Might aswell lock in FF and CHB in one hit with a pair that really should have had an incredible chemistry
www.richmondfc.com.au
Pick 54 - Gordon Strang
Gordon "Cocker" Strang was an outstanding centre-half-forward and centre-half-back. His strongest asset was his marking and during one game against South Melbourne in 1935, he was credited with the amazing tally of 28 - in fact records show it was 21 marks. After that game a Richmond teammate commented that Gordon had so much of the ball that he should know how many stitches there were on the football. Gordon promptly replied 261. He made his debut in Round 1 of 1931 and quickly showed his prowess by finishing the match with 12 marks. During the 1932 Final Series he was credited with taking 32 marks for the two games. This included 16 marks in a best-on-ground performance against Carlton in the 1932 Grand Final. He played in 11 Finals games with Richmond and was voted in the club's best three players on four occasions. He was also a fine kick.
Legendary Collingwood coach Jock McHale had this to say about Gordon after he had played only a handful of games: "I have never seen two recruits from the bush referring to Gordon and his brother Doug, come into a league side and shine like they did. Gordon is a sound player with great judgement and good anticipation." He was a member of the 1932 and 1934 Premiership sides and the 1931 and 1933 Grand Final sides. He also represented Victoria nine times. Gordon's highest individual goal tally was 6 against Collingwood in Round 10 of 1932 and he kicked 5 goals or more three times at Richmond.
A knee injury curtailed his 1936 season to just two games, and Richmond believing his career was at a crossroads allowed him to coach Launceston in 1937. He returned in 1938 for one final year with Richmond.
In 1939 he moved to Wodonga where he won the "Morris Medal" for the Best and Fairest in the Ovens and Murray League. He had the medal taken off him as a result of a disqualification that make him ineligible during that season, he then went on to win it the following season before the war stopped the competition altogether. In appreciation of his service to the Wodonga Football Club the grandstand has been named in his honour. Gordon's father Bill and brother Allan played with South Melbourne, and another brother, Colin played with St. Kilda. His nephew Geoff Strang also played with Richmond. Gordon died in 1951.
Pick 55 - Doug Strang
Had Doug Strang's kicking matched his aerial ability he might well be remembered now as one of the greatest key position forwards in the history of the game. As it was, he was merely in the 'very good' rather than 'bona fide champion' class.
Originally from East Albury, Strang made his VFL debut with Richmond, and went on to top his club's goal kicking list in each of his first three league seasons. In 1932 he booted four goals from full forward as the Tigers overcame Carlton by nine points in the Grand Final, but the following year saw him suspended from the losing Grand Final team against South Melbourne's famous 'foreign legion' combination.
After missing the 1934 Grand Final as well, it was clear that Doug Strang's VFL career was on the wane. He left Richmond a year later after 64 VFL games and 180 goals in five seasons, and joined Kyneton as captain-coach, taking the club to a Bendigo Football League premiership in his only year at the helm. He then returned home to New South Wales, where he joined the Ovens and Murray League's Tigers, Albury.
In 1937, under the coaching of his former Richmond team mate Stan Judkins, Strang helped his new team to 46-point Grand Final win over Yarrawonga. He later captain-coached the side to further flags in 1939 and 1940, while as a player he 'topped the ton' in 1938 and 1939, and on one occasion booted 20 goals in a match.
Strong died aged just 41 in 1954 as a result of injuries received in a car accident.
More versatility with the Strang brothers. Gordon named at CHB in the team of the Century most probably cause it was going to be impossible to surpass Hart or Titus. I'll leave Gordon at CHB and Doug at FF for now
Wackys 22
FB: ??? - Barry Richardson - Dylan Grimes
HB: ??? - Gordon Strang - ???
C: ??? - Dustin Martin - ???
HF: ??? - ??? - ???
FF: ??? - Doug Strang - Neil Balme
Foll: Roy Wright - ??? - ???
Int: ??? - ??? - ??? - ???
richoatthedisco
The Strang and bold Tigers
With Richmond holding a community camp in the Albury-Wodonga region early this week, Tony Greenberg reflects on a famous Tiger family from the area.
Pick 54 - Gordon Strang
Gordon "Cocker" Strang was an outstanding centre-half-forward and centre-half-back. His strongest asset was his marking and during one game against South Melbourne in 1935, he was credited with the amazing tally of 28 - in fact records show it was 21 marks. After that game a Richmond teammate commented that Gordon had so much of the ball that he should know how many stitches there were on the football. Gordon promptly replied 261. He made his debut in Round 1 of 1931 and quickly showed his prowess by finishing the match with 12 marks. During the 1932 Final Series he was credited with taking 32 marks for the two games. This included 16 marks in a best-on-ground performance against Carlton in the 1932 Grand Final. He played in 11 Finals games with Richmond and was voted in the club's best three players on four occasions. He was also a fine kick.
Legendary Collingwood coach Jock McHale had this to say about Gordon after he had played only a handful of games: "I have never seen two recruits from the bush referring to Gordon and his brother Doug, come into a league side and shine like they did. Gordon is a sound player with great judgement and good anticipation." He was a member of the 1932 and 1934 Premiership sides and the 1931 and 1933 Grand Final sides. He also represented Victoria nine times. Gordon's highest individual goal tally was 6 against Collingwood in Round 10 of 1932 and he kicked 5 goals or more three times at Richmond.
A knee injury curtailed his 1936 season to just two games, and Richmond believing his career was at a crossroads allowed him to coach Launceston in 1937. He returned in 1938 for one final year with Richmond.
In 1939 he moved to Wodonga where he won the "Morris Medal" for the Best and Fairest in the Ovens and Murray League. He had the medal taken off him as a result of a disqualification that make him ineligible during that season, he then went on to win it the following season before the war stopped the competition altogether. In appreciation of his service to the Wodonga Football Club the grandstand has been named in his honour. Gordon's father Bill and brother Allan played with South Melbourne, and another brother, Colin played with St. Kilda. His nephew Geoff Strang also played with Richmond. Gordon died in 1951.
Pick 55 - Doug Strang
Had Doug Strang's kicking matched his aerial ability he might well be remembered now as one of the greatest key position forwards in the history of the game. As it was, he was merely in the 'very good' rather than 'bona fide champion' class.
Originally from East Albury, Strang made his VFL debut with Richmond, and went on to top his club's goal kicking list in each of his first three league seasons. In 1932 he booted four goals from full forward as the Tigers overcame Carlton by nine points in the Grand Final, but the following year saw him suspended from the losing Grand Final team against South Melbourne's famous 'foreign legion' combination.
After missing the 1934 Grand Final as well, it was clear that Doug Strang's VFL career was on the wane. He left Richmond a year later after 64 VFL games and 180 goals in five seasons, and joined Kyneton as captain-coach, taking the club to a Bendigo Football League premiership in his only year at the helm. He then returned home to New South Wales, where he joined the Ovens and Murray League's Tigers, Albury.
In 1937, under the coaching of his former Richmond team mate Stan Judkins, Strang helped his new team to 46-point Grand Final win over Yarrawonga. He later captain-coached the side to further flags in 1939 and 1940, while as a player he 'topped the ton' in 1938 and 1939, and on one occasion booted 20 goals in a match.
Strong died aged just 41 in 1954 as a result of injuries received in a car accident.
More versatility with the Strang brothers. Gordon named at CHB in the team of the Century most probably cause it was going to be impossible to surpass Hart or Titus. I'll leave Gordon at CHB and Doug at FF for now
Wackys 22
FB: ??? - Barry Richardson - Dylan Grimes
HB: ??? - Gordon Strang - ???
C: ??? - Dustin Martin - ???
HF: ??? - ??? - ???
FF: ??? - Doug Strang - Neil Balme
Foll: Roy Wright - ??? - ???
Int: ??? - ??? - ??? - ???
richoatthedisco
