Almanac (Creative) Footy: In the singing vein with the tall back pockets

The tall back pockets are the workhorses of the backline supporting the full backs who get all the glory. But when the ball is at the other end of the ground, surely they have a favourite song going around in their heads, so I’ve chosen a song for each of them from my playlist. I’ve discovered a ‘song’ and an album are shown differently according to the Style manual for authors, editors and printers 6^th edition (Milton: John Wiley & Sons, 2002), so there you go.

 

In the olden days the tall back pockets were the resting ruckmen or ruck rovers standing the resting ruckmen or ruck rovers. John Watts wrote the chapter on ‘Finer points for followers’ in High Mark edited by Jack Pollard (Sydney: Murray Publishing, 1967):

 

A most important factor for any ruckman is to know when to change with his partner. If the pressure is constant, as it should be, five minutes on the ball at a time is sufficient. An important role for the second string ruckman when he is ‘resting’ in a back pocket is to guard the goalmouth when the opposing full forward leads the full back downfield. Frequently the ball suddenly shoots into the goal square and the ‘resting’ second ruckman should always be prepared to prevent a score when these occasions occur.

 

Today the tall back pocket is a position in its own right, and two of the best are Tom Stewart and Jake Lever. Watching Tom Stewart intercept the ball and stream out of defence with no opposition is an abiding sight when watching Geelong, so it’s no wonder he’s been All Australian five times. With his armful of tattoos he brings to mind the 2001 album My Tattoo by Barbara Burnette. I was miffed when Jake Lever left Adelaide for Melbourne because, as well as being a terrific player, he organises his backline; ‘You’re The Voice’ as John Farnham sang in 1986. It was Farnham’s idea for the bagpipe solo, but when the piper broke the news that bagpipes are tuned to B flat, the key of the song had to be changed from G to F, and everyone agreed it sounded much better! Fun fact: Jake was a good boxer and was in contention for a place in the 2012 London Olympics.

 

 

 

 

Syd Coventry was the older ruckman brother of the legendary full forward Gordon, so he might like the 1969 Hollies ballad ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother’. In 1927 Syd won the Brownlow and captained his premiership team, the only player to have achieved both feats in the same year, so naturally he is the back pocket in Collingwood’s team of the century. Hawthorn’s team of the century tall back pocket Bert Mills was a stand-out performer in unremarkable Hawthorn sides between 1930 and 1942, so he might have thought that’s just ‘The Way It Is (some things’ll never change)’ as sung by Bruce Hornby in 1986. Equally capable of playing in the ruck or holding down a key defensive position, he captained the Mayblooms for five years before they became the Hawks.

 

 

 

 

Francis Eduardo ‘Frank’ Curcio is the back pocket in the Fitzroy and Italian teams of the century as a 5’11” ruckman. He played between 1932 and 1948 in an era when Fitzroy’s best and fairest records were either lost or not kept, denying him an opportunity to be shown as a great player in the record books. A tough, vigorous ruckman defender, World War Two military service cost Curcio a place in Fitzroy’s 1944 premiership team. Captaining Fitzroy for four years, he appeared in The Herald of 21 April 1939 featuring the twelve League captains ready for new season showing them at their place of work. Frank is shown sitting at what is variously described as a ‘bass violin’ or a ‘big bass’ in the Metro Theatre Orchestra, which was a combo of a string and jazz band. Frank, you are incomparable—great player, captain, soldier, sweet-faced musician—so ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ as sung by Prince in 1985. The song was famously covered by Sinead O’Connor in 1990, when it was named the #1 World Single at the first Billboard Music Awards.

 

Tasmanian born Vic Belcher played for South Melbourne from 1907 to 1920 and is in Sydney’s team of the century in a back pocket. Only 5’11”, the Swans website says, ‘When he began playing senior football, Belcher was a ruckman, being as fine a performer in that position as any man playing. In his latter years he has been a noted defender, his coolness, judgement, fine marking qualities and dash making him an ideal backman and captain. Like the vast majority of champions Belcher has been fairness personified. He possesses fine spring and determination, was a hard man to beat and was a manly opponent.’ He sounds like a fine man who would appreciate the contemplative masterpiece, ‘Hymn’, written by Australian composer Luke Howard in 2018, worth a listen on  YouTube.  It basically consists of six notes as shown in the sheet music.

 

 

 

 

The State Library has a collection of some 7,000 pieces of sheet music by South Australians. As well, any sound recordings published in South Australia are required to be deposited in the State Library under the Libraries Act. So from Sturt Football Club on vinyl are The golden years 1966-1976 which features the Sturt club song and special comments on the grand finals by Paul Bagshaw, Bob Shearman, Brenton Adcock and other players. One of Sturt’s biggest fans is my singer-songwriter brother Andy Armstrong, who has some 15 recordings in the Library catalogue, including CDs from the Channel 7 kids show The Book Place in which he performed from 1991 to 2003.

 

 

 

 

Some community minded people donate their unpublished papers to the Library. Graham Longley, manager of the Masters Apprentices, donated his papers from that time as PRG 1280. ‘Living In A Child’s Dream’ from 1967 was my favourite of their songs. Marion Sinclair wrote ‘The Kookaburra Song’, which was said to have been plagiarised by Men at Work in the classic hit ‘Downunder’ from 1981. Marion Sinclair donated her papers to the Library as PRG 670, which explain the Library’s part in the copyright case.

 

The State Library also has the weekly 5AD top 40 charts from 1958 to 1985 and 5KA charts between 1965 and 1980.

 

 

 

 

Starting in 1936, community concerts were held in the Melbourne Town Hall to support The Herald Blanket Appeal as the winter months approached, and football choir contests were a feature. One of the singers was Essendon’s Tom Fitzmaurice, a lovely baritone, who sang ‘The Legions Of The Lost’. Tom is the resting ruckman back pocket to Gavin Wanganeen’s small back pocket in Essendon’s team of the century. Its website says he had ‘remarkable marking ability, with a fine physique and speed to burn for a big man, and his beautiful style of play made him an idol’. The first of the Australian Idols was Guy Sebastian AM, whose ‘Battle Scars’ was recorded in 2012. I don’t know if Guy likes footy, but I know he likes his cricket because he visited The Bradman Collection PRG 682 exhibition at the State Library, now on long term loan at Adelaide Oval. Fun Fact: the Paradise Community Church end at Campbelltown Memorial Oval (home of East Torrens District Cricket Club and Rostrevor Old Collegians’ Football Club) is known as the Guy Sebastian end because of his previous involvement with the church.

 

 

 

 

Footscray’s team of the century ruckman back pocket John Schultz played from 1958 to 1968 as an amateur. He won the Brownlow in 1960 at the age of 21 and was known as a gentle giant; no wonder he was chosen to sit with Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the MCG in April 1970. He also had the honour of presenting the premiership cup to the Bulldogs in 2016. Being a gentle man he might also be a romantic who would appreciate Stevie Wonder singing ‘I Believe (when I fall in love)’ which was the final number in the soundtrack of the 2000 movie High Fidelity.

 

Northern Territorian Bill Dempsey MBE played for Darwin Football Club, the Buffaloes, from 1959 to 1969 during the summer and in the winter for West Perth from 1960 to 1976. He is the back pocket ruckman resting in defence in West Perth’s team of the century and the Indigenous team of the century. In 1986 an Indigenous folk group and a non-Indigenous rock group from the Territory combined to create the mix of musical cultures that is Yothu Yindi: ‘Timeless Land’ was recorded in 1993.

 

Kevin Neale is St Kilda’s team of the century tall back pocket. Playing from 1965 to 1977 he initially played in the backline as the first change resting in the back pocket ruckman, but was soon moved to full forward. Because of his nickname he has to be the ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ sung in 1975 by Glenn Campbell, a much underrated singer and gifted guitarist in the Wrecking Crew.

 

Doing my work for me, Richmond supporters were asked in 2017 to select the best players to have filled each of the traditional on-field positions for the Tigers in the past 50 years: the results for the tall back pockets included Colin Beard, Rex Hunt, Emmett Dunne and Dylan Grimes.

 

Colin Beard was a prized, mature-age recruit from Western Australia, so his song can be ‘This Old Love (we’ll grow old together)’ by Australian singer Lior from 2005. A reliable, rugged, straight-ahead style of player, Col’s job was minding the opposition’s resting ruckmen, and he was back pocket in Richmond’s 1969 premiership team.

 

Although a key forward, Rex Hunt’s strength and high marking saw him play a famous game as a back pocket in the Tiger’s premiership in 1973 when he kept Blues’ captain-coach John Nicholls to one goal, after Nicholls had kicked six in the previous grand final. Because of Rex’s penchant for kissing fish, surely he’ll be singing the ‘Octopus’s Garden’ by Ringo Starr and the Beatles from 1969.

 

Emmett Dunne is one of the few career specialist tall back pockets, playing with minimum fuss and maximum efficiency. He developed a close understanding with Mick Malthouse in the other back pocket. Dunne is now Chair of the History and Traditions Committee at Richmond, so might be interested in a historical song like the ‘Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald’ sung by Gordon Lightfoot in 1976.

 

Dylan Grimes is described as a lock-down defender, capable of matching up on tall and small forwards. Coach Damien Hardwick once called him Robin to full back Alex Rance’s Batman. Dylan grew up on a hobby farm in Panton Hill, north-east of Melbourne, and now owns a winery, so the rural life must suit him. ‘Solsbury Hill’ was the 1977 debut solo single by Peter Gabriel. Now in 2025 Australian singer-songwriter Sia’s beautiful cover of ‘Solsbury Hill’ is being used as a promotion for Humane World for Animals, a cause dear to my heart.

 

With five minutes to go in the 2016 grand final, Dale Morris tackled Buddy Franklin to set up a Tom Boyd goal which gave the Bulldogs a 15 point lead. You might think ‘We Are The Champions’ by Queen would reflect the occasion for the 2008 All Australian back pocket but ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ is a better reflection on life’s challenges and victories. After the game, it was revealed that Morris had played the entire finals series with a fractured vertebra.

 

Nathan Bassett had an 11 year career with Adelaide. When Ben Rutten arrived as a strong full back, Bassett moved into the back pocket where his rebounding game went to a new level. The next year he was All Australian. After losing the elimination final at Footy Park to Collingwood in 2008 he wandered out onto the ground to have a retirement kick with the supporters, so maybe the jaded vibe of Doc Neeson’s 2014 version of ‘Walking In The Rain’ would suit, the original being Vanda and Young’s in 1979. Nathan was a good cricketer and a good coach too at Norwood, now with Melbourne.

 

 

 

 

Nathan is a good segue into the SANFL where the ne plus ultra of old-timers is John/Jack ‘Dinny’ Reedman who played from 1889 to 1905, and is back pocket and change ruckman in South Adelaide’s greatest team. He led South to five premierships and another two with North Adelaide. He then coached West Adelaide to its first premiership in 1908. Famous also as a cricketer, he sounds like a player for every occasion who could say I’m Your Man, like Leonard Cohen in his 1988 album.

 

 

 

 

Another great old-timer, Alby Bahr was back pocket in Norwood’s team of the century and captained South Australia for the inaugural interstate carnival held in Melbourne in 1908. He also played cricket for Norwood in the Adelaide and Suburban Association: ‘Alby Bahr proved what an excellent all-round athlete and cricketer he is by placing a well-made 21 aside his name’, and as a footballer, ‘Alby Bahr was a vigorous exponent who was here, there, and everywhere, quite excelling himself’ and ‘Alby Bahr was the plum in the pudding’. [Quiz 13 March 1908, 11 August 1905 and 18 September 1908.] If he’s everywhere he might be a night owl, the eponymous track on Gerry Rafferty’s fabulous 1979 album Night owl.

 

According to the Sturt website, Horrie Riley was ‘the Bagshaw of the 1920s who made the game look easy, and when he flew for a mark the crowd would chant Riley, Riley, Riley’. It sounds like the ball might fall into his arms, so it’s a good excuse for Nick Cave’s ‘Into My Arms’ from 1997. Horrie has the 1923 Magarey Medal, the 1926 premiership, 20 state appearances and Sturt’s team of the century back pocket to his name.

 

 

 

 

Brian Burke’s league career began as a 16 year old with Norwood-North in 1942 when teams were combined during the war, then he served in the Navy from 1944 to 1946. His speed and stamina were assets as the second ruckman resting in the back pocket in the powerful Norwood premiership teams of 1946, 1948 and 1950. When Burke married, his bride Margaret Selway wore ‘a Chantilly lace frock with long Dolman sleeves and a high-necked tulle yoke appliquéd with lace roses’. His song can only be that 1958 Big Bopper classic ‘Chantilly Lace’ covered by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1972.

 

 

 

 

Ted Whelan played in seven premierships for Port Adelaide between 1948 and 1961 to win the gig as tall back pocket in Port’s team of the century. Personifying the Fos Williams coaching philosophy, Ted was an old school ruckman defender of the resolute, socks down, heart on the sleeve variety. A bit like the Man in Black, whose song ‘I Walk The Line’ appeared in 1956.

 

Peter Anderson was a versatile player best remembered for his performance in the back pocket in North Adelaide’s 1971 grand final win over Port Adelaide. The next year he moved to Glenelg where he was a key player in the club’s 1973 seven point grand final victory over his former team. Those two grand finals were grand days, like Van Morrison’s ‘Days Like This’ from 1995. Anderson finished his league career at Woodville on 233 games.

 

Beloved on The Parade, Neil Button was an enthusiastic ruckman resting in the back pocket before he moved to centre half forward. His nickname the Bear has me thinking of the song ‘Ready Teddy’ made popular in 1956 by Little Richard, who played piano on the recording. It has since been covered by Buddy Holly, The Tornados, Elvis Presley, Cliff Richard and The Shadows, Tony Sheridan and others, making it something of a rock and roll standard.

 

When Footy Almanac stalwart Rulebook named his best ever Norwood side he said, ‘Bruce Winter, a wonderful acquisition from Sturt, wins the back pocket spot, capable of standing a tall or a small.’ Bruce’s song has to be ‘Winter In America’ written in 1974 by Adelaide’s own singer-songwriter Doug Ashdown (who used to live around the corner from us in my childhood).

 

Tom Warhurst had already played over 200 games for Norwood, including their 1982 and 1984 premierships, when he was signed by Adelaide for their debut season in 1991. He had previously been twice recruited by VFL clubs, but on each occasion decided to stay at Norwood. He played in Adelaide’s first AFL game against Hawthorn at Football Park, keeping Dermott Brereton goalless in a convincing win for the club—a ‘Perfect Day’ as sung by Lou Reed in 1972.

 

In the AFL, with their diverse heritage, Josh Gibson, Jake Kolodjashnij, Esava Ratagolea and Josh Draper might be interested in WOMAD, Adelaide’s world music festival which is held over the long weekend in March.

 

Josh Gibson, a reliable team man at the Kangaroos then Hawthorn, was known for his defensive spoiling prowess and made an extraordinary 21 spoils in a final. From the southern Caribbean island of Barbados where Gibson has family history, to the northern Caribbean island of Jamaica, we are in Reggae territory with Bob Marley, maybe ‘Natural Mystic’ from 1977.

 

Jake Kolodjashnij is a strong overhead mark with neat footskills who plays lockdown roles for Geelong. He has a twin brother Kade, and twins always have an interesting relationship. I wonder if either of them sees ‘The Whole Of The Moon’ sung by Scottish band the Waterboys in 1985 as a tribute to inspirational people who see the big picture.

 

Geelong then Port Power’s indefatigable Esava Ratagolea is a ‘swingman’ so he can play at both ends of the ground. His heritage is in Fiji, which would be a prime place to admire the heavens, ‘Under The Milky Way’ sung by the Church in 1988.

 

Twenty-one-year-old Josh Draper is of Ethiopian heritage, which bodes well for his staying ability, recalling the great Haile Gebrselassie. In the first game of this season, Josh lined up in the back pocket for Fremantle, so his song has to be ‘Purple Haze’ by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which came in at 21 on the 5AD chart shown earlier, with the Hendrix classic ‘Hey Joe’ at 38.

 

Another youngster is James O’Donnell, son of Test cricketer and St Kilda footballer Simon O’Donnell. James could have made a career in either sport, so the Western Bulldogs got lucky, and he is in the back pocket for their first game of the season. When the Bulldogs play their first Friday night game for the season, James might be singing ‘Friday On My Mind’, one of Australia’s favourite songs performed by the Easybeats in 1967 in this Youtube clip. But now there are Thursday night games, maybe the song should be Thursday on my mind.

 

Callum Sebastian Nelmes (an Anglo-Saxon word for dwellers by the elms) Wilkie was ‘enjoying footy for what it was, a little bit of an escape from work and then enjoying playing with my mates’ at North Adelaide, when a premiership happened in 2018 and St Kilda got interested in him at the mature age of 24. He was instantly competitive playing on tricky forward pockets like Jake Stringer, and has yet to miss a game for St Kilda. He was studying accountancy, which suggests Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’ with its moody 7/4 time signature and the sound of a cash register on their 1973 album The Dark Side Of The Moon.

 

In the AFLW, Meara Girvan started with Glenelg in the SANFLW, then she moved via QAFLW team Bond University to the Gold Coast Suns. The defender has an elite netball background and is renowned for her one-on-one contested work and ability to read the play. Hopefully she’ll never have to face the sort of injury that results in extensive ‘Rehab’ as sung by the sadly missed Amy Winehouse in 2006.

 

The Western Bulldogs’ Cleo Buttifant reads the ball in the air extremely well, maybe coming from a touch football background. She also has dazzling pace and takes the game on with her run out of defence. Sounds like she’s ‘Born To Run’ which was recorded by The Boss in 1975. Springsteen said he wanted ‘Born To Run’ to sound like Roy Orbison singing Bob Dylan produced by Spector, and I reckon it has the four simplest and catchiest notes in rock music.

 

 

The All Australian AFLW back pocket for 2024 is the popular Chelsea Biddell, who is impassable for the Adelaide Crows and a booming attacking kick. She has the confidence of a Lady Gaga who memorably sings the Academy Award winning Best Original Song ‘Shallow’ in the 2018 movie A Star Is Born.

 

The men’s All Australian tall back pocket for 2024 is Sydney’s 6’5” Nick Blakey, who couldn’t be more dashing or reliable. No wonder he’s contracted to the 2030s, which makes me think of the passing of time from ‘Once In A Lifetime’ by Talking Heads from 1981. Evidently the song was inspired by preachers delivering sermons, or maybe coaches delivering halftime addresses. It’s been said the lyrics are meaningless and totally meaningful at the same time, which is as good as rock lyrics get!

 

So the tall back pockets are an interesting bunch. It’s a fun exercise to think who you would like to have as the tall back pocket and what they would be singing in a team playing in a musical heaven.

 

This is the last of the playing positions on the field. Next time we look at the interchange players, formerly known as reserves, and find out what they get up to when they’re sitting on the bench: maybe playing Chess, Scrabble, Poker or Wordle. Suggestions for players are welcome as well as ideas for the games they might be playing.

 

 

To read more by Carolyn Spooner click HERE.

 

 

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