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RIP Mr Walker

  • Thread starter Thread starter Satan
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Satan said:
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I wonder how many people realise the lad in that commercial was Jim Plunkett who played 37 AFL games for Carlton?

Yes, Maxie was certainly a good bowler. I recall him being plucked from cricket obscurity to take a Test match winning 6/15 against Pakistan in the 1972-73 series. The selectors went a bit nuts for awhile after that picking players in the hope they'd turn out to be successful like Max.

I remember poor Maxy being selected in a night ODI for Australia but they didn't have a uniform in his size. The next biggest they had was Rodney Hogg's uniform, so Max was running around the outfield looking a bit like the Michelin Man :)

Only met the guy twice but he always came over as pretty much like you'd expect. Big grin, always willing to share a laugh. I asked him about the decision to give VFL football away and concentrate on cricket. He said it was a choice of slopping around the mud on a cold and wet winter afternoon or basking in the sun on a beach in the West Indies, it really wasn't a difficult choice to make. Ironically, it was melanoma that claimed his wicket.

RIP Maxie, one of a kind.
 
Adelaide Hawk said:
I wonder how many people realise the lad in that commercial was Jim Plunkett who played 37 AFL games for Carlton?

Yes, Maxie was certainly a good bowler. I recall him being plucked from cricket obscurity to take a Test match winning 6/15 against Pakistan in the 1972-73 series. The selectors went a bit nuts for awhile after that picking players in the hope they'd turn out to be successful like Max.

I remember poor Maxy being selected in a night ODI for Australia but they didn't have a uniform in his size. The next biggest they had was Rodney Hogg's uniform, so Max was running around the outfield looking a bit like the Michelin Man :)

Only met the guy twice but he always came over as pretty much like you'd expect. Big grin, always willing to share a laugh. I asked him about the decision to give VFL football away and concentrate on cricket. He said it was a choice of slopping around the mud on a cold and wet winter afternoon or basking in the sun on a beach in the West Indies, it really wasn't a difficult choice to make. Ironically, it was melanoma that claimed his wicket.

RIP Maxie, one of a kind.
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Actually they said on SEN yesterday that it wasn't Jim Plunkett.

In Max's day they could play AFL and Cricket. Peter Bedford was another, Craig Bradley, Doug Gott and others.
 

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footyman13 said:
Actually they said on SEN yesterday that it wasn't Jim Plunkett.

In Max's day they could play AFL and Cricket. Peter Bedford was another, Craig Bradley, Doug Gott and others.
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I'll take your word for it with Jim Plunkett. It's just that I seem to recall an interview with him and he said that it was indeed him. Ah well, doesn't matter.

In the 1960s and before, it was indeed possible to play league football and Test cricket. I recall Eric Freeman getting off the plane after the 1968 Ashes tour and playing finals for Port Adelaide in the SANFL. However, as we progressed through to the mid 1970s, there was far greater emphasis on touring and the amount of time players were expected to be away from home, so by then the day of the league footballer/test cricketer were effectively over.
 
Adelaide Hawk said:
I'll take your word for it with Jim Plunkett. It's just that I seem to recall an interview with him and he said that it was indeed him. Ah well, doesn't matter.

In the 1960s and before, it was indeed possible to play league football and Test cricket. I recall Eric Freeman getting off the plane after the 1968 Ashes tour and playing finals for Port Adelaide in the SANFL. However, as we progressed through to the mid 1970s, there was far greater emphasis on touring and the amount of time players were expected to be away from home, so by then the day of the league footballer/test cricketer were effectively over.
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Sad, but true. Big Merv played 100 odd VFA games with Werribee as well.
 
footyman13 said:
Think Jamie Siddons played 1 AFL game with the Swans, and 1 test vs Pakistan?
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Siddons did play for the Swans but only played the ODI.

Probably the last to play both VFL/AFL and represent Australia internationally
 
The_Reaper said:
Nick Jewell would be the last to play AFL and Shield
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I think Alex Carey might have got pretty close in his year at GWS. Haven't really followed how they went this year, but Alex Keath or Jackson Coleman could both still be chances.
 

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After Max took 6-15 in his second Test against Pakistan in 1973, one newspaper ran the headline "Max Wax Pax".
 
A true gentleman of the game. RIP Tangles
 
Hellgood said:
I think Alex Carey might have got pretty close in his year at GWS. Haven't really followed how they went this year, but Alex Keath or Jackson Coleman could both still be chances.
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Not even close, Max and the other boys mentioned played AFL/VFL and Shield/Test cricket in the same year. Big difference.
 
footyman13 said:
Not even close, Max and the other boys mentioned played AFL/VFL and Shield/Test cricket in the same year. Big difference.
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Well, no shit you aren't going to see that again they're professional sports now :$

But it's a pretty good thing that the next closest thing will.
 

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Adelaide Hawk said:
Yes, Maxie was certainly a good bowler. I recall him being plucked from cricket obscurity to take a Test match winning 6/15 against Pakistan in the 1972-73 series. The selectors went a bit nuts for awhile after that picking players in the hope they'd turn out to be successful like Max.
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I dont think Walker was actually plucked from obscurity - in 1971-72 he was in the top 5-6 fast/medium bowlers - Lillee, Massie, Colley, Hammond all went on the 1972 tour, McKenzie was obviously too old and Walker was next in line. Colley was injured in 72/73, Hammond was ordinary and Walker had a great Shield season in 72/73 (he also got into Tasmania Combined XI to play the Pakistanis - interestingly, the selectors also chose Gary Gilmour for that game) - that got him a game in the Melbourne Test where he was our best bowler (A lot better than Thommo, obviously). Next week - Sydney Test - 6/15.

Thommo was the one 'plucked put of nowhere'.
 
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Wallaby said:
I dont think Walker was actually plucked from obscurity - in 1971-72 he was in the top 5-6 fast/medium bowlers - Lillee, Massie, Colley, Hammond all went on the 1972 tour, McKenzie was obviously too old and Walker was next in line. Colley was injured in 72/73, Hammond was ordinary and Walker had a great Shield season in 72/73 (he also got into Tasmania Combined XI to play the Pakistanis - interestingly, the selectors also chose Gary Gilmour for that game) - that got him a game in the Melbourne Test where he was our best bowler (A lot better than Thommo, obviously). Next week - Sydney Test - 6/15.

Thommo was the one 'plucked put of nowhere'.
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Walker was never seriously considered as a Test bowler until he actually got his opportunity. Hammond wasn't ordinary, he was quick and accurate and the spearhead of a successful South Australian attack for several seasons, also had a very successful Test series in the West Indies in 1973 before his back gave in.
 
Shocked to hear the news, RIP Max.

Adelaide Hawk said:
I'll take your word for it with Jim Plunkett. It's just that I seem to recall an interview with him and he said that it was indeed him. Ah well, doesn't matter.
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It seems they did a remake of the original commercial some years later and Jimmy Plunkett was in that. The actor in the original one was Adam Garnett.
 
Adelaide Hawk said:
Walker was never seriously considered as a Test bowler until he actually got his opportunity. Hammond wasn't ordinary, he was quick and accurate and the spearhead of a successful South Australian attack for several seasons, also had a very successful Test series in the West Indies in 1973 before his back gave in.
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Hammond was a good bowler - it's just that in 72/73 he didn't do much, and with Colley being injured there was a spot for a 3rd seamer behind Lillee and Massie. Walker got the nod, and I suggest the stats show he was next in line (Thomson obviously got the early call-up because of his pace). Hammond probably would have got the nod, but in the first half of 72/73, his form wasn't great, while Walker's was. Looking at the scorecards, Hammond didn't [lay manyb games, so I suggest he may have been injured as well. In the first test (Adelaide), Australia only played 2 quicks with Greg Chappell coming on 1st change. Massie missed the 2nd test (no idea), so Walker and Thomson got their shots - Walker took his.

Hammond was a good bowler - he was picked for the Windies tour, and with Lillee breaking down and Massie out of form, Hammond and Walker both bowled great.

I was just pointing out that Walker wasn't a surprise selection - he got an early shot because of injuries to Colley and Hammond, but he had earned it.
 

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