A Season in the Country: 1975 in the Wimmera and Farrer Leagues- Episode 19

 

Lockhart Football Ground

 

Redbacks or Magpies?

Wimmera League

 

Match of the day: Jeparit v Murtoa

Saturday 23rd August 1975

at Menzies Park, Jeparit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redbacks v Magpies

 

 

 

 

 

 

If the Wimmera region were a football ground, Jeparit would stand in the goal square at the north western (Mallee) end and Ararat would sit right on the fence behind the goals at the south eastern (Melbourne) end. Murtoa would be in the centre square. Imagine the scene: kicking with the Wimmera River, as spectators watch the sherrin sail into Lake Hindmarsh at the ‘Mallee end’. Goal to Jeparit!

 

Jeparit is a small Wimmera wheatbelt town surrounded by country devoted to the production of wheat, barley, oats and wool. One of its big attractions is the must see Wimmera-Mallee Pioneer Museum where visitors can step back in time and discover the agricultural and pastoral history of the district. European settlement of the district accelerated in the 1880s with the influx of German Lutherans from South Australia who selected land and transformed the rural economy from grazing to wheat growing. Also of interest near Jeparit is Lake Hindmarsh, a large ephemeral water body that serves as the mouth of the Wimmera River.

 

Jeparit is the birth-place of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies. His life is commemorated with a number of monuments in the town including the park named in his honour. The home of football at Jeparit is Menzies Park.

 

Football at Jeparit goes back to the early years of the Twentieth Century with participation in official competition commencing in the Jeparit District Football Association, followed by the North Wimmera League and the Mid Wimmera League, before the Wimmera League was formed in 1937. Jeparit, known as the Redbacks, played in the WFL until 1989 when it moved to the Southern Mallee FL (1990-1995). In 1996 Jerarit joined forces with Rainbow to form the Jeparit-Rainbow FC and participated in the Mallee FL (1997-2014) before shifting to the Horsham and District FL in 2015. 

 

The Jeparit FC won senior premierships in 1925, 1926, 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1936. Jeparit-Rainbow won a flag in its second season (1997) but has been without premiership success since. VFL/AFL players from Jeparit include Ian Ridley (Melbourne) and Doug Wade (Geelong and North Melbourne).

 

The teams

 

Jeparit

B: K. Weidermann, K. Starick, T. Robson

HB: C. Weir, I. Jones, G. Grigg

C: G. Jochinke, P. Chilton (c), I. Dedini

HF: B. Morrison, L. Hoffmann, R. Barber

F: K. Stronach, D. Schumann, N. Dettman

Foll: M. Chilton, R. McLennan

Rov: B. Robson

Res: G. Gould,  J. Schulz

 

Murtoa

B: B. McIntyre, J. Shepherd, L. Delahunty

HB: M. Finnigan, T. Sudholz, T. McGrath

C: T. McIntyre, P. Morrison (c), I. Yole

HF: C. De Moore, E. Taylor, P. McConnell

F: R. Schodde, A. Sudholz, D. Delahunty

Foll: G. MacInnes, N. Sharrock

Rov: P. Williams

Res: S. Frichot, A. Sudholz

 

Preview

The match between Jeparit and Murtoa was a virtual ‘grand final’ for both teams – five weeks before the real grand final. Fifth place and a spot in the five was up for grabs with the winner remaining alive in ‘75.

 

Jeparit prepared for the big clash against Murtoa (and hopefully the finals ahead) by viewing a film, after Tuesday night training, featuring Richmond’s rise from fourth place to win the 1969 VFL premiership. Co-coaches Peter Chilton and Ken Stronach wanted to demonstrate to the Jeparit players that their hopes of winning a flag lay with themselves. The Redbacks’ poor late season form had been explained away in the press by a combination of injuries, tired farmer-footballers and complacency. If they get past Murtoa, Jeparit’s hopes of September success will depend in a big way on the performance of veteran full forward Doug Schumann, who is approaching 100 goals for the season. But with a loss, could it be Schumann’s last game of Wimmera footy?

 

Meanwhile, Murtoa’s finals hopes lay to a large extent in the hands of the tribunal. Magpies coach and  star centreman Peter Morrison is due to face the Wimmera League Tribunal on a striking charge. In an unusual situation, luckily for Murtoa, the tribunal hearing would be held on Saturday night – after the round 18 game. Murtoa will be full of confidence after its nine goal demolition of Ararat in the previous round. The Wimmera Mail-Times tipped Jeparit to end Murtoa’s season and to dream like Richmond in ‘69.

 

The match

Jeparit’s usual routine of sparkling early and fading in the second half was reversed. With Doug Schumann goal less up to half time, things did not look promising for the Redbacks, but the move of Peter Chilton into the centre lifted the Redbacks out of their slumber and opened up opportunities for the forwards. With Chilton burning  after the break, the old champion Schumann opened the throttle and booted seven second half goals. Poor kicking by the Magpies in the first term was costly, robbing them of the chance to build a match-winning lead. Murtoa relied on too few players to do the hard work, while Jeparit made it an all-18-in afternoon. Young Redbacks’ players, dashing Col Weir in defence and Robin Barber on the half forward line, were outstanding.

 

Best players for the winners were Chilton, Weir, Barber and Schumann, while for the visitors, David Delahunty, Finnigan and Morrison were prominent. Doug Schumann’s seven goals took him to 97 for the season. Meanwhile, Murtoa coach Peter Morrison received a caution by the tribunal on his striking charge. Morrison’s defence was assisted by his clean record, with the outcome leaving him still eligible for the Toohey Medal.  

 

Final scores: Jeparit 16.18 (114) defeated Murtoa 7.17 (59)

 

Around the Wimmera League grounds

 

Dimboola and Horsham staged a high scoring crowd-pleaser at Dimboola Park with the Roos holding on to win by one point. Taking the four premiership points, Dimboola secured third place on the ladder, leaving Horsham in fourth. Richie Kalms booted 10 goals for Dimboola, taking his season tally to 100. Ararat returned to form defeating Minyip by 99 points, Wooden spooners Rupanyup pushed Stawell hard for three quarters but the Redlegs pulled away in the last quarter to take the four points. Warracknabeal finished its season with a comfortable win over Nhill.

 

 

Wimmera League ladder after the home and away fixtures

 

(source: Wimmera Mail-Times 25 August 1975)

 

Next week in the Wimmera League – first week of the finals

 

Saturday 30th August – Qualifying Final: Ararat v. Dimboola at City Oval, Horsham

 

Sunday 31st August – Elimination  Final: Horsham v. Jeparit at Davis Park, Nhill

 

Next episode’s featured Wimmera League player is Wes Richardson from Horsham.

 

Wimmera League best and fairest award – the Toohey Medal

 

 

Murtoa captain coach Peter Morrison won the 1975 Toohey Medal with 26 votes. Runner up Greg Perry (Stawell) polled 21 votes, while Minyip’s Gary Jelly was third with 20 votes. It was the first of three Toohey Medals for Morrison. He would win a second in 1976 and his third playing for Horsham in 1982.

 

The Wimmera League leading goal kicker for 1975 was Richie Kalms from Dimboola (100 goals).

 

This episode’s featured player: Doug Schumann (Jeparit)

 

Doug Schumann on the day of his 300th game for Jeparit

 

In this week’s episode we meet another country boy who loved sport, life on the farm and playing football for his local football club. Doug Schumann was recruited in the mid 1950s by Jeparit as a teenager from nearby Lorquon. And so his long football career, spanning 22 seasons (1957 to 1978) commenced. He initially played at centre half back and occasionally in the ruck, but later in his career for the Redbacks he excelled at centre half forward and full forward. He was a typical Wimmera-Mallee country footballer: a very strong player who could match anything the opposition dished out. With his strong marking and  accurate left foot flat punts for goal it is not surprising that he featured regularly among the Wimmera League leading goal kickers. On three occasions Doug topped the league goal kicking – 1966 (58 goals), 1973 (90) and 1974 (74). He won the Jeparit FC best and fairest award on two occasions, 1959 and 1969,  and the club’s goal kicking award six times between 1966 and 1976. Doug also coached Jeparit in 1970-71. 

 

Doug Schumann represented the Wimmera League on five occasions (1957, 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1964) mostly in the centre half back position. He was usually named among the best players in interleague matches, the highlight of which was the WFL’s triumph over the Latrobe Valley League at Morwell in 1962. In 1959, Doug was invited to trial with North Melbourne, where he played one reserves game. The needs of the family farm at Lake Hindmarsh demanded his return to Jeparit and to the Redbacks.

 

He was awarded life membership of the Jeparit FC, and after playing 300 senior games, life membership of the Wimmera League.  For many years he held the record for the most senior games in the league – 374. Peter Morrison eventually overtook him in the tally of Wimmera League most games played. Further demonstrating how highly Doug Schumann was regarded, he was awarded “legend status” of the Wimmera Football League in 2003.

 

Schumann, at 37 years of age, was still kicking bags of goals for his beloved Jeparit Football Club in 1975. The former defender turned key forward booted 97 goals for the season and was a key to the Redback’s campaign to win its first Wimmera League premiership. But a leg injury forced him out of the First Semi-Final against Dimboola and that ruined Jeparit’s mission. The Wimmera Mail-Times speculated on his retirement after the 1975 season, but like enduring country champions do, he played on until his early forties.

 

After hanging up the boots, Doug immediately started to give back to the Jeparit FC serving on the committee. He was club president from 1978 to 1981. Later he was the club delegate on the WFL for six years (1984-89) and the Southern Mallee League (1990-91). His contributions to the club as a volunteer continued on the social committee and as a trainer.

 

The Schumann family have been tremendous stalwarts of the Jeparit and Jeparit-Rainbow football clubs for many years, providing dedicated and loyal service. Doug’s three sons, Mark, Dean and Brad, played senior football with Jeparit and all are life members.

 

Farrer League

Round up

 

North Wagga easily overcame their hoodoo at Henty, winning by 36 points. Wagga trounced Temora at Robertson Oval. Holbrook finished the season on a winning note accounting for 1974 premiers Collingullie. The Rock-Yerong Creek polished up for the finals with a 102 demolition of Culcairn. Mangoplah-Cookardinia United claimed the maximum seven premiership points in their big win over Lockhart but it was not enough for the Goannas to squeeze into the top four.

 

Farrer League ladder after the home and away fixtures

 

NORTH WAGGA 105.5

WAGGA 95.5

HENTY 78

TR-YC 78

MCU 77

HOLBROOK 52.5

LOCKHART 52

COLLINGULLIE 38.5

TEMORA 34.5

CULCAIRN 18.5

(premiership points awarded according to the Incentive Points System)

 

Next week in the Farrer League – first week of the finals

 

Saturday 30th August – First Semi-Final: Henty v The Rock-Yerong Creek at Yerong Creek

 

Farrer League best and fairest award – the Baz Medal

 

 

Lockhart’s brilliant centreman Jeff Nimmo won the 1975 Baz Medal. It was the third time the umpires voted him the Farrer League’s best and fairest player, also winning the medal in 1972 and 1973.

 

The Farrer League leading goal kicker for 1975 was Robert Driscoll from TR-YC (82 goals).

 

In the VFL

 

While the two top teams, Hawthorn and Carlton, were brought back to earth (by Collingwood and Fitzroy respectively), North Melbourne consolidated its position in third place in the penultimate home and away round. Richmond, with a perfect blend of experience and youthful exuberance, wore down the determined Bombers in the mud at VFL Park to win by 19 points. Geelong enjoyed its sixth win of the season, downing the disappointing Demons at the MCG. Footscray accounted for bottom-placed South Melbourne, but the Dogs finals hopes remained slim, needing to knock off Carlton and rely on both St.Kilda and Collingwood losing in the last round.

 

Meanwhile …

 

In Portuguese East Timor thousands of refugees attempted to escape the colony in the wake of the uprising by Fretilin. Indonesian military forces remained on alert, ready to invade and thwart the resistance movement’s fight for independence.

 

In the SANFL, Glenelg shattered the South Australian and Australian records for the highest score, kicking 49 goals 23 behinds against Central Districts.

 

 

Read more episodes of A Season in the Country – 1975 in the Wimmera and Farrer Leagues HERE 

To read about Geelong’s Record Run, click HERE.

Peter also wrote about St. Kilda’s premiership season in his 1966 and All That series. You can read that HERE.

 

 

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