Almanac Lunches: Des, Bob, Richard, and John – ‘He sat them down’

‘He sat them down’

 

 

John Harms, Bob Utber, Des Tobin, (and Burkie)

 

All the audience needed was a couple of fine upstanding octogenarians reminiscing about their life in sport, a couple of sons of Collingwood royalty reliving the life and career of their Brownlow winning father and uncle, and John Harms at the forefront directing the show, then undoubtably a cracking yarn or two was sure to emanate during Friday’s Footy Almanac lunch at the All Nations Hotel in Richmond. And did it what! I feature below just a few snippets of some of the many fascinating and entertaining insights originating from the lunch.

 

 

Des Tobin, Richard Collier, and members of the Collier family

 

Des Tobin recalled his formative years leading up to his time in VFL footy (he played 1 game for North Melbourne in 1956), and beyond. He also played in the VFL football exhibition match at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, as amateurs were only allowed to participate. A guernsey worn in the match is on display at the All Nations Hotel.

 

 

Some notable attendees included Leon Wiegard former Fitzroy FC president and Olympian; and respected sports journalist John Craven

 

Des memorably recollected his ‘unfortunate’ claim to fame by affecting how John Landy missed out on becoming the first person to break the four minute mile barrier was amusingly told.

 

With a huge crowd in attendance Landy warmed up jogging laps while Des was competing in the high jump in front of the grandstand. Now, Des was 5’4” in height, weighed around 67kg with the bar set at a height he had never cleared before was very daunting indeed! In his efforts to clear the bar Des unfortunately broke the bar, not once but twice, to the extent no further replacement bars were available. The high jump was abandoned,  John Landy’s run was brought forward by thirty minutes, and unfortunately he did not achieve the objective aimed for. Many believed Landy was not fully warmed up for his attempt at  breaking the four minute mile, leaving Des with a sense of guilt with his high jumping efforts.

 

 

John Harms and Richard Collier

 

Des’ most recent publication is IT’S IN THE GENES – Australian Football Families. One of the featured footy families is the famous Collier family from Collingwood. Richard Collier spoke on behalf of family members in attendance about his father and uncle, Albert and Harry, in a Q & A with John and Des producing many wonderful and fascinating anecdotes about their playing careers and life at the time.

 

The brothers are the only Captain and Vice-Captain in a Premiership team, both won a Brownlow Medal, and they played together in 6 VFL Premierships from a total of 10 Grand Finals.  An amazing record relayed with pride by Richard, and one difficult to ever see emulated. Their careers from the 20s to 40s covered some difficult times including the depression and a world war.

 

The average wage was approximately £3 pw, VFL footballers received approximately the same amount for each match they played. Richard mentioned Collingwood’s infamous renowned benefactor John Wren often rewarded players who played well in a handsome manner by slipping a few pound notes into their hands. Richard remembered his father telling him Syd Coventry receiving £50 for a goal kicking spree from Wren on one occasion, nearly 20 times the then weekly wage.

 

Both Des and Bob emphasised the toughness of the times which introduced some fascinating yarns about Ted Ellis who played 150 games with North Melbourne and Footscray over a ten year period from 1933 – 1944. By the sounds of things Ted was quite a character. He stumped Bradman in a cricket match, played billiards with Walter Lindrum, and he could sing like a bird. In the off-season he’d don his swag, hit the road to earn whatever money where and when he could in order for his family to survive. Apparently Ted was handy with his fists. Incidents were settled only after he ‘sat them down’ as was mentioned numerous times. Someone must write a book about Ted Ellis one day!

 

 

Bob recalled his early days living in Sunshine before the family moved to a farm in Lang Lang. By coincidence Bob mentioned his father was delivered by Dr Cordner one of the famous Cordner footballing families featured in Des’ book.

 

Improvisation was the name of the game for Bob on the farm with plenty of space to set up his own MCG for footy and cricket matches. Milk cans for fielders or goalposts, and an imagination running wild, a young boy could be any sportsman he wanted to be. Like all youngsters Bob had ambitions to reach the highest levels in cricket and footy. After winning a Best and Fairest award as a teenager Bob thought he was well and truly on the way to greatness but fate stepped in the way – ‘my head got swollen but the footy didn’t get any better!’ A few in the audience nodded with acknowledgement of their own efforts.

 

As the proud grandfather of Geelong captain, Brownlow Medallist, and premiership player Patrick Dangerfield Bob spoke of the joy of living a career he never had through his grandson.

 

Bob’s true sporting love, he explained enthusiastically, is cricket. Bob is fondly known as the International Cricket Correspondent for the Footy Almanac and explained how the term came about. He approached John for the Footy Almanac endorsement for a media pass to report from the Tests in Sri Lanka some years ago. Both John and Bob had not expected approval to be given but it was, and Bob has delighted in sitting in press boxes amongst the world’s best cricket scribes much to the envy of many of us.

 

Like all Footy Almanac functions, time is not of the essence as the long lunch and speeches always extend well into late afternoon. Unfortunately for me I had to leave before proceedings had ended to catch the 5.07pm train home to Colac.

 

 

Many well known Footy Almanac faces included Dips, Flynny, RDL, Kate Birrell, Allan Barden, and more.

 

 

For four hours I was part of the wonderful camaraderie and entertainment of another successful Footy Almanac function.

 

All images CGR.

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

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