Almanac Footy: David Palm – friendship and footy

David Palm: friendship and footy

 

(Photo provided by Roger Woodcock of the NFC history committee permission granted to use)

 

David Palm

Club	League	Years	Games	Goals
Norwood	SANFL	1976-79	65	79
West Perth	WAFL	1980-82, 1990-91	91	50
Richmond	VFL	1983-88	104	38
Total			260	167

 

 

The Palm family

 

David had a productive and lengthy playing career but, as with everyone, it’s a life involving a lot more than footy and in particular personal as the Palm-Ashwood families grew up together. David’s dad, the late Jim, and my dad Ray were good mates and may have the shared the odd ale or two. While my mum, the late Margaret, and David’s mum, the late Lorraine, were also close.

 

David and his siblings Jenny and Michael, had brother, the late Andrew, with an intellectual disability. Now we also had Aunty Muriel in similar situation, so I’ve always been grateful that growing up with people with disabilities was just part of the norm and I didn’t bat an eyelid. It is just part of life and that has helped me markedly. Some people just didn’t cope with the helmet Andrew used to wear and his general demeanour. To the Palms’ eternal credit Andrew was included in everything.

 

People involved in the disability sector know how much patience is needed. I remember dad and Jim putting extra legs on the TV and bolting it down at the Palms’ house in Magill and putting extra locks on the record player. It’s not unfair to say my late mum Margaret was definitely one of Andrew’s favourites. He loved to play 8 ball with mum – the rules tended to be a tad liberal and it was bloody hard to beat Andrew. When mum got a ball in the pocket it was always fluke.

 

Jim was also a character and directions going anywhere were always given by pubs, not roads (e.g. “go past The Feathers, go round the roundabout, turn left at the lights, go past The Marryatville, straight ahead the Robin Hood and will be on your right”). It’s always been a subject which evokes smirks and a smile.

 

Lorraine had a good sense of humour also and tolerated our shenanigans. I always got on well with Jenny (still do). I do remember after her mum’s funeral when Jenny said, “you’re in the car with me. I need some stupidity”. It was meant well and that’s how I took it. We did 30 minutes of reminiscing of the good times on the way back to the wake, Jen said it was exactly what was needed.

 

Michael could seriously play footy but decided to concentrate on work. The great administrator Wally Miller regarded Michael highly and says he is one who got away. David agrees, if Michael had persisted he would definitely have played league football.

 

A serious event I remember vividly is when Andrew had a seizure in the water at Victor. How my sister, Beth, and I got him out of the sea safely I will never know. I was extremely small as a kid but somehow managed. Beth was still studying medicine at that stage and remained calm and composed which has stood her well in her medical career.

 

David adds: “I can’t credit my mum and dad enough over the countless hours they spent driving me to all sporting events and, in the meantime, dad running a successful business along with the ongoing supervision of my brother Andrew. As well as attending to my brother and sister’s sporting aspirations.”

 

Back to the beginning

David attended Magill Primary School where he credits Mr Hancock as having a positive influence on his footy and then at Norwood High with ex-Redleg Ron Bland (who David gives enormous credit) coaching. Norwood High had a super side, winning the state championship with Neil Craig, Jim Derrington, Robert Dolan, Michael Holliday, Greg Turbill, Dave Symons and Ray Ladhams among others. It truly was an outstanding side winning against Henley High – Ray won the BOG medal in the Grand Final at Footy Park.

 

Palmy was also talented in athletics and broke the Norwood High School high jump record. It ended up being the only event still going on sports day so the whole school was watching on the side oval.

 

David played junior footy for Kensington Gardens. He is grateful for Ian Milne’s help and guidance coaching (David did kick a casual 22 goals in one game). David played State Under 16s – the carnival was played in Queensland at Windsor Zillmere and Coorparoo on rock hard grounds with David McKay, ex-West Torrens, captaining Victoria a standout. David Drew and Randall Wright from West Adelaide were notable SA players. David also played with Ron Fuller who also ended up playing at West Perth before heading back to South Australia and eventually coaching.

 

Palm then progressed onto Norwood under the tutorship of John Potter and Alex Staritski in the Under 17s (David may have acquired the nickname of ‘two bob lair’ from Alex which he still answers to today and gets some mirth), then Mal Smith and John Hall in the Under 19s.

 

 

David made his league debut against West Adelaide in 1976 (I vividly remember the photo taken by Ray Titus from the News of Michael on David’s shoulders before his league debut ), standing Robbie Donaldson and played on the outer wing for the majority of the game. That had special significance in that it was where his family stood regularly at the Parade (David is happy that it is also where his picket is). He played nine league games in ‘76 also playing in the famous annihilation of Carlton in the Wills Cup-night series game. He also won the colour TV for BOG in the game against the ACT when the late great Jim Thiel did his knee:

 

 

 

David certainly impressed Max Hall and Wally May v North Adelaide!

 

He established himself in 1977, playing 22 games and then in ‘78 played in finals particularly well against Glenelg in the Qualifying Final. David was for mine (yes, I can be accused of bias) inexplicably left out of the side for the Grand Final, partly due to supposedly provide more flexibility with the irony of that being that he ended up playing mainly in defence for Richmond. The fact we won by a point means this is virtually never mentioned. David, to his immense credit, played well in the Reserves premiership win against West Adelaide (the only senior premiership of his career).

 

 

Move to WA

 

(photo with permission from David Palm)

 

David performed solidly in 1979 playing 21 games with his final game being the loss in the First Semi Final against South Adelaide. He then moved to WA at the end of the year having been transferred in his employment with the Commercial Bank. Deciding he needed a fresh start in general, David was originally going to go to Claremont but Brian Adamson who was returning to West Perth persuaded him to join the Cardinals. David may not have been too popular with Claremont President Wally Maskeill who had helped organise the transfer within the bank. However, not knowing anyone else in WA meant Brian’s pull was too strong.

 

West Perth was coached by Graham Campbell (future Glenelg coach) in 1980 and ’81 and captained by Les Fong. In ’82, West Perth was coached by Dennis Cometti – David enjoyed playing under both and, yes, Dennis was very eloquent. Unfortunately, the Cardinals didn’t have a huge amount of team success during his first stint in WA but David certainly made an impression, making the WA State side in 1982.

 

David is well qualified to compare WA and SA footy having played in such a strong era in both competitions. Think of some of his WA opponents: Phil Kelly, Brian Peake, Ken Hunter, Jim and Phil Krakouer etc. David, after much thought, says “Asho, I’m not sitting on the fence but it was completely different footy. The rock-hard WA dry grounds where it was just so lightning quick compared to an in-close muddy physical game at the Parade, Unley, Glenelg etc.” He does consider the tunnel where the players emerge onto the ground at the Parade the next best in the country after the G.

 

Easily the most important event in David’s time in WA was meeting his wife, Michelle (wait for it), at a West Perth FC blind date night! Michelle went along with a cousin and bingo! Geez, Palmy, you struck the lotto that night! (he goes a tad quiet when asked the question ‘where did you meet Michelle?’ just about doing a Marcel Marceau impression while I am pissing myself laughing.)

 

Richmond

 

(photo with permission from David Palm)

 

David was recruited by Richmond with choice number 11 in the interstate draft in 1982, quickly establishing himself playing mainly as a tough, hard-running rebound defender. He played all 22 games in ‘83, ‘84 and ‘85. David readily admits he didn’t realize the turmoil he was entering re: the players the Tigers had lost after losing the ‘82 Grand Final.

 

Graham Richmond was ruthless being in the rooms before, during and after games and was very forceful, telling everybody exactly what he thought – nothing was held back! Now consider, David played from 1983-88 and played under the coaching of Francis Bourke, Mike Patterson, Paul Sproule, Tony Jewell and Kevin Bartlett – stability wasn’t exactly the Tigers’ middle name!

 

Officials, board and influential coterie members got way too much say in selection and the way the club was run to the detriment of the coaches and the club in general. The highest the Tigers finished in David’s time at the club was eighth – certainly under-achieved and not playing any finals was very disappointing.

 

I would be watching a Richmond game thinking ‘geez, get Palmy forward’. It happened way too infrequently for my liking. David did kick five goals in a game against Essendon in 1985. David, overall, was a consistent contributor for the Tigers with a best placing of eighth in the 1988 B&F.

 

My favourite memory of David’s time at Richmond is meeting Dale Weightman and Mark Lee at Victor Harbor. The four of us adjourned to The Crown, it was a summer arvo and the pub was pumping. I could not stop laughing at the females drooling over Mark Lee. I would gladly have helped him out!

 

David has immensely enjoyed the Tigers’ recent success being at the grand finals in 2017 and ’19, enjoying the game and celebrations with past Richmond players and officials and the Tiger faithful.

 

Dale Weightman adds:

 

David Palm was a great teammate and was fantastic to have around the club and I would say probably easily lead in that he really wanted to fit in and be part of the Tigers in the early ‘80s.

 

We also went on a footy trip to the Metung lakes (no trip money raised) and we hired Bulls cruisers. I think we got about three of them to sleep on and travel around the lakes. Palmy had a great physique and when we were bringing one of them in to tie up at the wharf the skipper of this one, Barry Rowlings, (none of us could drive them but we all did) was coming in too quickly and was going to hit another one. Palmy put himself between the boats to try and hold them off. Unfortunately he came up second best and ripped his stomach muscles and was in a lot of pain for many months after the trip.

 

He was a super teammate who always had time for all the players and was a super competitor (golf, tennis, footy) in whatever he put his mind to and always had a smile on his face. Someone we could all take the mickey out of, which we did on numerous occasions.

 

VFA and return to WA

 

David decided to join Springvale in the VFA as assistant coach in 1989 (Phil Maylin was coach). Springvale made finals but unfortunately didn’t manage the holy grail. He has always known to speak what he thinks (we may have that in common not always to our betterment), and certainly doesn’t hold back in this entertaining interview!

 

 

David and Michelle returned to WA in 1990 re-joining West Perth. He had a fantastic individual season, winning the B&F and was appointed Captain in ’91. David disagreed with the club’s decision not to reappoint George Michalczyk as coach for season 1992. Even though West Perth struggled result-wise he felt the club was heading in the right direction so he decided to retire from league football.

 

He then went on to coach Wongan Hills and West Perth Hellenics in the amateur competition, enjoying the experience but disappointingly losing Grand Finals with each club. With Corry Bewick (Darren’s father) he then coached the West Perth Under 16 development squad for six years, thoroughly enjoying it and enjoying the progression of players such as Jack Darling, Stephen Hill and many others.

 

From David

Best players played with:

Norwood – P. Gallagher, J. Wynne, N. Craig, R. Woodcock, R. Dillon

West Perth – P. Mengalio, B. Adamson, L. Fong, B. and J. Duckworth, C. Bewick

Richmond – M. Lee, J. Jess, D. Weightman, B. Rowlings, M. Rioli, M. Roach, G. Strachan, K. Bartlett

 

Hardest opponents:

Leigh Matthews, Hawthorn

Glen Hawker, Essendon

Michael Conlan, Fitzroy

Gary Ablett Snr, Geelong

 

David work wise and since footy 

After Norwood High School, David started work in the Commercial Bank of SA at the Norwood branch. Transferred to Perth with the bank in 1980 and played for West Perth. Left for Vic in 1983 to play for Richmond and was transferred by the bank which became Westpac.

 

He was pursuing a career in the sports industry and secured employment with a company called Active Leisure Sports in 1984. They held the Australian distributor rights for Wilson and Diadora. David initially held an internal sales role and was then appointed a sales rep in 1985. He serviced Vic metro accounts along with his country region which covered from Mildura all the way down to Albury/ Wodonga/ Shepparton.

David was then approached in 1987 by a sporting retail group called Sportspower where he was employed within their head office structure. This head office controlled/managed 60 sports stores over four states at the time.

 

David was then approached by a company that was advertising for a sales agent in WA and  was appointed the WA sales agent in 1990 for Converse footwear. He then moved back to Perth with Michelle and their two sons to start their our business and continue his football career back with West Perth. He still currently operates within the WA sports industry with various sports brands within his agency.

 

Summing up:

David’s wife Michelle is a legal secretary and is a ripper. Michelle reminds me of Marnie Weatherald – friendly and can mix with any and everyone.

 

David’s son James is into the arts and has written and performed in plays. Sam has his own roofing carpentry business and played colts and reserves for West Perth and daughter Madeleine is a media advisor for the housing industry in WA. David and Michelle are proud of each and their accomplishments.

 

The Ashwood family would like to thank the Palms for their friendship over the years. THANK YOU!

 

 

 

We’ll do our best to publish two books in the lead-up to Christmas 2021. The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020  and the 2021 edition to celebrate the Dees’ magnificent premiership season(title is up for discussion at the moment!). These books will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers and Demons season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from these two Covid winters. Enquiries HERE

 

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