Ford Fairlane
28 Mar 2006, 09:22
A tribute to Supergav from The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/news/features/wanganeen--class-of-his-own/2006/03/27/1143441082923.html). And a little insight into Choco's thinking. Wonder how long he would've left Gav in a forward pocket ... ?
The final stretch
By Ashley Porter
March 28, 2006
As a fearless Bomber, Gavin Wanganeen was the 'rubber-man'; as Port Adelaide's elder statesman, he has come full circle.
Gavin Wanganeen was a scrawny, 17-year-old weighing only 67 kilograms when he played for Port Adelaide in the 1990 SANFL grand final, and according to then-teammate, now-coach Mark Williams, he copped the greatest lesson of his football career.
They were supposed to be switching on the ball, but Williams recalled how Wanganeen moaned that he wasn't getting a fair go.
"I thought he had to learn his way in this game, and stay in a forward pocket most of the day," Williams said. "I had only two hours remaining as a player in football so I had to make the most of it, whereas Gavin had it all before him."
And with a wry grin, Williams adds: "It is the best lesson he has ever been taught in footy: never give a sucker an even break. It's one of the major reasons why he has kicked on like he has."
Come Saturday, 16 seasons after stunning Williams in that SANFL grand final, Wanganeen will become the 46th footballer to play 300 premiership games. The milestone will arrive on April Fools' Day against the Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium. And once again, Williams will decide whether to give the lad much of a run.
This is Wanganeen's final season, and in his own words, he is "one of the old dinosaurs of the competition". The plan is to run him off the bench this season, allowing Wanga to fully understand why Williams didn't want to relinquish his role on the ball in his last match as a player.
This season will garnish an already amazing career. Wanganeen won the 1993 Brownlow Medal, is a dual premiership player (Essendon in 1993, Port in 2004), a five-time All-Australian, an AFL life member, was Port's inaugural captain (1997-2000), and has played 172 games for the Power since 1997 after 127 with Essendon from 1991-96.
Remaining deep in Wanganeen's heart is his selection in the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century, but according to John Cahill, his first coach in senior football, the award that perhaps epitomises him most was the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Award for the Most Courageous Player, won in Essendon's premiership year of 1993.
Cahill first played Wanganeen as a 16-year-old, and in 1996 insisted that he be the Power's first captain in the AFL. He said he saw Wanganeen knocked down by men when they could catch him, only to bounce back up and continue fighting for the ball.
"Gavin has never feared anything in football," Cahill said. "The first time I saw him at training, he was 16 years old. I knew he would be special. He was so balanced and gifted even then. One grab, and he would accelerate like nothing we had seen before.
"I coached a lot of Aboriginal players and I personally found they were all gifted in their unique way but generally they were lazy. They were terrific players but I had to push to get the best out of them. But Gavin was the exception to the rule.
"He always wanted to do extra work, and he had this mind set that he wanted to be the best. As a captain, he was the quietest I have known, but he was a great leader because he led by example.
"Gavin has carried a reputation of staging free kicks, especially in his early days, but why not if the umpires are silly enough to pay them? It was always for the team. No one could ever say he never won the hard contests fairly and squarely."
Williams described Wanganeen as "someone who doesn't know how to play the game unless it is flat-out".
"He has a brilliant ability to win the ball when it is not his, he has super speed and great agility, and he can play in most positions on the field," Williams said.
"Gavin's all-round ability has been outstanding, and a delight to coach. He has lasted the test of time, and he has a great sense of humour. He is a humble player and a humble person. He treats people properly and with respect. He shows great care and understanding for people."
Teammate Darryl Wakelin first saw Wanganeen play in the 1989 Teal Cup in Melbourne. "I was there to watch my older brother Michael play in that game, and even as a young kid, I just loved watching Gavin," Wakelin said. "He was one of those special players then and I have been able to watch him for 18 years since.
"Gavin is just one of those freaks that rarely come around. You might see two of them if you play long enough. He is such a naturally talented guy, he plays on instinct. He's a ball player with freakish talents and personally, he's a top guy."
Port captain Warren Tredrea said of Wanganeen after he had kicked four goals in the 2004 grand final that Wanganeen deserved to be remembered as one of the AFL's greatest players. "I am in awe of him," Tredrea said. "He is a freak, he is a champion who doesn't get the respect he deserves. He has been around so long and other people in the competition haven't done half the things he's done but they have got the accolades. Gavin Wanganeen will go down as one of the biggest champions of all time."
The final stretch
By Ashley Porter
March 28, 2006
As a fearless Bomber, Gavin Wanganeen was the 'rubber-man'; as Port Adelaide's elder statesman, he has come full circle.
Gavin Wanganeen was a scrawny, 17-year-old weighing only 67 kilograms when he played for Port Adelaide in the 1990 SANFL grand final, and according to then-teammate, now-coach Mark Williams, he copped the greatest lesson of his football career.
They were supposed to be switching on the ball, but Williams recalled how Wanganeen moaned that he wasn't getting a fair go.
"I thought he had to learn his way in this game, and stay in a forward pocket most of the day," Williams said. "I had only two hours remaining as a player in football so I had to make the most of it, whereas Gavin had it all before him."
And with a wry grin, Williams adds: "It is the best lesson he has ever been taught in footy: never give a sucker an even break. It's one of the major reasons why he has kicked on like he has."
Come Saturday, 16 seasons after stunning Williams in that SANFL grand final, Wanganeen will become the 46th footballer to play 300 premiership games. The milestone will arrive on April Fools' Day against the Kangaroos at AAMI Stadium. And once again, Williams will decide whether to give the lad much of a run.
This is Wanganeen's final season, and in his own words, he is "one of the old dinosaurs of the competition". The plan is to run him off the bench this season, allowing Wanga to fully understand why Williams didn't want to relinquish his role on the ball in his last match as a player.
This season will garnish an already amazing career. Wanganeen won the 1993 Brownlow Medal, is a dual premiership player (Essendon in 1993, Port in 2004), a five-time All-Australian, an AFL life member, was Port's inaugural captain (1997-2000), and has played 172 games for the Power since 1997 after 127 with Essendon from 1991-96.
Remaining deep in Wanganeen's heart is his selection in the AFL Indigenous Team of the Century, but according to John Cahill, his first coach in senior football, the award that perhaps epitomises him most was the AFL Players Association's Robert Rose Award for the Most Courageous Player, won in Essendon's premiership year of 1993.
Cahill first played Wanganeen as a 16-year-old, and in 1996 insisted that he be the Power's first captain in the AFL. He said he saw Wanganeen knocked down by men when they could catch him, only to bounce back up and continue fighting for the ball.
"Gavin has never feared anything in football," Cahill said. "The first time I saw him at training, he was 16 years old. I knew he would be special. He was so balanced and gifted even then. One grab, and he would accelerate like nothing we had seen before.
"I coached a lot of Aboriginal players and I personally found they were all gifted in their unique way but generally they were lazy. They were terrific players but I had to push to get the best out of them. But Gavin was the exception to the rule.
"He always wanted to do extra work, and he had this mind set that he wanted to be the best. As a captain, he was the quietest I have known, but he was a great leader because he led by example.
"Gavin has carried a reputation of staging free kicks, especially in his early days, but why not if the umpires are silly enough to pay them? It was always for the team. No one could ever say he never won the hard contests fairly and squarely."
Williams described Wanganeen as "someone who doesn't know how to play the game unless it is flat-out".
"He has a brilliant ability to win the ball when it is not his, he has super speed and great agility, and he can play in most positions on the field," Williams said.
"Gavin's all-round ability has been outstanding, and a delight to coach. He has lasted the test of time, and he has a great sense of humour. He is a humble player and a humble person. He treats people properly and with respect. He shows great care and understanding for people."
Teammate Darryl Wakelin first saw Wanganeen play in the 1989 Teal Cup in Melbourne. "I was there to watch my older brother Michael play in that game, and even as a young kid, I just loved watching Gavin," Wakelin said. "He was one of those special players then and I have been able to watch him for 18 years since.
"Gavin is just one of those freaks that rarely come around. You might see two of them if you play long enough. He is such a naturally talented guy, he plays on instinct. He's a ball player with freakish talents and personally, he's a top guy."
Port captain Warren Tredrea said of Wanganeen after he had kicked four goals in the 2004 grand final that Wanganeen deserved to be remembered as one of the AFL's greatest players. "I am in awe of him," Tredrea said. "He is a freak, he is a champion who doesn't get the respect he deserves. He has been around so long and other people in the competition haven't done half the things he's done but they have got the accolades. Gavin Wanganeen will go down as one of the biggest champions of all time."