Almanac Teams: A Team of Garys

 

 

Where have all the Garys gone?

 

Gary Ablett Jnr and Gary Rowan may be the last Garys to play Australian rules footy at the highest level. The name is on the verge of extinction and that is a shame.

 

Listening to Tim Paine bellowing “Bowled Garry” while keeping to Nathan ‘Garry’ Lyon over the last couple of cricket tests piqued my intrigue.

 

As a kid in the 1970s and 1980s there seemed to be a star Gary in every team and code: Gary Player, Gary Sobers, Gary Lineker, Gary Troupe, Gary Cosier !

 

The name is direct inspiration for the Footy Almanac. Gary Ablett Snr and Gary Malarkey have certainly stirred the imagination of JT Harms over the years.

 

I was unable to find a single Gary that has represented Adelaide, Port, Brisbane, West Coast or GWS.

 

So what happened? Why was the name so popular for two decades ? Will it make a comeback one day? If not, then this team will be unique in the annals of Australian footy history.

 

As always, nominations from leagues around Australia, most welcome.

 

The footy team of Garys could compete with just about anybody when players were at their best. Just have a look at the Ruck division.

 

B:  Gary Colling (StK)                   Gary Malarkey (Geel)                    Garry Young (Haw)

 

HB: Gary O’Donnell (Ess)             Gary Pert (Fitz/Coll)           Gary Hardeman (Melb)

 

C: Gary Crane (Carl)                                  Gary Brice (Sth Melb)  Gary Foulds  (Ess)

 

HF: Gary Buckenara (Haw)  Gary Sidebottom (Stk)   Garry Farrant (Nth)

 

F: Garry Lyon         (Melb)                       Gary Ablett Snr (Geel)                  Gary Lazarus (Fitz)

 

Ruck: Gary Dempsey (Foot) Gary Ablett Jnr (Geel)  Garry Wilson (Fitz)

 

IC: Gary Rowan (Syd)      Gary Dhurrkay (Freo)      Gary Cowton (Nth) Gary Shaw (Coll)

 

Coach: Gary Ayres (Geel/Adel)

 

Umpires: Garry Forster, Gary Fila, Gary Gale

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year Almanackers. May 2019 bring peace, goodwill and a Collingwood premiership !

 

 

About Phillip Dimitriadis

Carer/Teacher/Writer. Author of Fandemic: Travels in Footy Mythology. World view influenced by Johnny Cash, Krishnamurti, Larry David, Toni Morrison and Billy Picken.

Comments

  1. Peter Flynn says

    Gary Frangalas or as Jack Dyer sometimes called him Gary Frangarrarlass.

  2. After 274 games and four B & F’s with Geelong, surely Garry ‘Whiskas’ Hocking deserves a spot in front of some of the other Gary/Garrys who got a gig IMHO

  3. Phillip Dimitriadis says

    PJF – the late Drew Morphett once got so excited about Frangalas’ return to the team he exalted: “The Franga is back for the Tigers ! ” without a hint of mischief.
    Gerry – Major oversight on my behalf missing Garry Hocking. So used to him being called Buddha or Whiskas !

  4. The great Garry McIntosh would walk in to the side and I will throw another redleg in Gary Alby Menzel
    http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/macca-mr-loyalty-a-tribute-to-garry-mcintosh/
    http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/gary-alby-menzel-the-social-butterfly/ and have almanac articles about them too !

  5. Phillip Dimitriadis says

    Nice one Book. Thought of Garry McIntosh, but I wanted you to claim him !
    Gary Treadrea played 19 games for the Pies, 65 for Port and 6 for West Adelaide in a decade long career.

  6. Thought you would have given the (music) nod to Garry Gary Beers – is there a better Australian name than that? Maybe Barry McKenzie or Ginger Mick but it’s up there. I would’ve gone for Gary US Bonds, Quarter to Three but Gary Moore is fine. Did you consider the song Gary’s Got a Boner by The Replacements? Probably not. Cheers

  7. Phillip Dimitriadis says

    Thanks Slim,
    Gary Numan almost got a gig. Gary Puckett considered. Garry Gary Beers is a beauty.

  8. Seriously Phil you really only need one player in this team.

    GOD, who went by the sobriquet of Gary Ablett , stands alone in the pantheon of footballers.

    Happy 2019.

    Glen!

Leave a Comment

*