The Flea

[Croat tiger]

i was browsing through some old stats of the vic v s.a and vic v w.a games
and the flea was always in the best players,i just forgot what a great little
player dale was and probably one of the best handballers you'll ever see.
what's your memories of the flea?

 

[JohnF]

I only caught the tail-end of his career but it was still enough for me to idolise him (he was my favourite player as a kid).

A very well rounded player who had no real flaws in his game. Kicked well, handballed well, tackled well, was quick, strong for his size and very durable.

He also posessed all the inatngibles, footy nous, heart, courage, determination, discipline and consistency.

Hard to judge how good he might have been in a better side where he could have shown what he was worth when the games really meant something (in finals).

If his games on the biggest stage he was afforded (for the Big V) are any indication, then we could say that he would have risen to the occassion and been an absolute champion.

 

[julzqld]

Along with Geoff Raines, he was one of my favourite players. I actually got to meet him the other year and had a photo taken with him when the Tigers trained at the Gabba.

 

[Tormented Tiger]

Back in the days when there were rovers. And he was one who wouldn't take a sideway step. The General and the Flea.

 

[cairo tiger]

probably best rover inlast 20 years, l loved the flea just fearless and v brillinat they do not have rovers like him anymore

 

[CJH]

He was also a feisty little bugger too!

 

[IDGAF]

He was also a feisty little bugger too!

Gave Shane Kerrison one of the best right hooks i have ever seen on the footy field , gave one of the Krakouer boys a beauty as well ....... the piece de resistance` was the crack he gave Paul Salmon out at Waverly one day , he practically needed a step ladder to get to his right cheek , needed 8 stitches and from memory he didn`t even get reported .

Someone posted they would have liked to have seen how good he was in top side....... don`t worry , he was good enough in a shyte one .........

True Tiger Legend

 

[Showbag]

I remember Flea as the only shining light in the horrible period from 1982 until he retired. One of the only capable, reliable, 100% contributor over that period, probably the only one!

Just wish that he had more input at the club when his nephew (Leigh Colbert) was drafted!

 

[froars]

Great player, top bloke - our shining light i reckon of the '80s.
Great skills, hand and foot, aggressive and just luved playing state footy for the Vics.

Another note - what's his role at the club now? Is he just a runner or is he in charge of development of the players. And if so, i don't think he's done a good job. Anyone got more info pls!

 

[sante]

i sadly never got to see him play like most of our great players

 

[smasha]

I remember many a time back in 82 seeing the flea carve opposition sides up.

I actually met the flea at a Tigers game back in 95-when we beat the West Coast at Optus Oval-great game.
Was talking to some Taswegians about how well the tiges were doing and they mentioned Weightman was playing aussie rules in their side in tassy-I thought they were pulling my leg until they introduced me to him-top bloke too.

How good was he for the Big V?-champion .

 

[CJH]

...

Just wish that he had more input at the club when his nephew (Leigh Colbert) was drafted!

He did his best to make sure the club was aware of him - sadly they chose to overlook him.

 

[sandeano]

I remmber one of his last games and it was against Collingwood. Before the match the two teams were doing laps of the ground and they passed by each other in the middle. One of the Pies' players stuck a foot out and tripped up a young Tiger boy. The fallen player went to remonstrate and Flea held him back, saying not to worry.

Anyhow, a few minutes into the game the ball is in near the boundary (right where I was sitting) and that very Colingwood player (the tripper) is over it. Flea came from behind and smacked him right in the gob, sending him to the ground. I am certain I saw a tooth fly into the turf. If memory serves me correctly, tWeightman was rubbed out for that match, pretty much ending his career. But it was typical of him, sticking up for his mates and doing it for the team.

He is a Tiger legend, one of our greats and a shining light during a dark period.

Oh and one of the greatest ever players for Victoria. He just excelled in state games.

 

[IDGAF]

It is not all that often we all concur .... but on this man we do

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

I am certain I saw a tooth fly into the turf.

he,d fit in well amongst the supporters

cheers!

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

It is not all that often we all concur .... but on this man we do

Agreed IDGAF.The Flea was in every sense of the word our last "respected" player amongst the football world.If he was playing today he would step into any side.
Hopefully the new crop can change that.

cheers!

 

[1980]

Gave Shane Kerrison one of the best right hooks i have ever seen on the footy field , gave one of the Krakouer boys a beauty as well ....... the piece de resistance` was the crack he gave Paul Salmon out at Waverly one day , he practically needed a step ladder to get to his right cheek , needed 8 stitches and from memory he didn`t even get reported .

Someone posted they would have liked to have seen how good he was in top side....... don`t worry , he was good enough in a shyte one .........

True Tiger Legend

Thats a bloody good post.

I saw the one he gave Kerrison (and the other 2), and I've not seen a Richmond footy player hit someone half as well ever since.

I thought Freeza would go someway towards filling in his shoes, but alas we've not had a leader on the field like this man since he hung up his boots.

A true Richmond capatain. A real leader on the footy field.

 

[1980GFVideo]

First goal in the 1980 Grand Final and we never looked back.

I remember him running around in the ressies in the late seventies and how supporters were saying he was too small to make it. Wore number 43 at first.

Did you read his book anybody? Makes me livid the revelations that he came out with. The man wouldnt fabricate so makes startling reading as to how our club was used as a social club for footballers happy to make a buck and enjoy the drinking culture.

 

[IDGAF]

Thats a bloody good post.

I saw the one he gave Kerrison (and the other 2), and I've not seen a Richmond footy player hit someone half as well ever since.

Thanks 1980 Good to see some interesting posts from like minded people of the same ilk who are actually interested in having interesting football discussions and reminiscing of times past instead of the petty kindergarten squabbling that seems to be occupying a good percentage of the punters of late

Agreed , there was a thread recently about Tiger enforcers and i said the last two we had were the Flea and Mark "general" Lee . Young blokes walked a foot taller when those blokes took the field . I am hoping Cogs may be able to fill the void that has been there for over 15 years now . That boy has a real presence .

From memory i think The Flea got 2, maybe 3 weeks for the hit on Kerrison . LMAO @ trainers helping him from the ground , didn`t know what planet he was on . Correct me if i am wrong but i am pretty sure Phil Krakouer got suspended the following week for doing the same thing to him ?

 

[IDGAF]

Agreed IDGAF.The Flea was in every sense of the word our last "respected" player amongst the football world.If he was playing today he would step into any side.
Hopefully the new crop can change that.

cheers!

Very True TOO , but i hold Maurice Rioli in the same regard as i do the Flea . Weightman went on a bit longer though , more out of necessity than anything . His honour and love of the club kept him going , even when his body had had enough

 

[Crumden]

Did you read his book anybody? Makes me livid the revelations that he came out with. The man wouldnt fabricate so makes startling reading as to how our club was used as a social club for footballers happy to make a buck and enjoy the drinking culture.

Still got the book, but haven't read it for a while. I do flick through it from time to time to read bits on particular parts of history. Always good to hear the story behind the story. Met Francis Bourke once and quizzed him on the book, as Flea was fairly critical of aspects of his coaching. Francis just said he had no regrets and just did things the way he thought was the right way to go at the time.