Roger Spaull is one of the Almanac’s much-loved writers. He brings to life great characters, usually sporting characters, of days gone by. His ANZAC Day story this year is of Alf Hedge who grew up in the south-east suburbs of Melbourne and was recruited to South Melbourne.
Such is the breadth and depth of Roger’s research and writing, we are publishing Alf’s story in three parts, starting today (Tuesday, April 22). The next two parts will be published on Wednesday and Thursday. We are grateful to Roger for these wonderful contributions, which always generate a lot of interest.
ALF HEDGE
THE BLOODS’ BRAVEHEART
ALF HEDGE 1917-1942
INTRODUCTION
Some years ago Lyn Wallace (Owen), a friend of ours for many years, mentioned that her Mother’s first husband, Alf Hedge, had played football with South Melbourne in the 1930s. Lyn’s statement created immediate interest; and in the subsequent conversation, Lyn mentioned that Alf had died in action during a bombing raid over Germany in World War II.
Alf Hedge is another ‘forgotten’ VFL footballer who made the supreme sacrifice for his country in a theatre of war; and this article has been prepared for ‘Footy Almanac’ to mark ANZAC Day 2025 and also as a memento for the Owen/Wallace family.
Alf’s family was one of thousands shattered impacted by the death of ‘kinfolk in uniform. ’ Hopefully, the article does justice to Alf’s life, his service to his country and acts as a further reminder of the frightful toll of warfare.
EARLY DAYS AT SANDRINGHAM
Alfred William Hedge, born at Northcote on October 29th 1917, was one of three children born to William and Ethel Hedge. While the arrival of Alf brought immense joy to the Hedge family, October 1917 was a grim month in the lives of many Australians families. It was at the height of the horrendous Second Battle of Passchendaele (Ypres Salient) on the Western Front where Australian casualties were said to be at approx. 38,000.
On the very day that Alf was born ‘The Argus’ newspaper carried the following headline…
On the day that Alf Hedge was born, the grim news broke regarding the role that Australian infantry was playing at the Battle of Passchendaele. The Britannica Encyclopaedia described Passchendaele as “a battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter …”
Alf attended the Sandringham State School and later transferred to Hampton Higher Elementary School. Hampton HES is rather famous for many things including the fact that 1967 Brownlow Medallist, Ross Smith, was a former pupil along with several other sporting champions and dignitaries such as Bob Shearer, Shane Warne, Brian Stewart Murray (Governor of Victoria 1982-85) and former Victorian fast bowler Jack Daniel.
The motto of Hampton Higher Elementary School was: ‘Aim for the highest’ which will take on a new meaning later in this article.
Hampton High School
ALF WORKS FOR THE FAMOUS ARCHIE CROFT
Alf completed his Intermediate Certificate and his first job appears to have been with Crofts Stores. Archibald (aka Archie) Croft is often mentioned in the history of South Melbourne Football Club as he was a major sponsor and office bearer of the club. Archie’s first store was in South Melbourne in 1905 but, in time, he maintained a chain of thriving outlets across Victoria. One source said that Archie owned 137 shops.
Archie was President of South Melbourne FC from 1933-37 which was the first ‘Golden Age’ of the Bloods. With such an entrepreneurial character as Archie at the club’s helm, South Melbourne flourished ‘on and off the ground’…
“ As President, Crofts had the financial resources to help attract star Australian rules footballers to South Melbourne, paying them the maximum £3.00 per match allowed under the VFL’s Coulter Law and employing many of them in his business.[6] In all, between 1931 and 1934 South Melbourne recruited 11 players, including seven from Western Australia.” Source: Wikipedia.
On the right is a caricature of Alf Hedge’s first employer the famous Archie Croft; and on the left the Croft Store at 395 Centre Road, Bentleigh. Sources: Australian Football website & the Victorian Collections series.
Archie later entered local and state politics with considerable success; and later in his life he sponsored a popular variety show on Radio 3XY.
The fact that Alf Hedge was an employee of Archie Croft may have been a significant factor in Alf’s decision to sign with South Melbourne FC
ALF HEDGE PLAYS WITH SANDRINGHAM AMATEURS
Alf a keen young sportsman; and he first came under the notice of perceptive observers when he played with Sandringham Amateurs in April 1935. From what can be discovered, Sandringham Amateurs FC was affiliated with the ‘C’ Section of the VAFA in 1935. Other teams in that division included: Glenhuntly, Ivanhoe, University High School Old Boys, South Caulfield, Old Xaverians, Kingsville and Melbourne High School Old Boys.
The published line up, for the clash against Ivanhoe in June 1935 (as shown below) indicated that Alf Hedge was selected on the half forward flank. Readers will notice that the rover was named ‘Cartwright’ It is highly probable that it refers to Gilbert Edwin Cartwright (see below). Furthermore ‘Harper’, as named in the back pocket may have been one of the renowned Harper brothers ( Roy or Bruce) of that era in Sandringham football.
Alf Hedge is named in the line-up against Ivanhoe. This clipping was found in ‘The Age’ (June 1st 1935; page: 10). Apologies for the poor quality of the image.
The above photograph is Gilbert Cartwright who was a team mate of Alf Hedge in 1935. Gilbert, who played 7 games with Hawthorn in 1938. Gilbert made an impressive start to his short VFL career when he kicked five goals against Melbourne at the MCG in Round: 2 that year. According to the available records, Gilbert played 62 VFA games for Sandringham (1936-1941) and booted 96 goals. He also represented the VFA on one occasion. Photograph source: ‘The Age’ May 18th 1938.Page: 23
In the match against University Old Boys in July that year, Alf Hedge starred with three goals and was listed in the team’s best players.
Alf was again mentioned in the match report against Caulfield. It seems that that Alf had impressed club officials with his style of play and his enthusiasm because that season he won a club the Best First Year Player award as shown.
ALF HEDGE WAS A ‘WANTED MAN’
Football recruiting was (and still is) a highly ‘competitive race’ and process; and it appeared that Alf was a much ‘wanted man’ in football circles. An interesting but little known fact, regarding Alf’s playing history, was that he was listed with Sandringham (VFA) and also with South Melbourne (VFL ) in the lead-up to the opening round (s) that season.
In those days, it was not uncommon for some players to be listed with more than one club as the administration of permits /clearances procedures was markedly different to that which operates in modern football.
However, Alf’s ‘dual listing’ indicated that he was recognized as a player of promise in the uppermost ranks of Victorian football.
Alf also listed with South Melbourne in 1937. Source: ‘The Argus’ April 19th 1937. Page: 14. THE 1937 LIST AT SOUTH MELBOURNE – HACKER, MAHER AND MURRAY
As shown above, Alf Hedge was listed with South Melbourne in April 1937. The ‘new players’ was/were an interesting group to research. For example, Jack Hacker was recruited from Oakland’s in NSW, Jim Maher from the small rural township of Trafalgar and Dan Murray had an intriguing background.
Dan Murray was a well-known VFL/VFA personality long before he was listed by South Melbourne in 1937. He had played with Fitzroy and Prahran but, as history shows, he never wore the Bloods’ guernsey.
On the left Jack Hacker as shown on the Hoadley’s League Footballers swap cards series, and on the right Dan Murray as printed in the Border Morning Mail in April 1948.
VFA records indicate that Dan returned to Prahran in 1937-38 and played a further 16 games. Dan Murray returned to Fitzroy in 1938 and was a member of Fitzroy’s 1944 premiership team.
Dan is the father of the former Fitzroy champion, Kevin Joseph Murray, who won the Brownlow Medal in 1969 and was awarded an MBE in 1974.
ALF HEDGE MEETS A GALAXY OF STARS AT THE LAKE OVAL
Alf was a teenager when his name was announced among the ‘New Players’ at South Melbourne in April 1937. Alf would have been ‘tickled pink’ to be surrounded by a galaxy of VFL stars such as Jim Cleary, Herb Matthews, Len Thomas, Bob Pratt, Ron Hills , Bill Faul, Austin Robertson and the legendary Laurie Nash.
Laurie was elected captain of SMFC that season and Brighton Diggins, the former champion of Subiaco FC, took on the role of deputy. Brighton was part of South Melbourne’s illustrious ‘Foreign Legion’ recruits who joined South Melbourne in the early 1930’s.
Source: ‘The Age’ April 14th 1937.Page: 20
ROY CAZALY TAKES OVER FROM JACK BISSETT
To add to the above list of luminaries, Alf’s coach at South Melbourne that year was none other than the famed Roy Cazaly. Roy had first coached South Melbourne in 1922 (win-loss ratio of 28%); and 15 years later was again appointed to ‘take the reins’ when Jack Bissett stepped down.
Jack Bissett had an envious coaching record at VFL level having led the Bloods to four Grand Finals which included a famous premiership in 1933. In the period 1933-36, Jack had coached South in 80 games (63 wins-78.75% win-loss ratio) but had retired following the loss to Collingwood in the 1936 Grand Final. Jack was appointed coach of Port Melbourne in 1937; and in 1938 left the ‘big smoke’ and coached Rainbow Football Club (Southern Mallee FL).
Roy Cazaly was 44 years of age when he resumed coaching at South Melbourne in 1937. His amazing VFL career (1911-1927) included 198 VFL games 167 goals; and a list of honours that would eventually see him be awarded AFL Legendary Status in 1996. Such was his influence in the game that the cry of ‘Up There Cazaly’ has become a well-established part of Australian football lexicon.
Sources: ‘The Hobart Mercury February 11th 1937; and on the right, a rare photograph of Roy Cazaly, which was found in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.
ALF WINS HIS SPURS AT SOUTH MELBOURNE
Alf was granted a permit to play with South Melbourne in April 1937; and was selected to play for the Seconds against Geelong in May. Unfortunately, it was difficult to ascertain how Alf performed in that game but he must have made an impression, in the early rounds of that season, as he was selected in the South Melbourne Senior XVIII for the Round : 5 clash against Fitzroy at the Brunswick Street Oval (i.e. May 22nd 1937).
Source: ‘The Herald’ May 21st 1937. Page: 21
Alf was the only teenager in his team (19 years and 205 days of age) when he made his VFL debut. Jack Hacker (see above) also played his first VFL match that day.
While Alf was the youngest in South’s line-up, Maurie Johnson, who had crossed from Carlton to SMFC in 1936, was the team’s oldest player (30 years of age).
SOUTH MELBOURNE’S POOR CONVERSION PROVES COSTLY
An estimated crowd of 14,000 packed into the Brunswick Street Oval; and Alf Hedge, who was selected in the forward pocket (i.e. next to the illustrious Bob Pratt), may have a felt the ‘butterflies in his stomach’ as he ran down the race and onto that famous football ground.
The old grandstand at the Brunswick Street Oval where Alf Hedge made his VFL debut for South Melbourne in Round: 5 1937. The original grandstand was built in 188 Source: ‘Herald Sun’ Newspaper; original source of this image was not given.
An interesting historical aspect of Alf’s VFL debut was that the Fitzroy team wore black arm bands as a mark of respect to their former champion spearhead, Jimmy Freake. Jimmy, who had passed away on May 19th, played 174 games with Fitzroy from 1912-1924 and kicked 442 goals.
The match review referred to the wet conditions and South Melbourne’s poor skills. The fact that South could only manage one goal, in the first half of the game, was a major factor in the team’s downfall that day. According to Bryan Cosgrave of ‘The Sporting Globe’, South appeared to lack system and could not match Fitzroy’s ball handling and kicking skills…
“South appeared a disorganised side at Fitzroy today, and, though the greasy conditions were against concerted effort, they lacked the balance to counter the dashing and confident Maroons. With the hall travelling between the defence lines there was little spectacular football in a hard fought game. Fitzroy’s surer handling of the ball and intelligence when kicking with the breeze was supported by an unusually effective defence.” Source: ‘The Sporting Globe’ May 22nd 1937. Page: 3
The final scores were: Fitzroy 11.16 (82) defeated South Melbourne 7.18 (60).
South’s best players were listed as: Ron Hillis, Jim Cleary, John Austin, Herb Matthews, Jack Graham, Bob Pratt and Laurie Leask. Maurie Johnson and Laurie Leask both kicked two goals.
The brilliant Haydn Bunton led the charge for Fitzroy and drilled three of his team’s eleven goals that day. Former Melbourne forward Audley Gillespie Jones kicked three goals; and Maurie Hearn, who had played for South Melbourne before crossing to Fitzroy in 1934, chipped in with two goals against his former team.
Alf Hedge and Jack Hacker received warm praise for their first-up efforts; and both players were seen to be hopeful prospects for the Bloods. Alf received accolades for his fine disposal and endeavour in a tough outing.
Source: The ‘Emerald Hill Record’ May 29th 1937. Page: 4
1937 – A SOLID GROUNDING FOR ALF HEDGE
Alf played five Senior XVIII games for South in 1937. It had been a testing season for young Alf and his team-mates because South Melbourne because after being regarded as a powerhouse in VFL football had ‘hit the wall’ and finished ninth on the VFL Ladder ( with six wins and a tie against Richmond in Round: 3).
It was the first time since 1931 that South Melbourne had not played finals; and the fall from Runners-up in 1936 to ninth in just twelve months was dramatic to say the least. The club’s downward spiral after 1936 was described in one authoritative text as …” the beginning of a long dark period for the Swans” Source: ‘The Clubs’ Page: 350.
The reason(s) for any sporting club’s plunge from the top bracket can often be obscure and intangible but possibly four factors may explain South Melbourne’s sudden nose dive in that era…
- The departure experienced players.
- The retirement of Jack Bissett as the club coach in 1936.
- The failure of the club leadership to carry out targeted recruiting
- The lack of a succession plan to cover the losses of former key players.
However, 1937 was not without a highlight as Herb Matthews (23 votes) was Runner-up to Essendon’s Dick Reynolds (27 votes) in the Brownlow Medal. Herb also won the club’s Best & Fairest trophy and Laurie Nash won the club’s goal kicking award with 37 goals.
Two of Al Hedge’s team-mates at South Melbourne . On the left Herb Matthews and on the right Bob Pratt. Both Herb and Bob were selected in the Swans’ Team of the Century . Jack Bissett (as mentioned above) was named as Coach of that team. Source: The original source (s) of these photographs were not given.
The club’s heroic forward, Bob Pratt (shown above) was badly injured and kicked only 12 goals in his six games in 1937. Added to that woe, was the fact that Bob was involved in an acrimonious dispute with officials over matters of remuneration.
1938 ALF HEDGE CONSOLIDATES HIS POSITION AT THE LAKE OVAL
The biggest news at South Melbourne in the lead up to the opening round was that Laurie Nash had accepted an ‘offer too good to refuse’ and had crossed to VFA club Camberwell. Laurie’s departure left a ‘crater’ at the Lake Oval and, of course, the announcement broke the hearts of all supporters.
Source: Burnie Advocate April 1st 1938. Page: 5
However, the unhappy story did not end there because other players to leave South in 1938 included: Brighton Diggins (Carlton), Ron Hillis (retired), Terry Brain (Camberwell), Alan Welch ( North Melbourne), Maurie Johnson (Launceston) and Laurie Leask. History would show that such skill and experience could not be replaced in a hurry; and South’s new recruits would shoulder a heavy load for ‘those so young.’
Optimism is the light that lifts all teams in dark times; and, despite the thinning of the ranks, it was hoped that Bloods could recapture the ‘lost form’ of 1936. In the fullness of time that would prove a futile quest as 1938 was to become a season to ‘try and forget’ for the club’s devotees.
ALF HEDGE GETS A ROVING COMMISSION
1938 started out in upbeat fashion for Alf Hedge and he received a compliment in ‘The Age’ during pre-season training. When the Senior XVIII team was announced for the opening clash, against Footscray, Alf was named as the first rover. It was major move by the selectors and a sure sign that Alf’s progress had been duly noted by the selectors. Alf’s hard work had delivered ‘just rewards.’
What an honour it must have been for Alf Hedge to be named in South’s following division with such proven VFL champions as Jack Graham and the legendary Len Thomas.
Source: The Age April 18th 1938. Page: 16.
Source: The Age April 22nd 1938. Page: 16
South Melbourne started slowly against the Tri-colours (as Footscray was then known) but gradually gained the ascendancy. In a slashing last stanza, South dominated proceedings and kicked six goals to claim an impressive victory over Footscray by 29 points. Alf Hedge kicked two goals that day; and was praised for his ‘scouting’ (i.e. roving-see below) around the packs.
South Melbourne’s best players were listed as: Len Thomas, Herb Matthews, Rex Ritchie, Jack Hacker, Arthur ‘Sandy’ Patterson, Owen Evans and Roy Moore. The goal kickers for South Melbourne were: Thomas 4, Evans 3, Hedge 2, Moore 2, Jack Graham, Patterson and Ritchie.
Alf Hodge is mentioned in the match review for his effort against Footscray at the Lake Oval in Round: 1. Source: ‘The Age’ April 25th 1938. Page: 15.
After a lengthy search, a photograph (see below) of Alf was finally unearthed. It is a scene from the Round: 1 clash against Footscray and is a rare photograph of Alf Hedge in action. The image shows one of Footscray’s ‘favourite sons’ Arthur Olliver displaying his superlative aerial skills.
Alf (No: 5 ) is at the back of the pack while the South Melbourne player at the front is John (aka Jack ) Austin who played 140 games and starred in the 1933 premiership victory. The other Footscray player in the pack (i.e. with the partially hidden *8 jumper) could have been either Jim Thoms or Alf Sampson.
Caption text: “OLLIVER, Footscray’s full forward, reaches one handed for the ball over the outstretched hands of a team mate and two South Melbourne opponents, Austin and Hedge-an incident of the game at South Melbourne.” Source: The Herald April 23rd 1938. Page: 32.
The action shot ( below) of Alf Hedge was published in Jim Main and David Allen’s remarkable book entitled ‘Fallen-The Ultimate Heroes.’ Unfortunately, there were no details of the game or acknowledgement of the source of the image. Alf Hedge is shown on the right of the photo waiting for the ‘crumbs’ as Jack Austin (3) contests an overhead mark. The match seems to be against Melbourne at the MCG.
The player wearing number seven is probably Hugh Murnane who played 52 games with the Demons (1937-40). Hugh became a highly respected and successful coach in Gippsland and received the honour of being named as Sale’s Coach of the Century.
THE WHEELS FALL OFF AT SOUTH MELBOURNE.
Roy Cazaly must have been shattered by the disappointing performances of his team during 1938. The Bloods won two games and lost sixteen; and ended the season with a lowly percentage of just 71.8%. Those wins were against Footscray in Round: 1 ( see above) and Essendon in Round 16. On that day, Bob Pratt kicked 5 goals and led the team to an exciting five point victory at the Lake Oval .
One of the most demoralizing defeats which would have really dismayed South’s loyal band of followers was the loss to Hawthorn in Round 17. Hawthorn sat eleventh on the table but whipped South by 43 points.
Source: The Age August 22nd 1938. Page: 16.
Alf Hedge kicked two behinds that day and was mentioned in the South’s best players along with Len Thomas, Bob Pratt, Jim Cleary, Jack Graham, Syd Tims and an amazing sportsman named Owen Evans (see below).
As the headline said , it was an easy win for Hawthorn; and, although there is no proof of this idea, the result probably ‘put paid’ to Roy Cazaly’s time as the coach of South Melbourne.
In the period 1937-38, Roy coached SMFC in 36 games and won only eight games. Readers can imagine the tumult and ‘white noise’ that would be heard if any modern-day coach had such a low win-loss ratio ( 22.2%).
THE 1938 SOUTH MELBOURNE TEAM PHOTOGRAPH
The image ( below) was originally a souvenir/ keepsake photograph sponsored by ‘The Leader’ newspaper in 1938. Alf Hedge can be seen fourth from the right in the front row.
On Alf’s right is Herb Matthews and on the left is Jack Alban Quinn who also played for Richmond and Melbourne. Jack Quinn was recruited to South Melbourne from the Melbourne Boys League; and the highlight of his career was his selection as Richmond’s first rover in the 1940 Grand Final.
Another player in the front row is Kevin Owen Evans ( aka as ‘KO’ Evans). Owen was recruited to South Melbourne in 1935 and amassed VFL 64 games before he departed for Coburg (VFA). During his time at South Melbourne, Owen kicked 95 goals including a ‘bag’ of eight against Hawthorn at the Lake Oval in 1940. Owen was a superb athlete and had competed in the high jump event at the 1934 Empire School Sports. On that day,Owen tied with Canadian Richard Jansen with a height of 5ft. 11 inches (i.e. approx. 1.80 metres).
The above photo also shows some of the VFL champions of that era such as Jim Cleary, Bill Faul ( ex-Subiaco), Len Thomas and Jack Graham.
ALF HEDGE PLAYS HIS LAST SENIOR VFL GAME
Alf Hedge played his last VFL game against Geelong at the Lake Oval in Round: 18, 1938. It was his 16th senior game and he was 20 years of age.
Alf was one of three twenty-year olds selected by South that day; the others being Jack Quinn ( see above) and Reg Coyle, a local youngster from South Melbourne City FC. The South Melbourne line-up against Geelong was as shown below. Alf was named as the first rover.
Source: The Emerald Hill Record August 27th 1938. Page: 1
Readers will notice that George Collard (ex- Sandhurst and Carlton) formed part of a capable South Melbourne attack which also included Bob Pratt , Jack Graham and Owen Evans.
Norm Matthews, who was selected on the wing that day was Herb’s brother; and had been cleared from Melbourne that season. Norm would go on to play 28 games with South Melbourne. In later years, he opted to return for another stint at Melbourne and also played with two VFA clubs ( Preston and Port Melbourne).
Source: The Emerald Hill Record September 3rd 1938. Page: 4
While Geelong won the game by seven goals, the main talking point in the ‘wash-up’ was Bob Pratt’s stunning nine goal haul at full forward. ‘The Emerald Hill Record’ was glowing in its praise of Bob’s solo performance against Geelong’s tough defence. It was a definitive exhibition and again served as a reminder of how important Bob was to the success of the South Melbourne team.
Bob played only 7 games in 1938 and kicked 32 goals at an average of 4.57 goals per game. At the end of that season, Bob had amassed 141 VFL games and booted 607 goals.
Alf Hedge was mentioned briefly in the match review (see above). He had ‘done well ‘ against Geelong’s gritty and experienced rover Tom Quinn ( who was no relation to the Alf’s team-mate Jack- see above)
THE END OF A WRETCHED SEASON
There was little for Roy Cazaly and the team to celebrate that evening ; and more than likely, South’s post-game changing room after such a pummelling would have been as quiet as the ‘town library.’ In his heart, Roy would have known that it was time to ‘step back and pass the baton’ to another aspirant. It is very true that insightful and caring coaches of any sporting team…
‘Know when to lead and when to step aside .” ( Alan Seale 2018).
Some readers who have played football may appreciate the hollow feeling that envelops his/her team when they win the ‘Wooden Spoon’; and, as Alf Hedge and his team-mates packed their kit bags for the last time that season, there may/would have been mixed emotions…
- Relief that the gruelling season had come to end.
- A collective hope that things at the Lake Oval would be better in 1939.
LEN THOMAS WINS THE CLUB TROPHY IN 1938.
Len Thomas on the left (MacRobertson’s 1934 swap card series); and caricatures of Len and Bill Faul as published in ‘The Emerald Hill Record’ September 3rd 1938. Page: 1
Len Thomas won the club’s Best & Fairest trophy in 1938; and he also claimed the local newspaper award ( i.e. ‘The Emerald Hill Record’) award with 35 votes from Bill Faul ( 21 votes), Jack Graham ( 13 votes) and Jim Cleary ( 11 votes). Alf Hedge polled 3 votes in that prestigious local media award.
Carlton took out the premiership honours with a fifteen point victory over Collingwood; and, with that triumph, one the Blues’ finest forwards, Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence, announced his retirement from VFL ranks . Harry played 204 VFL games with Carlton ( 1926-38 ) and had booted 722 goals.
In other VFL news, Dick Reynolds won his third Brownlow Medal in 1938 with 18 votes; and arguably the most under-rated footballer, in the history of Hawthorn Football Club, Stan Spinks , was runner-up with 17 votes. South Melbourne players to poll well in the count were: Jack Graham (11 votes) Len Thomas ( 10 votes) and Bill Faul recorded seven votes.
Read Part 2 of Roger Spaull’s story, Alf Hedge: The Bloods’ Braveheart HERE
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