Ask Col via email at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au or write to him at AFL House, PO Box 1449, GPO, Melbourne, VIC 3001
QUESTIONS?
ANSWER MAN
with COL HUTCHINSON u Seven-time Sturt best and fairest Rick Davies was one of South Australia’s finest ruckmen in the 1970s and a tremendous mark. Later in his career, he moved forward and in 1983 kicked 151 goals, a then SANFL record. Nicknamed the ‘Jumbo Prince’, one of his most memorable performances was in round eight that season in the top-two clash with West Adelaide. The Double Blues, who also included Peter Motley and Neil Craig, dominated from the start, kicking nine goals to five in the first term, and by three-quarter time Davies had notched 10 goals. He booted another five in the final quarter for a club-record 15 as Sturt added 10.6 to win by 74 points.
Adelaide’s win was the first time in 50 years that the previous year’s wooden-spoon team had beaten a grand finalist in round one. I was at that 1971 game, which was also the debut match for Keith Greig and Geoff Southby. How many opening round matches have there been between the wooden-spoon team and a grand finalist from the previous year? IRWIN HIRSH, VIA EMAIL CH: The first of 15 such instances occurred in 1912. Ten years later in 1922, Essendon became the first of three wooden-spoon clubs from the previous season to beat a grand finalist, downing Carlton by 18 points. The Dons improved dramatically to finish third that year, then claim premierships in 1923 and 1924. Melbourne just fell short of upsetting Geelong in the opening round of the 1952 season. Three years later, after finishing runner-up to Footscray in 1954, the Demons easily beat the Saints, who had finished last a few months earlier. Denis Cordner, Ian McLean, Noel McMahen and Stuart Spencer played in both
BOTTOMS UP: Wooden spooner Adelaide stunned the Cats in round one; (right) Roos champion Keith Greig.
games. Forty years ago, Fitzroy, which had finished last in 1980, was competitive against Collingwood in a high-scoring contest at the Junction Oval. The Lions won the return match at Victoria Park in round 22. Both
GRAND FINALIST v WOODEN-SPOONER IN ROUND ONE SEASON PREV.
SCORES
SEASON FINISH
1912
Prem
Essendon 17.14 (116) d University 6.6 (42)
Ess prem, Uni last
1922
RU
Carlton 9.8 (62) lost to Essendon 11.14 (80)
Carl 4th, Ess 3rd
1923
RU
Collingwood 16.5 (101) d South Melbourne 12.7 (79)
Coll 5th, SM 3rd
1932
Prem
Geelong 14.21 (105) d North Melbourne 11.12 (78)
Geel 5th, NM 8th
1939
Prem
Carlton 20.22 (142) d South Melbourne 13.10 (88)
Carl 5th, SM last
1940
RU
Collingwood 13.14 (92) d South Melbourne 11.14 (80)
Coll 8th, SM 10th
1945
Prem
Fitzroy 15.16 (106) d Geelong 10.8 (68)
Fitz 6th, Geel 11th
1952
Prem
Geelong 15.13 (103) d Melbourne 14.13 (97)
Geel prem, Melb 6th
1955
RU
Melbourne 17.16 (118) d St Kilda 8.11 (59)
Melb prem, StK last
1958
RU
Essendon 13.17 (95) d Geelong 8.10 (58)
Ess 5th, Geel last
1971
Prem
Carlton 14.14 (98) lost to North Melbourne 18.16 (124)
Carl 5th, NM 9th
1981
RU
Collingwood 22.27 (159) d Fitzroy 20.13 (133)
Coll 2nd, Fitz 4th
1984
RU
Essendon 19.20 (134) d St Kilda 14.13 (97)
Ess prem, StK last
2013
Prem
Sydney 16.10 (106) d GWS Giants 11.10 (76)
Syd 4th, GWS last
2021
RU
Geelong 13.13 (91) lost to Adelaide 15.13 (103)
20 AFL RECORD
AR05 p20 Answerman.indd 20
clubs qualified for September action and met again in a semi-final. The Pies won a thriller by a point.
CAN YOU ASSIST? u The AFL is seeking information regarding the following former players – Frank Booth (Collingwood 1938, Hawthorn 1939), Bill J. Brown (Hawthorn 1926-26), Bill E. Brown (South Melbourne 1925; Hawthorn 1928), Leo Clements (Hawthorn 1933-34), Fred Hansen (Footscray 1928; Hawthorn 1930), Gerry Hickey (Hawthorn 1934-35), Syd V. James (South Melbourne 1923; Hawthorn 1925), Joe Lyons (Hawthorn 1938), Barry Metcalfe (Hawthorn 1957), Dermot O'Brien (Hawthorn 1928) and John O'Halloran (Hawthorn 1929).
If you can assist, contact Col Hutchinson at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au.
In a career spanning 1970-1986, Davies played 317 games for Sturt, 33 for South Adelaide, 20 in his one season for Hawthorn in 1981, and 20 for SA. He kicked 838 goals and in 2013 was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. MARK GENGE
Have a great goalkicking story? Contact AFL historian Mark Genge at mark.genge@afl.com.au.
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12/4/21 5:20 pm
