Answer Man

with COL HUTCHINSON

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? 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.

CAN YOU ASSIST?

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.

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 Loss 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 Tom Allen Richmond Rd 14, 1949, Punt Rd Oval North Melb 0.11 Loss 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

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.

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.

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INJURY CHECK

DE GOEY HITS ROOS FOR SIX

u When Jordan De Goey was concussed against the West Coast Eagles back in round five, he managed to make headlines after being cleaned up at a centre bounce. The Collingwood star was spotted retrieving his mobile phone from a storage case in the rooms while the game was in progress, a move which breached AFL protocols around match-day integrity. Magpies coach Nathan Buckley staunchly defended De Goey saying he was concussed and “not thinking straight”, but the League didn’t buy that one and the club was fined $20,000. De Goey sat out the following week’s loss to Essendon on Anzac Day and, like many teammates, was below his best in the shock loss to Gold Coast in round seven. But he was back with a bang last week against North Melbourne, probably taking out a few personal and team frustrations on the bottom-placed Kangaroos. He bagged an equal career-high six goals from his 17 disposals and was the difference as the Magpies battled to shake off the plucky Roos.