have achieved more, Gilbert McAdam gave sterling service to three league clubs, and considerable delight to the hordes of supporters who follow the fortunes of each of them. |
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Ivan McAlpine (Footscray & Hawthorn)
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| Ivan McAlpine was one of the best wingmen of his generation. Bigger than most of his direct opponents he also possessed the brains and speed to make the most of this advantage. A regular Big V representative, he played a total of 112 VFL games for Footscray from 1927 to 1933, skippering the side in his final year, and winning club champion awards in 1927, 1930 and 1932. The 1934 season saw him on the move to Hawthorn where he added another 67 league games over the course of his last four seasons in the VFL. Captain-coach of the Mayblooms between 1935 and 1937 he continued as coach in a non-playing capacity in 1938 but was only once - in 1937 - able to get his team out of the bottom three. |
| A supremely versatile, if sometimes deceptively casual footballer, Ray McArthur gave West Adelaide tremendous service both as a ruckman and in a wide variety of set positions on either side of World War Two. After playing just a single game in 1935, he became a regular the following year, and by the time of his retirement in 1946 had played a total of 152 league games, including 37 with the West Adelaide-Glenelg combined team that took part in the SANFL's wartime competition between 1942 and 1944. Sadly and doubtless somewhat frustratingly for McArthur, Westies tended to struggle for most of his time with them, but promptly broke through for their first premiership in twenty years the season after he retired. Voted his club's best and fairest player in 1937, he had the misfortune to be deprived of a Magarey Medal two years later when, after tying for first place with North Adelaide's Jeff Pash, he saw the award conferred on the North champion as a result of a special vote held among all the umpires who had officiated in matches involving both players. In 1998, the SANFL saw fit to rectify this perceived error by awarding a Medal to McArthur retrospectively. Always a dangerous player near goal, Ray McArthur topped West Adelaide's goal kicking list in 1945 with 42 goals. He also made a stirring contribution that season to South Australia's 52 point victory over the VFL in Adelaide in what was the last of his 4 interstate appearances. |
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| A
superb all round sportsman, Ken McAullay represented his home state of
Western Australia at both cricket - his first sporting love - and
football. In 1971 and '72, he 'peaked' as a footballer, winning East
Perth's fairest and best award in the former year, and the Tassie
Medal and two Simpson
Medals (for the carnival game against the VFL, and the Royals' grand
final win over Claremont) in the
latter. It takes a lot for a full back to attract the notice of
fairest and best adjudicators, but clearly McAullay was no run of the mill
full back. In his three carnival games, for instance, his opponents
managed a collective tally of just 4.4; little wonder then that he won the
Tassie Medal by such a runaway margin, his 17 votes nearly doubling the
total of his nearest rival, Len Thompson of the VFL.
Asked about his approach when playing the difficult position of full back, McAullay remarked: "It has always been my policy to work hard at maintaining the front position and to keep pressure on the full forward. Make him aware that whenever he goes for the ball you will either be beside or in front of him. I am not big and must rely on my judgement and anticipation to prevent my opponent from getting a kick. I was fortunate enough (in the carnival) to keep a tight rein on the full forwards." (See footnote 1) Ken McAullay's football career came to a premature end in 1975 after he suffered crippling achilles tendon injuries. Unfortunately, these injury problems also helped to prevent him from achieving his greatest sporting ambition, which was to represent Australia in the Test cricket arena, and it is probably for his achievements on the football field that he will be best remembered - a fact endorsed in June 2006 with his inclusion on a half back flank in East Perth's official 'Team of the Century 1945 to 2005'. |
Footnotes1. Football Close-Up 1973, page 19. Return to Main Text |
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| After a promising junior career which included under-age football with Central District, Luke McCabe joined Hawthorn where he made his AFL debut in 1995. Initially a midfielder, he developed into a hard running, hard hitting defender or tagger under the astute coaching of Ken Judge. There was nothing ostentatious or prepossessing about his play, but he was almost invariably effective. In 1998 he ran second to Shane Crawford in the Hawks' best and fairest voting. Later in his career he was handicapped by shoulder problems, but still performed efficiently when selected. In 2004, after managing just half a dozen AFL games for the year, he retired, having played a total of 138 games and kicked 12 goals. |
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| In
the opening round of the 1931 season, a year after his older brother Percy had
debuted as a senior player, Bill McCallum joined him in the Norwood
side,
and performed well as the Redlegs downed West
Adelaide by 27 points at Wayville Showgrounds. It was the start
of an auspicious career which would see him land the Magarey
Medal in South Australia's centenary year of 1936, win two club best
and fairest awards, represent South Australia, and participate in a
premiership win in his last game of league football. His Medal win
was somewhat unexpected as most pundits backed Port
Adelaide's Bob Quinn,
but McCallum, who earlier in the year had been shifted to what was to
become his favoured centre position, had enjoyed a highly consistent year
and finished 2 votes clear of runner-up Jim Dawes of South
Adelaide, with Quinn a further 3 votes adrift in third place.
Tall for a centreman of his era at 187cm, and weighing 79.5kg, McCallum was strong overhead and a superb kick. He was also extremely versatile, and although centre remained his position of choice, he could do an almost equally good job across half forward, in the ruck, or even at the goal front. All told, he played 153 games for Norwood, and 6 for the state, including both matches at the 1937 Perth carnival. His final appearance in the navy blue and red came in a 14.16 (100) to 10.11 (71) grand final defeat of Sturt in 1941. |
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Len McCankie (Footscray & North Hobart)
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| After showing extraordinary promise as a schoolboy footballer, Len McCankie played briefly for North Footscray before moving to the VFL with Footscray, while still aged only sixteen, in 1941. He went on to play a total of 143 games for the Bulldogs over the ensuing ten seasons, earning a reputation as a courageous, resilient and highly skilled footballer who almost invariably gave good value. Solidly built at 180cm and 82.5kg, he never shirked a physical challenge, and had pace to burn. He could function equally well across half back or in the ruck, and was selected to represent the VFL in 1945 and at the 1947 Hobart carnival. Club vice-captain toward the end of his time at Footscray, McCankie was hopeful of being appointed coach in 1951 following the departure of Arthur Olliver. However, when this did not eventuate he made his disappointment evident by accepting an offer to captain-coach North Hobart. Still aged only twenty-six, he gave the Robins three years of fine service, although it proved to be a comparatively meagre time for the club itself, with no premierships, and only one grand final appearance, during that time. In 1953 McCankie was appointed captain-coach of Tasmania's team at the Adelaide carnival, after which he became the first ever winner of the Lefroy Medal as the state's best and fairest player of the year. |
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| A
solid, bustling defender who stuck to his opponent like the proverbial
leach, Neil McCann was a North
Adelaide stalwart throughout the 1950s - except, arguably, when it
mattered most. When North made the grand final of 1950 against Port
Adelaide, McCann was unable to take his place in the side owing to a
broken thumb. North lost the match by 11 points. Even worse
was to follow, for in 1952, when North annihilated Norwood
in the grand final by 108 points, McCann was watching from the sidelines
nursing a fractured leg. He resumed playing in 1953, and carried on
until 1959, but the Roosters never again contested a grand final during
his career.
When McCann made his SANFL debut against South Adelaide at Prospect in the final round of the 1950 season he lined up at full back in what was ostensibly a stop-gap measure aimed at freeing normal custodian Ian McKay to play on the ball in order, hopefully, to assist his Magarey Medal chances. The move was consummate success: both players performed superbly as North eased to victory by 76 points, and McKay ended up as the 1950 Magarey Medallist. For the remainder of his 150 game league career, McCann alternated between the two key defensive positions, handling both with equal conviction and sturdiness. He also represented South Australia 7 times as a defender, including games at the 1956 Perth carnival. |
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Stephen McCann (North Melbourne)
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| Strongly built (189cm, 84.5kg) and versatile, Stephen McCann played in every key position as well as the ruck in a 226 game, 201 goal VFL career with North Melbourne between 1977 and 1988. In his first season he was a reserve in the 'Roos' premiership team against Collingwood, while the following year he was at centre half forward in the grand final loss to Hawthorn. Despite hailing from Geraldton in Western Australia, he represented Victoria's state of origin side 4 times, earning All Australian selection in 1983. |
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| A tearaway back pocket player who combined excellent defensive qualities with a fair amount of flair, Geelong's Billy McCarter was without doubt one of the foremost defenders of his generation. He joined Geelong from East Geelong and made his VFL debut in the opening round of the 1913 season at home to Richmond. His sure hands coupled with tremendous anticipation gave him a head start over most resting rovers, and he liked nothing better than to embark on an exhilarating dash downfield which he would typically round off with an accurate pass to a team mate. Despite standing only 170cm in height, he could spring high for marks, and was not averse to 'mixing it' if the occasion demanded. Always cool and clever under pressure, McCarter rarely put in a poor performance. He missed the five seasons between 1916 and 1920 while on military service, but he had lost none of his sparkle and vim when he resumed in 1921. He continued playing until the end of the 1924 season, by which time he had played 114 matches, kicking 7 goals. He also made 5 interstate appearances for the Big V. |
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Bernard McCarthy (West Torrens)
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| Bernard McCarthy was an exhilaratingly talented if frustratingly inconsistent wingman who played precisely 100 SAFL games for West Torrens during the 1920s. His 5 interstate appearances for South Australia all came at the 1924 Hobart carnival. He was on a wing later that same season when Torrens inflicted an 8 point challenge final defeat on Sturt, thereby procuring the club's first ever senior flag. |
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John McCarthy (North Hobart, North Melbourne, Fitzroy, Woodville-West Torrens)
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| Welsh-born
John McCarthy is one of an illustrious band of elite footballers produced
by North Hobart over the years (see
footnote 1). Powerfully built, McCarthy was a strong marking
player equally capable of providing an imposing focal point at centre half
forward, or nullifying a key opposition attacking player at centre half
back. After overcoming an injury interrupted start to his V/AFL
career he went on to provide sterling service to both North
Melbourne (92 games, 101 goals in 1986 and from 1988 to 1992) and Fitzroy
(71 games and 77 goals between 1992 and 1996) before playing out his
twilight years with Woodville-West Torrens in
the SANFL.
An automatic choice in Tasmania's state of origin sides between 1989 and 1993, McCarthy, with 3 goals, was a key contributor to the 20.14 (134) to 14.17 (101) defeat of the 'Big V' at North Hobart Oval in 1990 (reviewed here). Sadly, John McCarthy never played in a senior premiership side; the nearest he came was in the 2000 season when he was a member of the Eagles' losing grand final team against Central District. |
Footnotes1. Others include Percy Jones (249 games with Carlton), Simon Minton-Connell (115 games with 4 different AFL clubs), Denis Scanlon (66 games for Essendon), Paul Williams (Collingwood and Sydney), James Manson (Collingwood and Fitzroy, 153 games in total), 'Horrie' Mason (Camberwell and St Kilda), and Bradley Plain (Essendon, Collingwood and North Melbourne). Return to Main Text |
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John 'Con' McCarthy (Collingwood & Footscray)
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| A
formidable follower renowned for his strength and endurance, 'Con'
McCarthy enjoyed a highly illustrious football career at two top level
clubs which lasted more than a decade. He began with Collingwood
in 1915, and was a member of two VFL premiership teams during his seven
season, 101 game stint at the club. In the 1919 challenge final
against Richmond, McCarthy, who was the
Magpies' captain, played an inspirational game as support ruckman to Les
Hughes to help his team avenge a 29 point defeat in the previous week's
final and win by 25 points. In 1921, his final season with the
Magpies, he captained the VFL's carnival
side in Perth, but home state
Western Australia proved to have the Vics' measure. All told, he
donned the Big V jumper 5 times.
The second phase of 'Con' McCarthy's career was, if anything, even more impressive than the first. When VFA club Footscray offered him the immense sum for the time of £400 to take the reins as captain-coach in 1922 he took the bait without hesitation. In both 1923 and 1924 he steered the Tricolours to premiership success, and in the latter year he also masterminded a stunning 9.10 (64) to 4.12 (36) defeat of Essendon in a specially arranged challenge match for the championship of Victoria. McCarthy remained at the helm for two years after Footscray entered the VFL in 1925, adding a final 30 games to his tally. On a personal front, he had continued to perform superbly as a player, and in 1923 became the first ever winner of the Recorder Cup awarded to the fairest and most brilliant player in the VFA. McCarthy's nickname 'Con' was an abbreviation of his second forename, Cornelius. On the face of it, his omission from both the Magpies' and the Bulldogs' official 'Teams of the Century' seems more than a trifle surprising, not to say unfortunate. |
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John J. McCarthy (West Adelaide)
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| Wingman John McCarthy was a key factor in West Adelaide's arrival as a league power in 1908, as well as of the five year period of dominance which followed. He was on the wing in the red and blacks' premiership winning sides of 1908, 1909, 1911 and 1912, as well as in the teams which secured the championship of Australia with wins over Carlton in 1908 and Essendon three years later. He played a total of 95 senior games and kicked 7 goals for Westies between 1907 and 1913, and was still very much at the peak of his prowess as a player when he retired rather than transfer to West Torrens after moving to that club's district in 1914. John McCarthy played 5 interstate games for South Australia. |
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| Originally from Trentham, Richmond's Frank 'Griff' McCashney was one of the most brilliant and exciting VFL wingmen of his day. An excellent kick, over both long and short distances, he played 82 senior games and kicked 8 goals between 1909 and 1915, and represented the VFL against South Australia in 1913. |
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Artie McCaul (South Brisbane & Windsor) by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher |
| Artie McCaul was a goal kicking on-baller from South Brisbane who played for Queensland Schoolboys in 1909 as a member of the Locomotive juniors. He made his senior representative debut in 1910, and wore the Maroon jumper proudly over a 15-year period, captaining the state side in the early 1920s. Renowned as a beautiful kick, he averaged eight goals a game during the 1921 season. McCaul played a pivotal role with Harry O'Callaghan in forming the Windsor club, and was their first captain-coach in 1924. |
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Les McClements (Claremont & Clarence)
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| The
highlight of ruckman Les McClements' much decorated, 244 game senior
football career came during the 1947
Australian championships when, on a North Hobart Oval turned into a
veritable quagmire by incessant rain, he "threw a stout heart and a
strong body into the fray" (see footnote 1)
in helping propel his Western Australian team mates to a famous 4 point
victory over the VFL. Having earlier displayed superlative form
against both South Australia and New South Wales, McClements was
considered a
'shoe-in' for the Tassie
Medal as best player in the carnival, an honour he eventually shared
with Canberra's Bob
Furler.
Les McClements began his senior football career with Claremont in 1941, the year after the third of the Tigers' inaugural three premierships in a row. In 108 games with Claremont the closest he came to a flag was playing in a losing 1st semi final team in his debut season. On the individual front, however, honours flooded his way, with no fewer than five successive Claremont fairest and best awards between 1946 and 1950, followed by a couple more with Clarence where he moved in 1951. Besides representing Western Australia in both the 1947 Hobart and 1950 Brisbane carnivals, McClements went to Adelaide in 1953 in the colours of his adopted state of Tasmania. Despite conceding up to 5 inches to many of his opponents in the ruck, McClements managed to be more than competitive owing to his "magnificent build and an ability to lift his powerful frame high" (see footnote 2). |
Footnotes1. The Tigers' Tale: The Origins And History Of The Claremont Football Club by Kevin Casey, page 62. Return to Main Text 2. Ibid, page 72. Return to Main Text |
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| Standing
188cm tall, but weighing in, on average, at just 75kg, Roy McConnell
combined aerial prowess of the highest order with tremendous agility at
ground level and a formidable turn of speed, attributes which made him
ideally suited to a key defensive position. For much of his 135 game
VFL career between 1949 and 1956 he was Essendon's
centre half back, in which position he starred in the club's 1949 and 1950
premiership triumphs. Following Bill
Brittingham's retirement at the end of the 1952 season, McConnell
stepped into the former champion's shoes at full back, where he proved
equally successful.
A comparatively late starter, McConnell spent a long period in Essendon's reserves side, finishing second in the Gardiner Medal in 1948, the season before his elevation to league ranks. He won the club's best first year player award in 1949, and was named most consistent player in his second to last season. In 1956 he was the senior team's vice-captain. After retiring as a player Roy McConnell served in a variety of capacities on the Essendon committee. |
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| A
decisive, tear away defender whose approach to the game epitomised the Richmond
'eat 'em alive' ethic, Basil McCormack played 199 VFL games between 1925
and 1936, and would arguably have had few peers as a half back flanker
either before or since. Winner of Richmond's best and fairest award
on two occasions, McCormack was a prime reason for the Tigers failing to
contest the grand final only once in the eight year period between 1927
and 1934. Unfortunately, their record in grand finals was a poor
one, but in both of their successful years (1932 and 1934) McCormack
featured prominently among the best players.
A 13 time Big V representative, McCormack's lofty status in Tigerland was emphasised recently with his selection on a half back flank in Richmond's official 'Team of the 20th Century'. Following his twelve year stint in the VFL, Basil McCormack spent nine years coaching in Tasmania. |
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| Arguably North Darwin's greatest playing product, Warren McCoy played 217 games for the Magpies between 1978 and 1990. Despite being lightly built he was a powerful player and was also blessed with tremendous pace. He could play equally well at both ends of the ground, or across midfield. Four times voted North Darwin's best and fairest player, he was a member of the club's inaugural premiership side in 1980-81. He represented the NTFL against Glenelg in 1985, when he was awarded the Australia Day medal for best afield, and against Essendon the following year. Further evidence of his versatility is afforded by the fact that he was selected in the 'Northern Territory News' Team of the Year on three occasions, each time in a different position. Although he received a number of offers from clubs in southern state leagues he declined them all. |
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Gordon McCracken (Essendon Association & Fitzroy)
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| After commencing his senior playing career with a brief stint at Essendon Association, Gordon McCracken crossed to Fitzroy in 1920 just as the 'Roys were beginning to re-emerge as a league power. A ruckman whose best was the equal of anyone's in the competition, McCracken was a driving force behind Fitzroy's surge to the 1922 premiership, and led the rucks in the challenge final win over Collingwood. In the following year's challenge final against Essendon, however, he was forced to leave the ground with an injury, and without their premier big man the 'Roys lost their way, and went under by 17 points. Although McCracken resumed in 1924, and indeed carried on for another four seasons, he was never quite the same player. When he retired at the end of the 1927 season he had played a total of 109 VFL games, and kicked 61 goals. He was a VFL interstate representative in 1923. |
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| Recruited from Malvern, Two Blues full forward Doug McCulloch was a dynamic and highly talented player whose career was cruelly undermined by injury. His best season was 1949 when he booted 88 goals and might easily have ended up topping the VFA goal kicking list had Prahran qualified for the finals. The following season, however, a knee injury limited him to just 4 games, and although he resumed in 1951 it was clear that he was past his best. Nevertheless, the Two Blues that year had a fine side and ended up winning the premiership with a hard fought grand final victory over Port Melbourne. Doug McCulloch duly took up his position at the goalfront, and although not prominent, at least had the satisfaction of participating in a flag win. After struggling through the 1952 season, however, McCulloch 'retired', only to make a surprise comeback five years later when, although by no means the player he was, he managed to go out on something of a 'high' by topping the club's goal kicking list for a third time, albeit with the modest tally of just 32 goals. |
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Chris McDermott (Glenelg, Adelaide, North Adelaide)
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| An
inspirational amalgam of courage, toughness and determination, Chris
McDermott deserves to be remembered as one of the most noteworthy players
of the 1980s and '90s. Recruited by Glenelg
from Brighton High, he made his SANFL debut in 1981 and suffered the
disappointment of playing in losing grand final teams in his first two
seasons. In the 1981 loss to Port
Adelaide, he was, by common consent, the Bays' best player.
By the mid-1980s, McDermott was regarded as one of the finest players in South Australia. Hard at the ball and capable of using it sublimely, if often almost invisibly, he won club best and fairest awards in 1986-7-8 and made the 1986 and 1987 All Australian teams. When the Tigers won consecutive grand finals in 1985-6 he was listed high among the best players both times. A natural leader by example, Chris McDermott was appointed captain of Glenelg after Peter Carey's retirement at the end of the 1988 season. When Adelaide was admitted to the AFL, he became the fledgling club's inaugural skipper, a role he retained until 1994. With his hyper-aggressive, intense approach to the game, McDermott might have been born to play AFL football. He enjoyed a particularly noteworthy 1992 season, achieving AFL All Australian selection, and landing the Crows best and fairest award. Injuries slowed McDermott down towards the end of his career, and after struggling somewhat in 1995 and 1996, he retired from AFL football. All told, he played 117 games for the Crows, 277 with Glenelg, and 14 for South Australia. In 1997 he was appointed playing coach of North Adelaide, adding a final 10 league games to his tally as he led the Roosters as far as the 1st semi final. McDermott continued as non-playing coach of North from 1998 to 2000 but was unable to get the side higher than 8th place on the ladder. It is for his feats as a player, however, rather than as a coach, that he will be remembered. |
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| Formidably tough and resolute, West Perth's Jack 'Fat' McDiarmid played the demanding roles of ruck shepherd and, later, knock ruckman to perfection. He made his league debut in 1923, and made the last of his 210 senior league appearances in the Cardinals' winning grand final of 1934 against East Fremantle. He bowed out in style, too, as he was many observers' choice as best afield. McDiarmid had also been a member of West Perth's 1932 premiership team. A good idea of his perceived stature in the game can be gauged from the fact that he was selected to represent Western Australia on no fewer than 25 occasions, including matches at the 1924, 1927 and 1930 carnivals. Immensely powerful, he was a thumping kick, but also surprisingly pacy for a big man. When rucking he was an expert palmer of the ball, and developed an excellent understanding with his rovers. Captain of West Perth for part of the 1928 season, Jack McDiarmid was selected on the interchange bench in the club's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. |
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Colin McDonald (Woodville & Woodville-West Torrens)
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| Woodville's East Gambier recruit Colin McDonald was at the forefront of the Warriors' emergence, under Malcolm Blight, as a genuine premiership threat for probably the only time in their brief existence. He debuted with the club in 1985, and the following season won the best and fairest award. An energetic, highly productive on-baller, he played 127 games and kicked 52 goals for Woodville by the time it merged with West Torrens at the end of the 1990 season. McDonald continued his career with the merged entity, the Eagles, in 1991 and added a final 7 games and 1 goal before retiring. While with the Warriors he had played once for South Australia. |
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Harold McDonald (Port Adelaide & Woodville)
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| Quick,
resolute, and almost fanatically determined, Harold McDonald, "the
tiny giant-killer.....captured the imagination and came to represent in
everyone's mind the spirit of Port Adelaide"
(see footnote 1) during that club's halcyon
decade, the 1950s. A South Australian interstate representative on
13 occasions, McDonald was
at the forefront of the game for ten seasons, during which time he played
140 league games, won Port Adelaide's best and fairest award in 1953, and
was a member of five Magpie premiership teams. He retired at the end
of an injury-ruined 1958 season which had seen him unable to claim a place
in what would have been his sixth successive grand final, and his seventh
in all.
Jeff Pash's memorably evocative description of Harold McDonald in action, part of which is reproduced above, is well worth quoting from in greater detail: The little man who was ready to take on the world, who literally ran until he dropped, who came staggering half-silly away from one collision after another still carrying the ball, whom they often had to wrap in a rug and lead off the field in order to save him from himself, became another focus of Port's affection. If McDonald had been deliberately used as a gimmick he could hardly have proved more effective. Fos (Williams) was tough. You followed him because you had to. McDonald had this little touch of appealing frailty. You could almost hear the big men growl with angry determination when he got hurt. (See footnote 2) When Woodville entered a team in the SANFL senior competition in 1964, Harold McDonald was appointed as the club's inaugural coach. However, despite instilling something of the renowned Magpie urgency and desperation into his charges, they lacked the necessary talent and experience to defeat any of the established league sides, and finished 2nd last. In 1965, McDonald was replaced as coach by another former Port champion in Peter Obst. |
Footnotes1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 155. Return to Main Text 2. Ibid., page 155. Return to Main Text |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Jack McDonald was a useful forward for St Kilda who kicked the ball long and straight and had plenty of pace. He topped the Saints' goal kicking list in 1949 with 33 goals, 1952 (31) and 1955 (24). All told, he booted 133 goals in 113 VFL games between 1948 and 1956. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| A
player of tremendous pace and natural ability, Norm McDonald gave Essendon
fine service in 128 VFL games between 1947 and 1953. His impact was
immediate, as he won the Dons' best first year player award in his debut
season. In 1948 he was the club's top performer during a finals
series that ended in a heart-rending loss to Melbourne
in a replayed grand final. When Essendon made amends the following
year with a 73 point grand final demolition of Carlton,
McDonald was one of the best players on view, while in the 1950 grand
final win over North Melbourne he was a
widespread choice as best afield. Continuing to excel over the final
three seasons of his league career, McDonald won his club's best and
fairest award in 1951, and represented the 'Big V' the following
year. He was one of the first indigenous Australian footballers to
'make it big' in the VFL, and would be on many people's shortlist of the
greatest dozen or so specialist half back flankers of all time.
Writing in 'The Sporting Globe', Ben Kerville provided this glittering
assessment of Norm McDonald's talent:
....McDonald......is league football's best half back flanker; a veritable Mandrake at the business of befuddling and bewitching rival half forwards. Football becomes ballet when interpreted by this fleet-footed will-o'-the-wisp. There's the rhythm and grace of the ballerina in his weaving evasive manoeuvres. Probably not since Haydn Bunton has there been a better 'mover' on the field. Perhaps the nearest approach to him today is Bill Twomey. Yet despite this downright elegance, McDonald is a positive, red-blooded and essentially masculine footballer. His approach to the problem of defence is rather original. Not always does he stick rigidly to his man in accordance with the catch-cry of coaches since grandma wore tights. Rather does he prefer to give his opponent a little latitude - sufficient ground in which to bury himself, as it were. Not for 'Macka' this negative spoiling or bash-'em-down stuff. He prefers to pit skill against skill and let the winner take all. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| A versatile 'tall' (189cm, 82.5kg) who could hold down any key position or take a turn in ruck, Richmond's Murtoa recruit Ron McDonald gave the club excellent service in 92 VFL games between 1955 and 1960. Superb overhead, he also kicked well, and was reliably consistent. He played for the VFL at the centenary Melbourne carnival of 1958. |
|
Ron 'Runty' McDonald (East Fremantle)
[Click to enlarge] |
| 'Runty' McDonald was a key member of East Fremantle's powerful sides of the 1940s, and enjoyed a league career comprising exactly 100 games. He made his senior debut in 1941 when he appeared in 20 out of the 23 matches played by his club for the year. The WANFL then suspended its senior competition for three seasons, however, depriving McDonald of potentially his most effective years in the game. He was still a fine footballer when he resumed, however, and in both 1945 and 1946 he contributed 3 goals from a forward pocket to Old Easts' grand final defeats of South Fremantle and West Perth respectively. After missing the 1948 season, 'Runty' McDonald resumed for one last stab at league football in 1949 in order to take his final tally of games with the club into three figures. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| A tough, straight ahead defender whose anticipation was second to none, Rupe McDonald gave Geelong consistently fine service in 111 VFL games between 1929 and 1935. He also represented the VFL once. He lined up on a half back flank in both the losing grand final of 1930 against Collingwood, and the winning game a year later against Richmond. In the latter encounter he was among the most effective players on view. Although he had a reputation for never taking a backwards step, he was invariably fair and sporting in his overall approach, and clearly regarded football as, first and foremost, a game to be enjoyed, rather than - as some were beginning to view it - virtually tantamount to a matter of life or death. |
|
Marty McDonnell (Footscray & South Fremantle)
[Click to enlarge] |
| New
Zealand-born Marty McDonnell played just 91 VFL games in a war interrupted
career but was one of the finest defenders of his era. Selected to
represent the 'Big V' on 8 occasions, McDonnell was originally recruited
from one of Footscray’s richest
talent reservoirs, the Footscray District Football League, where he had
played for West Footscray. From his very first VFL game in 1939 McDonnell
demonstrated an unflappable maturity beyond his years and while he may
never have been exactly a household name he went on to serve both his club
and state with distinction. Had it not been for the intervention of
the war he might now be remembered as one of the VFL's greatest ever
defenders.
From 1960 to 1963 McDonnell coached South Fremantle but he was unable to get his team beyond the 1st semi final, for which they qualified twice during his time at the helm. |
|
James McDowall (North Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| North Adelaide's Jim McDowall was an industrious and talented rover who overcame an indifferent start to his league career to develop into a very handy player. That league career commenced in 1925, and the following season his consistent form was a key reason behind the team getting as far as the challenge final, where, McDowall's near best afield performance notwithstanding, it lost narrowly to Sturt. By the time he retired in 1932 he had played a total of 123 senior games for North, plus 3 for South Australia. The undoubted highlight of his career came in 1930 when, after being elected as club captain by his fellow players, he led the side to its first premiership in ten years courtesy of a 9.13 (67) to 9.9 (63) challenge final victory over Port Adelaide. Jim McDowall returned to North as non-playing coach in 1936, and steered his charges to a commendable third place finish. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Ron McEwin was an extremely pacy and talented rover who progressed through the ranks at Essendon before making his league debut in 1948. Initially, he struggled to maintain a regular place in the team, but towards the end of the 1949 season a series of blistering displays as a goal kicking half forward and change rover saw him firmly establish himself as a senior player. He was a member of the Bombers' 1949 and 1950 premiership teams, and went on to play a total of 77 VFL games and kick 76 goals before joining South Mildura as captain-coach in 1953. |
|
Alexander McFarlane (Port Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Alex McFarlane was a determined, forceful and highly effective utility who made his league debut with Port Adelaide in 1909, and had played in the region of 100 senior games by the time he retired in 1919. Of somewhat angular build, he boasted the nickname of 'Bandy', but his prowess on the football field belied his physique. That prowess was seldom better exemplified than during the Magpies' 'immortal' 1914 season when he was a major factor in the club's going through its entire campaign unbeaten. McFarlane represented South Australia at that year's Sydney carnival, earning prominent mention among the best players in four of the five matches contested. He was similarly conspicuous for Port Adelaide during the finals victories over Sturt and North Adelaide at the end of the year. When football resumed after a three season break for the war in 1919, McFarlane was one of eight pre-war stalwarts to don the colours once again, and he did so as captain. However, 10 matches into the season he decided that his body had had enough, and retired. In addition to the 1914 premiership team, McFarlane was a member of Port's championship of Australia-winning combination the same year, as well as of the teams which won both local and national titles in 1910 and 1913. |
|
William McFarlane (Port Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Bill McFarlane had the rare misfortune for a Port Adelaide footballer of spending the better part of a decade in league football with the Magpies without appearing in a premiership team, unless you count the wartime flag of 1942 won by a Port Adelaide-West Torrens combined side. McFarlane made his senior debut for Port in 1941, and when he retired at thee end of the 1948 season had played a total of 102 league games, including 40 for the combined wartime team. He also represented South Australia 7 times, including games at the 1947 Hobart carnival. The closest he got to playing in a premiership side was his membership of the Magpies' losing grand final combinations of 1945 against West Torrens and 1946 against Norwood. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Jeff McGann made his league debut for Perth in 1950, and at the end of that season was on a half forward flank, and one of the Redlegs' best players, in the 6 point grand final loss to South Fremantle. Over the next few seasons, however, he found it difficult to retain a regular place in the side, and when Perth broke through for a premiership in 1955 (grand final reviewed here) he was only 19th man. It was during the second half of the 1950s that Perth's supporters saw the best of Jeff McGann as he became a regular and vital member of the team. Displaying considerable dash, intelligence and creativity in his usual position on the wing, he made the Redlegs' best player lists week after week, and was widely considered to be unfortunate never to achieve interstate selection for Western Australia. When he retired in 1961, McGann had played a total of 208 senior WANFL games. |
|
William McGee (Port Melbourne & South Melbourne)
[Click to enlarge] |
| One
of Port Melbourne's all time greats,
wingman/centreman Billy McGee played 97 games for the club in two separate
stints, and was captain from midway through the 1900 season until 1902,
and again in 1907 and 1910, when he also coached the side. Renowned
for his tremendous skill and intelligent use of the ball, he was a member
of the Port Melbourne side that, in 1897, won the first VFA flag to be
contested following the defection of the eight VFL founder members.
Four years later he led the club to another premiership, although he was
forced to miss the season's decisive match following the death of his
sister. (Until 1903, VFA premierships went to the team which headed
the ladder at the conclusion of the home and away rounds.)
From 1903 until 1905 McGee played with South Melbourne where, over the course of 36 VFL games, he enhanced his already high reputation still further. In 1904 he captained the side to 5th place on the ladder. Returning to Port in 1906, McGee continued to give excellent service for another five seasons, but the side proved unable to repeat its earlier successes. McGee's importance in the history of the Port Melbourne Football Club was affirmed in 2003 when he was selected on a wing in the club's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. |
|
by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher |
| Alex McGill was a schoolboy champion who made his debut for Mayne as a sixteen year old and played 160 plus games between 1953 and 1963. Always superbly balanced, with brilliant disposal skills, and dangerous around goals, he was a member of the Tigers' 1958-61-2 premiership sides, and was captain in 1958. He also played in a losing grand final in 1963. Vice-captain of Queensland at age 20 to the centenary championships in Melbourne in 1958 under Norm Reidy, he played regularly for the state from 1954-62 and was state captain at the division two championships in Sydney in 1960 to top off a glittering representative career. McGill was runner-up to Tom Pelly in the 1956 Grogan Medal despite a knee injury which cut his season in half, and was in a five-way tie for second in the 1957 Grogan Medal. He also coached Mayne in 1959. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Kevin McGill enjoyed a highly auspicious twelve season league career with East Perth, during which he played in no fewer than five grand finals, for wins in 1956 and 1959. He missed the 1958 grand final, which the Royals also won, through injury. A lively and clever rover with an eye for goal, he was his club's leading goal kicker in 1957 and 1960, both times with 52 goals. Between 1954 and 1955 he played total of 182 senior WANFL games, kicking 362 goals. He also made 4 interstate appearances for Western Australia. |
|
Fred McGinis (City-Hobart & Melbourne)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Hobart-born
Fred McGinis commenced his senior football career with local club City,
but before long he ventured across the Bass Strait to try his luck in the
'big time' with Melbourne. Still aged
only seventeen, he made his debut with the Redlegs in 1894, and it was
immediately obvious that here was a rare champion in the making. By
the time the VFL came into existence in 1897 he was, in the view of many,
the finest exponent of the game in Victoria at the time, as his
"splendid drop kicking, pertinacity in redeeming a mistake,
determination in getting the ball, and coolness and quickness in passing
it on to a team mate placed him in a class above his contemporaries"
(see footnote 1). Playing as a rover, McGinis
won the Champion of the Colony
award in 1897, and continued to perform at a consistently high level for
the next four years, with his only major weakness being that he was
somewhat injury prone.
In 1900, McGinis' partnership with ruckmen 'Vic' Cumberland and George Moodie was a major factor in Melbourne's unexpected surge up the premiership ladder to take out the flag. The same trio also represented the VFL in intercolonial matches. Tragically, in 1902 McGinis' sight began to deteriorate alarmingly, and he was forced to quit the game and return home to Tasmania. |
Footnotes1. 100 Years Of Football: The Story Of The Melbourne Football Club 1858-1958 by E.C.H.Taylor, pages 30-31. Return to Main Text |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Geoff McGivern had a comparatively short but auspicious career with Melbourne, winning the club's best and fairest award in 1952, and playing at centre half back when the Dees overcame Collingwood by 28 points in the 1955 grand final. He also played in the previous year's grand final, when Melbourne went under to Footscray. Strong overhead, and mobile, he could adapt with success to any key position. He played a total of 105 VFL games, and kicked 53 goals, between 1950 and 1956. |
|
Brian McGowan (South Melbourne & Glenelg)
[Click to enlarge] |
| One
of the most diminutive players of his era at just 165cm and 71.5kg, Brian
McGowan was a fine foil for his fellow rover, Bob
Skilton, in 118 VFL games for South
Melbourne from 1957 to 1963. He booted a total of 171 goals,
including 38 in 1961 to make him the club's leading goal kicker. In
1964 he crossed to Glenelg where he formed a fine roving
triumvirate with Colin
Rice, formerly of Geelong, and Colin
Richens McGowan
played 58 games and kicked 115 goals in three seasons with the Bays.
He was Glenelg's top goal kicker with 54
goals in 1964, and won the club's best and fairest award the following
year. McGowan was club skipper in his last season, but it was a
disappointing year as the Bays finished last.
Not surprisingly, McGowan's small physical stature elicited a fair amount of sledging on the part of opponents, but there were also occasional humorous incidents. In 1963, for instance, while playing for South Melbourne against Essendon, the teams were accompanied onto the ground by about forty young school children, dressed as club mascots. As the mascots were leaving the field prior to the start of play, the Bombers' 194cm, 96kg ruckman Geoff Leek sidled over to McGowan and said, "Hurry along there, sonny - all mascots off the field!" |
|
Ron McGowan (Longford, Hobart, Footscray, South Adelaide)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Defender Ron McGowan commenced his senior career in the NTFA with Longford, with his last game for the club coming in the 2 point grand final loss to North Launceston in 1963. He then crossed to reigning TFL premier Hobart, but was unable to help them repeat their success as they bowed out of flag contention at the preliminary final stage against Sandy Bay. McGowan crossed the Bass Strait in 1965 to embark on a VFL career with Footscray, and over the ensuing eight seasons he proved himself a solid, even stolid defender who seldom gave his direct opponent an inch. He played a total of 92 senior games and kicked 2 goals for the Bulldogs, before rounding off his career with 21 SANFL games for South Adelaide in 1973-4. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Christened John, but invariably referred to as 'Shane', McGrath was a superb defender whose career was unfortunately cut short by World War Two. He made his VFL debut with Melbourne in 1940, and after initially struggling to break into the team on a regular basis became the side's first choice full back in 1941. That season saw the Fuchsias secure a third successive VFL premiership, with McGrath starring at full back in the 19.13 (127) to 13.20 (98) grand final defeat of Essendon. With the exception of a handful of games in 1944, he then missed the next four seasons because of service commitments, but on his resumption in 1946 he quickly established himself as one of the premier full backs in the competition. Determined, gutsy and extremely vigorous, there were few frills about his approach to the game, but he was inordinately effective. When Melbourne defeated Essendon in a replayed grand final in 1948, McGrath was among the best players on view in both the initial game and the replay. During the late 1940s he was a near automatic selection for VFL interstate sides, donning the famous Big V jumper a total of 8 times. Appointed Melbourne skipper in 1950, he retired at the end of the season, aged thirty-one, after 118 VFL games. |
|
Bruce McGregor (West Broken Hill, West Adelaide, North Hobart, South Adelaide, Glenelg)
[Click to enlarge] |
| After
winning a Hurley Medal for best and fairest in the Broken Hill Football
League in 1922 West Broken Hill's Bruce McGregor was wooed by Norwood,
Port Adelaide and West Adelaide.
Eventually, he elected to join West, where another Broken Hill footballer,
Bobbie Barnes, had made a name for himself, and over the next seven seasons he
proceeded to emulate, and indeed arguably outshine, his compatriot.
Records vary, but it is possible that McGregor won West's Best All Round Player Award as many as 6 times during his 102 game career with the club. What cannot be disputed, however, is that he won both the 1926 and 1927 Magarey Medals, and represented South Australia no fewer than 22 times, kicking 30 goals. Strong overhead, McGregor was also an excellent kick, equally adept over long or short distances, and as capable with the drop kick as he was with his trademark torpedo punt. In 1927 McGregor not only landed the Magarey Medal, he was also West Adelaide's star player throughout a finals series which culminated in a 13 point challenge final victory over North Adelaide. With the economic privations of the Depression beginning to hit home in 1930 McGregor, along with team mate Bob Snell, the 1929 Magarey Medallist, was lured to Tasmania, where the money on offer was significantly better than at home. He spent two seasons as captain-coach of North Hobart but was unable to steer his charges to a flag. In 1932 he returned to South Australia as captain-coach of South Adelaide, only to stand down as a player after just 2 games. Two years later, however, he achieved the memorable feat of steering Glenelg to its first ever league premiership. The McGregor lineage has continued with son Ken representing West Adelaide and South Australia with distinction in the 1950s, besides playing tennis at the highest level. Bruce's grandson (also named Ken) is currently on the list of the Adelaide Crows, having also played for West Adelaide. |
|
[Click to enlarge] |
| Probably
best remembered for his exploits on the tennis court, Ken McGregor, son of
dual Magarey Medallist
Bruce
McGregor, was also an accomplished footballer who gave fine service to
West Adelaide in an all too brief
58 game league career which began in 1954 and ended with a near best
afield performance in the losing grand final team of 1958 against Port
Adelaide. He also played 4 state games for South
Australia, kicking 6 goals. Agile for a big man, and superb overhead, his
kicking was described by no less an authority than Jeff Pash as
"perfection itself" (see footnote 1).
Moreover:
I have no doubt that, without that career in big tennis, he would have been the outstanding footballer of his time. How rare it is to see a really tall player give himself enough room to swing at a drop kick, and how awkwardly he stumbles over the short ones. Not McGregor; only Lindsay Head has as handsome a drop kick as he, and that specially designed screw punt with the low trajectory belongs to no one else. (See footnote 2) McGregor's best and most consistent season on the football field was 1958 when he was rewarded with both the Advertiser and News-Ampol Trophies. |
Footnotes1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 155. Return to Main Text 2. Ibid., page 266. Return to Main Text |
|
Rod McGregor (Essendon Association & Carlton)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Along
with wingmen George
Bruce and Edward
Kennedy, elusive, poised and abundantly skilled centreman Rod McGregor
gave Carlton one of the greatest
centrelines in the history of the game. In 1906-7-8, with this trio
to the fore, the Blues won 51 out of 59 matches contested en route to
three consecutive premierships. McGregor actually missed the 1907
premiership triumph over South Melbourne
after breaking his nose in the previous week's semi final against St
Kilda, but overall his impact during those three golden years was
probably unequalled.
McGregor joined Carlton in 1905 after commencing his senior career with Essendon Association, and over the ensuing decade and a half he went on to amass an incredible total, for the period, of 236 VFL games, which remained a club record until broken by John Nicholls. In addition to the 1906 and 1908 premierships, McGregor was a driving force in 1914-15 when Carlton went 'back to back'. His omission from the club's official 'Team of the Century' seems, on the face of it, completely inexplicable. |
|
Michael McGuane (Collingwood & Carlton)
[Click to enlarge] |
| Mick McGuane was a hard running on-baller or half back who picked up plenty of possessions. He was one of Collingwood's leading players of the 1990s, winning Copeland Trophies in 1992 and 1993, and starring in the 1990 grand final win over Essendon. An AFL All Australian in 1992, McGuane played 152 V/AFL games and kicked 128 goals for the Magpies between 1987 and 1996. In 1997 he crossed to Carlton, saying he wanted a fresh challenge, but he added just 3 games to his tally before calling it a day. |
|
Neville McGuinness (Morningside)
[Click to enlarge] by Murray Bird and Peter Blucher |
| Neville McGuinness was a tough centre half back who was a member of Morningside's first premiership team in 1965 and was named in the key defensive spot in the club's 'Team of the Half Century' in 2001. He played more than 200 games for the Panthers, and represented Queensland 11 times between 1960 and 1967. He was the brother of dual Grogan Medallist Noel McGuinness. |
|
Noel McGuinness (Morningside & Coorparoo)
|
| Undoubtedly
one of the finest Queensland footballers of his generation, Noel
McGuinness, winner of the 1953 and 1954 Grogan
Medals, went within one vote in 1955 of winning a remarkable three in
a row. The achievement was all the more noteworthy in that, in 1952,
aged just seventeen, the star Morningside
midfielder had won the QAFL reserves best and fairest award, the highest
level award available to him given the fact that Morningside did not, at
that time, field a team in the league's senior competition.
A regular Queensland interstate representative for much of the 1950s, McGuinness might well have spent some or all of that time interstate had not circumstances, in the form of a freak rib injury, intervened. Due to join St Kilda in 1954, he sustained the injury on the eve of his departure during an unimportant reserves 'scratch' match in which he was participating only to make up the numbers. Amazingly, however, he did not realise the e |
