Toast The 1961 Grand Final Footscray Team

[Fossie 32]

If anyone has any news or info on this great side please post them here.
I saw a bit on Alex Gardiner on Facebook recently. Also, there was a little interview with Jack Slattery [?] at the semi final [?]
Hopefully, many of them are still with us and will enjoy the experience of seeing this years team compete for the flag and win it.


Footscray

B: 28 Charlie Evans 29 Bernie Lee 4 Bob Ware
HB: 25 John Jillard 23 John Hoiles 38 Barry Ion
C: 12 Alex Gardiner 8 Bob Spargo 37 Ian Bryant
HF: 15 John Quarrell 17 Graham Ion 30 Barney McKellar
F: 3 Ted Whitten (c) 24 Jack Slattery 6 Keith Beamish
Foll: 14 John Schultz 9 Cameron McDonald 2 Merv Hobbs
Reserve(s): 16 Ken Duff 5 Charlie Stewart
Coach: Ted Whitten

 

[Pugz89]

I'm interviewing Merv Hobbs tomorrow for a piece in the local paper. I am soooooooo excited. Shall post link when it's done if anyone is interested.

 

[Fossie 32]

From Wiki:

Charles "Charlie" Evans (born 7 January 1942) Played with Footscray and South Melbourne.
Evans, who was recruited locally, finished equal fifth in the 1961 Brownlow Medal count, with 12 votes.
He played as a back pocket in the 1961 VFL Grand Final, which they lost to Hawthorn.
In 1962 he represented the VFL for the first time.

Bernie Lee (born 20 March 1937) was Footscray's full-back in the 1961 Grand Final. He could also play across halfback.

Bob Ware (born 23 August 1941), the nephew of club great Norm, started his VFL career as a half forward and kicked 19 goals in his debut season. He then developed into Footscray's back up ruckman and played in the 1961 VFL Grand Final. Ware was still occasionally pushed forward and kicked a bag of five goals against Geelong in 1963.
A VFA representative at the 1966 Hobart Carnival, Ware played at Williamstown once he left Footscray.

John Jillard ** (28 March 1941 – 28 December 1998) was a half back flanker and won the Charles Sutton Medal for Footscray's Best and Fairest in 1967. In the same year he finished 10th in the Brownlow Medal count, having finished 8th two years earlier.
In 2002 he was named in Footscray's official 'Team of the Century'.
He also played for Latrobe and Ainslie.

John "Johnny" Hoiles (born 11 August 1938), who was a blacksmith, played as a key defender for Footscray, after starting his career as a ruckman. He was used as a centre half-back in the 1961 VFL Grand Final.
From midway through the 1959 season until the end of the 1964 season, Hoiles put together 101 consecutive games. He didn't extend the streak further in 1965 and instead signed with Ovens & Murray Football League (OMFL) side Corowa, as captain-coach. Following his stint as coach, Hoiles played in Corowa's 1968 premiership, their first since 1932.
He has a son, also named John, who played for Geelong during the 1980s.

Barry Ion (born 9 October 1941), played with Footscray in the VFL, Yarraville in the VFA, and Woodville in the SANFL. He became a well known radio personality in Adelaide and Sydney.
Ion started in radio early, commentating football matches for Melbourne radio in 1960, while also playing with the Carlton Rovers. He joined his elder brother, Graham Ion, at Footscray in 1961 and played with him in the 1961 VFL Grand Final, as a half back flanker. The grand final was just his sixth league game, having played just four home and away matches before the finals series. He made 29 appearances over the next two seasons, but then struggled with injuries, playing just five more games.

In 1966 he joined Yarraville in the VFA; he wasn't able to play Saturday games as he was calling football for radio station 3KZ, but he still polled sufficient votes to finish third in the J. J. Liston Trophy for the year. He moved to Adelaide in 1967 and spent two seasons playing for Woodville.

While in Adelaide, Ion began working for 5AD and formed a radio breakfast duo with Tony Pilkington called "Bazz and Pilko". Ion voiced a character called "Peter Plus". He joined 5KA during the 1980s, where he continued to work with Pilkington. In 1985 the duo brought their breakfast show to Sydney station 2UW where they lasted until late 1991.

Alex Gardiner (born 3 January 1935) played with Footscray in the VFL. His father, also named Alex, was a Footscray player during the 1920s.
Gardiner, originally from Gisborne, was one of Footscray's wingers in the 1961 VFL Grand Final. From 1963 to 1967, Gardiner was captain-coach of VFA. He always polled well in the Field Trophy, finishing as the runner-up in 1964. In all, Gardiner played a total of 73 games for Box Hill, mainly as a centreman, and scored 61 goals. In 2000 he was selected on the wing in Box Hill's "Greatest Ever Team" and named as captain.

Bob Spargo (born 15 October 1939), a Braybrook recruit, was a Stawell Gift finalist in 1974. Spargo started as a half forward but soon established himself in the side as a centreman and it was in that position that he appeared in the 1961 VFL Grand Final. He had his best VFL season in 1962, when he polled nine Brownlow Medal votes, placing him second behind John Schultz amongst Footscray players that year.
Spargo was lured over to West Perth in 1965, as captain-coach and he won a Simpson Medal the same year for his performance against the Victorians in an interstate match.
He came from an Australian rules football playing family, his brother Ricky was a Footscray player as was their father, Bob senior. A son, Paul Spargo, was an AFL footballer at both North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears.
After football, Spargo continued running on the professional athletic circuit and at the age of 34, he ran 5th in the 1974 Stawell Gift final off 9.75 m behind Peter Durham and later (at the same carnival) won the 200 m Jack Donaldson Handicap.

Ian Bryant (born 11 June 1942) played mostly in the back pocket but was also used on the wing. In 1966 he finished 9th in the Brownlow Medal count and was selected to play for Victoria at the Hobart Carnival, where he earned All Australian selection.

John Quarrell ** (22 January 1938 – 17 July 2000), a left footer from Terang, played his initial games at Footscray on match permits, as he had been refused a clearance. He played his football on the wing or as a half forward flanker, which was from where he kicked two goals in the 1961 Grand Final.

Graham Ion (born 12 October 1940) made his league debut at just 17 years of age, against Melbourne at Western Oval in 1958. It was his only game of the season, but he was a regular member of the team from 1959.
A key forward despite his small stature, he kicked 27 goals in 1961 to finish third in Footscray's goal-kicking. He played all 21 games that year, including the 1961 Grand Final, where he played at centre half-forward. When Ted Whitten was away playing interstate football, Ion captained Footscray in their round 13 fixture against North Melbourne - he was only 20 years old at the time. His brother, Barry Ion, was also in the Footscray side that day.
In 1962 he again played every game for Footscray, and also kicked three goals in an appearance for the VFL representative team which defeated Western Australia.

Brian "Barney" McKellar ** (1 February 1940 – 16 October 1994), a half forward from Lemnos, played 19 of his 22 league games in 1961. This included the 1961 Grand Final. He later injured his knee and had to have a cartilage operation, after which he was dropped from Footscray's training list.
He played 14 games in 1963, but just nine the following season, as he was out of action for eight weeks due to an appendix operation.

Edward James "Ted" Whitten ** (also known as E. J. Whitten) (27 July 1933 – 17 August 1995). Recognised as one of the game's all-time greatest players, he is one of twenty-six "Legends" inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Nicknamed "Mr. Football", Whitten was a folk hero in Melbourne's working class western suburbs, admired not only for his footballing abilities, but his showmanship and larrikin streak. He played in what remains the Footscray Football Club's only VFL/AFL premiership victory, the 1954 Grand Final, and ended his senior club-level career in 1970 at 321 games, a VFL/AFL record that remained unbroken for four years. Apart from club football, Whitten was a significant exponent and promoter of State of Origin, representing Victoria in 29 matches. After retiring as a player, he turned to coaching, and continued to contribute to the game as a popular commentator and media personality.
The Western Oval, the Footscray Football Club's home ground, was renamed Whitten Oval in his honour. His enthusiasm for State of Origin football is marked by the E. J. Whitten Legends Game, a charity match held annually since 1995.
His final season, in 1965, was interrupted by a four-week suspension for striking Geelong's Ian Scott, but they were the only games he missed that year.

Edward John "Jack" Slattery (born 23 March 1937) a forward from Eaglehawk, had his most productive season in 1961 when he kicked 25 goals from his 13 appearances. This included a four goal haul in Footscray's preliminary final win over Melbourne. He then lined up at full-forward in the 1961 VFL Grand Final but didn't kick a goal.
After leaving Footscray he became a captain-coach and was involved with various clubs in the Riverina, including Deniliquin and Turvey Park.

Keith Beamish (born 12 February 1941), was a rover recruited locally from North Footscray, who played three league seasons for Footscray.
After struggling with injuries in the previous two years, Beamish played 20 consecutive games in 1961.
He started as a forward pocket in the 1961 Grand Final. An injury saw him replaced at half time and he didn't play another senior game for the club, spending 1962 in the seconds.

John Schultz (born 28 September 1938) is one of the club's greatest players.
He had been a champion high-jumper at Caulfield Grammar School, winning the senior high jump at the 1955 Associated Grammar Schools Combined Athletics Meeting (as had South Melbourne's Jim Taylor in 1948). He also played for the school's First XVIII, a team which also contained other future VFL players, Ron Evans of Essendon, and Ron Cabble of Hawthorn.
John was considered a "gentle giant", known as much for his fairness as for his brilliance. An effective knock ruckman, he was acclaimed for good tackling, elegant marking and hard, fair bumping. Roy Wright, another "gentle giant" and Brownlow medallist, helped him early in his career: "after lining up on Roy Wright in one of my first matches, he came to the dressing rooms after the match and gave me a few hints on things I did and didn't do right". Compared with others of his day, Schultz had exceptional stamina and he seemed to be able to run just as quickly at the end of a match as he had at its beginning.
Schultz was recruited by Footscray from country side Boort, having previously played briefly with Caulfield Grammarians Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (he broke his arm at the opening bounce of the first Caulfield Grammarians' practice match of the 1956 season).
His VFL career spanned 10 years and 188 games (kicking 39 goals).
Schultz won the Brownlow Medal in 1960 (when only 21 years old) by one vote from Fitzroy's Kevin Murray. He was Footscray's best and fairest player five times (1960, 1962, 1964–66). Schultz played for Victoria 21 times, and was an All-Australian in 1961.
Schultz played as an amateur (i.e., he received no payment). He played his entire VFL with the great Ted Whitten as his captain, and retired in 1968, aged only twenty-nine, to help manage the family grocery business. Fittingly for a man who was known for his fairness and never once reported, Schultz later served on the league tribunal. He once said, "I love nothing more than seeing someone shake another player's hand after a tough game - that's the ultimate in sportsmanship."
His younger brother Robert, also from Caulfield Grammar School, played two senior games for Footscray in 1963.
In 2002, he was named to a back pocket of the Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century.
In September 2016, he was named as the person who will present the Premiership Cup to the captain of the Western Bulldogs, if they win the 2016 AFL Grand Final.
In 1996 Schultz was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame with the following citation:
Rucking giant who never let the side down. Set the standard for the modern ruckman.

Cameron "Cam" McDonald (born 24 June 1940) was a follower for Footscray in the 1961 VFL Grand Final. He had earlier in the year sought a clearance to Collingwood, but it was refused.


Mervyn 'Merv' Hobbs (born 16 June 1942)

VFL career
Hobbs was recruited from Daylesford and joined Footscray as a rover. Hobbs is best remembered for a spectacular mark which he took in the 1961 Preliminary Final where Footscray upset Melbourne to end their streak of seven successive Grand Final appearances. His team lost the 1961 Grand Final comfortably to Hawthorn but he played in back to back Night Series Premierships in 1963 and 1964.
Hobbs often rested in the forward pocket and was handy near goals. In an era where Footscray lacked big goal-kickers, Hobbs contributed one and a half goals a game. He kicked a career best eight goals in a game against South Melbourne at Western Oval early into his second season. His season tally of 16 goals in 1963 was enough to share Footscray's goal kicking award and his 24 goals in 1965 won it outright.
An injury sustained at training in the 1966 pre-season in which he tore his anterior and interior ligaments as well as cartilage in his right knee, ended his VFL career.

Post VFL career
In 1966, Hobbs played 4 games for VFA team, Yarraville. This was curtailed with ongoing problems with the injured knee. In 1968, Hobbs Captain-Coached, Seddon, in the Footscray Districts League. In 1971, Hobbs coached Footscray Under 19's to 5th spot on the ladder, then supplying the Footscray Seniors with many young stars. In 1972, Hobbs missed out on the Footscray Seniors coaching job, only being beaten by last minute applicant,who was Bob Rose, the champion Collingwood player and coach. Also Hobbs then was appointed in 1972, Captain-Coach of Melton Football Club, on top of the ladder all year and unbeaten. Melton beat Darley by 10 goals in the second semi-final, only to have a tragic loss that night, of their star player, best and fairest winner, Cahill, who was killed in a car accident. Playing Darley again in the Grand Final, Melton were hot favourites for the win, after being unbeaten all year, a win was on track until player Fanning, push Hobbs into the iron fence and broke his jaw. His brother, Bonga, who was on the bench, right where the incident happened, jumped up and knocked out 6'6 Fanning. With the loss of Cahill, and the severe injury to Hobbs, their playing coach, Melton played the man and not the ball and ultimately lost the Grand Final. In 1973, Hobbs played for Brunswick in a losing Grand Final. In 1974, Hobbs Captain-Coached Unbeaten Newport to the Flag. In 1976, Hobbs was chairman of selectors for Footscray Football Club. In 1977, Hobbs and his brother Dave, kicked 10 goals between them in the Grand Final to win by 8 goals over hot favourites, Benalla All Blacks in a violent Grand Final in the Benalla District League giving Longwood their first premiership in 24 years. The Following year, 1978, Hobbs and his brother were assistant coaches at West Newport to Charlie Menzies, the Coach, who Merv had coached at Footscray Under 19's in 1971. On a very windy day for the second semi final, West Newport were beaten by Brooklyn by 2 points, but responded in the Grand Final, by winning at a margin of 39 points, Hobbs and his brother kicked 6 goals between them giving West Newport their first premiership in 9 years. In 1979 & 1980, Hobbs coached Williamstown in the VFA Second Division, playing in the finals in both years, supplying a 15 year old, Ian Fairley to North Melbourne in the VFL. Hobbs went on to being President of Williamstown Football Club for many years.

Ken Duff (born 31 December 1941), who started out as a forward, came into the Footscray side in round seven of the 1961 season and played every game for the rest of the year. He was 19th man for Footscray in the 1961 Grand Final.
He participated in Footscray's 1963 and 1964 night premierships.
In subsequent years he played as a defender or ruck-rover and after a couple of interrupted seasons appeared in 17 of a possible 18 games in 1964. He was again a regular selection in 1965 but in the 1966 pre-season was cut from Footscray's list.

Charlie Stewart (born 19 March 1939) .....20th man in the 61 GF. Only other info is he went on to be a coach and was of Indigenous Australian descent.

** Deceased

 

[Fossie 32]

I'm interviewing Merv Hobbs tomorrow for a piece in the local paper. I am soooooooo excited. Shall post link when it's done if anyone is interested.

For sure, thanks!!

 

[stmookeyj]

I know Merv Hobbs lived in Hervey Bay for a number of years in the 90's, does he still reside there?

 

[Pugz89]

I know Merv Hobbs lived in Hervey Bay for a number of years in the 90's, does he still reside there?

Nope. Here in Ararat now.

 

[Fossie 32]

Footscray rover Merv Hobbs flies over Melbourne's Trevor Johnson in the 1961 preliminary final.

 

[bresker]

If we win John Schultz will be presenting us the trophy.

Great old bloke, still sharp as a tack.




great interview with Rex Hunt. He must hàve been a fantastic ruckman

 

[Pugz89]

Footscray rover Merv Hobbs flies over Melbourne's Trevor Johnson in the 1961 preliminary final.

Saw this pic a few times during my researching today. Teddy waiting front an centre.

 

[dogwatch]

Saw this pic a few times during my researching today. Teddy waiting front an centre.

One of my favourite action pics of a Bulldogs player. Great mark for a rover.

Equalled by Easton Wood's mark against the Giants in the PF - hope someone took a photo of it.

 

[Fossie 32]

If we win John Schultz will be presenting us the trophy.

Great old bloke, still sharp as a tack.




great interview with Rex Hunt. He must hàve been a fantastic ruckman

Thanks, great to hear him on Open Mike as well. For me, his attitude is what sport should be all about - played fairly and success coming from skill, not bending the rules.

 

[Fossie 32]

Checked the facebook thread on Alex Gardiner - a very quick winger apparently! Went on to be an assistant coach / runner at the club as remembered by Rick Kennedy and Alister Ford.
From one poster: We played Geelong at Western Oval , and Bob Davis who was pretty quick was charging down the outer wing with the ball, with Alec in pursuit. Alec caught Bob and the momentum saw Alec outstretched hands around Bob's waist. Bob went to ground . Free kick to Alec...broken leg to Bob as he fell.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wes...group_comment_reply&notif_id=1474883944222263

 

[1961grandfinal]

Charlie Stewart came from the Goulburn Valley and went back there after the one season. As a kid can still remember him, he was exciting but must have found it hard to cope with living in the city and the demands placed on him. It would not be easy to be an indigenous player at any time but more so in the days when clubs did not really try to understand that players needed to be treated as individuals and supported accordingly.

He must be responsible for me looking for indigenous players on our list to succeed, not that we have had many; loved magic, lally, mark west and that point in 97 prelim, nicky winmar, the second andrew mcleod, cam faulkner etc

 

[dogwatch]

Charlie Stewart ...

He must be responsible for me looking for indigenous players on our list to succeed, not that we have had many; loved magic, lally, mark west and that point in 97 prelim, nicky winmar, the second andrew mcleod, cam faulkner etc

... Joel Hamling.

 

[hoianbulldog]

If anyone has any news or info on this great side please post them here.
I saw a bit on Alex Gardiner on Facebook recently. Also, there was a little interview with Jack Slattery [?] at the semi final [?]
Hopefully, many of them are still with us and will enjoy the experience of seeing this years team compete for the flag and win it.


Footscray

B: 28 Charlie Evans 29 Bernie Lee 4 Bob Ware
HB: 25 John Jillard 23 John Hoiles 38 Barry Ion
C: 12 Alex Gardiner 8 Bob Spargo 37 Ian Bryant
HF: 15 John Quarrell 17 Graham Ion 30 Barney McKellar
F: 3 Ted Whitten (c) 24 Jack Slattery 6 Keith Beamish
Foll: 14 John Schultz 9 Cameron McDonald 2 Merv Hobbs
Reserve(s): 16 Ken Duff 5 Charlie Stewart
Coach: Ted Whitten

EJ aside. How many played the 54 GF side or were at the club in 54. 7 years is nothing now but i suspect in those days it was 2 lifetimes in footy.

 

[littlenails]

Don't forget to interview Brandan Edwards of Hawthorn.
'From memory Ted ran through him in the GF and he sooked about it and gave the game away for 12 months.
I would like to hear more of his sooking.

 

[GetDimmaBack]

Don't forget to interview Brandan Edwards of Hawthorn.
'From memory Ted ran through him in the GF and he sooked about it and gave the game away for 12 months.
I would like to hear more of his sooking.

Brendan Edwards was Hawthorn's match winner in the GF - ran riot after half time.

 

[Pugz89]

Update. Merv is a bloody legend. Rattled off stories about EJ and Charlie like it was just some nobody.

Story still to come.

 

[littlenails]

Brendan Edwards was Hawthorn's match winner in the GF - ran riot after half time.

I remember him saying, "If that's the way they are going to play football I want no part of it." I think he retired for a year after that.

 

[Spiritof82]

Jack Slattery is still following the dogs, the footy show on Sunday were interviewing people as they got off the buses at the Western Oval about their trip to Sydney and one of them was Jack, saif he was happy to no longer be someone who played in the dogs last GF

 

[Sholl71]

If anyone has any news or info on this great side please post them here.
I saw a bit on Alex Gardiner on Facebook recently. Also, there was a little interview with Jack Slattery [?] at the semi final [?]
Hopefully, many of them are still with us and will enjoy the experience of seeing this years team compete for the flag and win it.


Footscray

B: 28 Charlie Evans 29 Bernie Lee 4 Bob Ware
HB: 25 John Jillard 23 John Hoiles 38 Barry Ion
C: 12 Alex Gardiner 8 Bob Spargo 37 Ian Bryant
HF: 15 John Quarrell 17 Graham Ion 30 Barney McKellar
F: 3 Ted Whitten (c) 24 Jack Slattery 6 Keith Beamish
Foll: 14 John Schultz 9 Cameron McDonald 2 Merv Hobbs
Reserve(s): 16 Ken Duff 5 Charlie Stewart
Coach: Ted Whitten

 

[Sholl71]

If anyone has any news or info on this great side please post them here.
I saw a bit on Alex Gardiner on Facebook recently. Also, there was a little interview with Jack Slattery [?] at the semi final [?]
Hopefully, many of them are still with us and will enjoy the experience of seeing this years team compete for the flag and win it.


Footscray

B: 28 Charlie Evans 29 Bernie Lee 4 Bob Ware
HB: 25 John Jillard 23 John Hoiles 38 Barry Ion
C: 12 Alex Gardiner 8 Bob Spargo 37 Ian Bryant
HF: 15 John Quarrell 17 Graham Ion 30 Barney McKellar
F: 3 Ted Whitten (c) 24 Jack Slattery 6 Keith Beamish
Foll: 14 John Schultz 9 Cameron McDonald 2 Merv Hobbs
Reserve(s): 16 Ken Duff 5 Charlie Stewart
Coach: Ted Whitten

View attachment 294133

 

[Sholl71]

 

[Sholl71]

Charlie Evans my dad

 

[Fossie 32]

Sholl71, it's great to meet up with you on here. Welcome to BigFooty

I hope your Dad is doing well?

If you would like to share any info about his career and life please do. Thank you for the pics - it's good to put faces to the names.
And Charlie was runner - up in our B&F [as well as 5th in the Brownlow] ? Great effort!