QUESTIONS?
Ask Col via email at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au or write to him at AFL House, PO Box 1449, GPO, Melbourne, VIC 3001
ANSWER MAN In round six, Giants star Toby Greene’s first seven scoring shots against the Western Bulldogs were behinds before eventually registering a goal. Is it rare for a player to be so inaccurate?
with COL HUTCHINSON INACCURATE: Giants star Toby Greene didn’t have his kicking boots on against the Bulldogs; likewise former Dog Norm Ware (inset) against the Swans in 1942.
MICHAEL THOMAS, CANBERRA, ACT CH: Records of players’ scoring shots exist for almost every match in the past 67 seasons, as well as for a high proportion of encounters during the 1930s. Print media reports often noted special examples during other eras. There have been almost 400 known cases of a player kicking at least seven behinds in a game. Of the just over 200 players to achieve this feat, Swans star forward of the 1930s, Bob Pratt, is listed a record 12 times. In the opening round of 1931, he kicked just two goals from 11 scoring shots. It is interesting to note that three current coaches appear in the general list. John Longmire booted 2.8 for North Melbourne against Collingwood in 1990, Matthew Nicks kicked 6.7 for Sydney against St Kilda in 2001 and Justin Longmuir kicked seven behinds without a goal for Fremantle against the Western Bulldogs in 2003. Apart from Greene, the only other current player to feature in the ‘off target’ list is Lance Franklin, who appears six times. In round 21, 2007, just two of his 13 scores for Hawthorn against Richmond at the MCG were goals. It is likely that windy conditions prevailed in the matches played on August 24, 1935. At Victoria Park, Melbourne’s Ron Baggott booted 4.9 against Collingwood, and at Punt Rd Oval, Richmond’s Jack Titus kicked 5.7 against Fitzroy. Remarkably, at Glenferrie Oval, teammates Jack Green (2.8) and Ted Pool (0.7) were responsible for 15 of the Hawks’ 26 behinds against Essendon.
OFF TARGET – 11 BEHINDS OR MORE IN A MATCH PLAYER
CLUB
GAME
OPPONENT
G.B. RESULT
Norm Ware
Footscray
SF, 1942, Princes Park
South Melb
3.14
Harry Moyes
St Kilda
Rd 18, 1922, Junction Oval
Richmond
2.13
Win
Jack Titus
Richmond
Rd 4, 1939, Punt Rd Oval
South Melb
2.12
Win
Alex Jesaulenko
Carlton
Rd 2, 1969, Princes Park
Hawthorn
6.12
Win
Ron Todd
Collingwood
Rd 3, 1938, Punt Rd Oval
Richmond
7.12
Loss Loss
Loss
Tom Allen
Richmond
Rd 14, 1949, Punt Rd Oval
North Melb
0.11
Lance Franklin
Hawthorn
Rd 21, 2007, Docklands Stadium
W Bulldogs
2.11
Win
Ron Hartridge
South Melb
Rd 4, 1945, Kardinia Park
Geelong
4.11
Win
Norm Smith
Melbourne
Rd 7, 1940, Arden St Oval
North Melb
4.11
Win
Lindsay White
South Melb
Rd 16, 1942, Punt Rd Oval
Melbourne
4.11
Win
Vin Gardiner
Carlton
Rd 15, 1911, Princes Park
St Kilda
10.11
Win
Fred Fanning
Melbourne
Rd 11, 1944, Glenferrie Oval
Hawthorn
11.11
Win
CAN YOU ASSIST? u The AFL is seeking information regarding the following players of the past – Des Bell (Melbourne 1946-48), Bobby Craig (Melbourne 1902), Jim K. McDonald (Melbourne 1942), Ernie O’Rourke (Melbourne, North Melbourne 1945-49), Ray Shearer (Melbourne 1942), Gordon S. Green (North Melbourne 1942), Jim Kirby (North Melbourne 1946), Alby Williams (North Melbourne 1943), Bill Hearn (Richmond 1935), Arch Robinson (Richmond 1911), Johnny Ryan (Richmond 1959), Harry Barr (St Kilda 1898), Henry Brown (St Kilda 1927) and Jack Cliff (St Kilda 1940-42).
If you can assist, contact Col Hutchinson at col.hutchinson@afl.com.au. 18 AFL RECORD
AR09 p18 Answerman.indd 18
u Malcolm Blight, a Legend in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, achieved much in his career – a Brownlow Medal, a Magarey Medal and four AFL flags as a coach and player. One of his most notable goalkicking efforts occurred after he was sacked as a coach. When Ron Barassi departed North Melbourne at the end of 1980, Blight was appointed as the Roos’ playing coach. In 1981, the club won six of its first 10 matches and was fourth on the ladder. It lost its next six, including a 114-point defeat to Geelong, and Blight was sacked.
In round 17, under new coach Barry Cable, North trailed lowly Footscray at the Western Oval by 40 points at quarter-time. Inspired by Blight, who kicked 11.6 from 23 disposals and 12 marks, the Roos rebounded to win by nine points. He booted 8.6 against St Kilda the next week. Blight later became Woodville captain-coach and in 1985 kicked 126 goals, including a best haul of 14, to top the SANFL goalkicking. MARK GENGE
Have a great goalkicking story? Contact AFL historian Mark Genge at mark.genge@afl.com.au.
SEN.com.au
10/5/21 12:54 pm
