I love a good football book, stories complete with on-field demeanours, off-field antics and questionable training tactics at best. At the heart of any of these books is the camaraderie, the personalities and the determination of the players to succeed at any cost. I have to say that, cover-to cover, Larrikins and Legends by Dan Eddy, delivers on all of these attributes. The book begins at the time Alex Jesaulenko was installed as playing coach, explaining his harsh training methods that quickly netted Carlton the 1979 Premiership. The turmoil of 1980, as well as detailing the 1981/1982 Premierships.
My interest in the book really begins in 1978, when Alex Jesaulenko became Captain-Coach. Keen to differentiate himself from his predecessors, Jezza wasted no time in introducing brutal and near-impossible training regimes. This showed instant on-field improvements, culminating in Carlton’s 1979 Premiership. Far from being an intimidating figure at Carlton, Jesaulenko recognised the importance of getting along and friendship. Jesaulenko knew this was the true key to success. a trend continued by his successor David Parkin.
Jezza was nursing an ankle injury from the boundary line, as the siren sounded in the 1979 Grand Final. Which was the last time he wore the navy blue. It would be a tumultuous year in 1980. This is where I tend to lose interest a bit, when these books start talking about business, presidents and committees. Dan Eddy discusses the 1980 season in this regard, Carlton’s fortunes might well-have waned, because of all of this upheaval. The club’s one saving grace, was the appointment of David Parkin, at the conclusion of the 1980 season.
Parko’s Professionals is the title of the chapter, and professionalism is what Parkin brought to Carlton. While unsuccessful in reining in the player’s partying ways, he nevertheless raised the standard. Eddy explains how Carlton put in, for a dominant 1981 season, winning 17 games. The Prime Minster had promised Carlton a trip to his residence, if they won the 1981 Grand Final. For the notoriously heavy drinking Carlton side, they made a complete debacle of Malcolm Frasier’s hospitality, they’d be back in 1982.
Carlton had a point to prove in 1982. With a poor start to the season, Carlton came good by season’s end and went alright in the finals. The 1982 Grand Final was a bruising one, Richmond being a notorious team for that. Richmond hit the ground, ripping shreds into the Carlton players, before the Blues were able to steady and get some goals. Richmond may have been hard on oppositions, but Carlton hit where it hurt, the scoreboard. Eddy confirms for me, what I had always imagined would be an instant momentum killer. I am of course talking about the streaker, interrupting Carlton’s flow. The blues recovered, won and had another trip to Canberra. The 1982 Premiership Cup disappearing, before re-appearing months later with a dint. Certainly, a sign of the times, it had been carelessly forgotten about, in a player’s car boot.
Read more about Dan Eddy and his books HERE.
Read more posts from Raging Bull, who just happens to be Callum Quirk, HERE
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Insightful review. I really enjoyed this book.