YALLOURN FOOTBALL CLUB 1945 -65
50 YEARS AGO ~ SEASON 1964…GARRY BUTLER & TED HEESOM
1964 was a season of ‘lost opportunity’ and several narrow defeats proved frustrating and indeed costly for YFC that year. During the season YFC had beaten Moe in Round:10 and had also defeated a powerful Maffra team in Round:12. Such wins indicated the team’s potential to match it with the ‘best in the competition’ but the club ‘paid the price’ for a slow start to the season.
After nineteen home and away games the LVFL Ladder in 1964 looked like this:-
TEAM W D L For Agst % Pts
Traralgon 19 - - 1809 808 223.89 76
Moe 15 - 4 1531 1049 145.95 60
Morwell 13 - 6 1620 983 164.80 52
Maffra 12 - 7 1231 1180 104.32 48
Yallourn 10 - 9 1283 922 139.15 40
Bairnsdale 9 1 9 1248 1253 99.60 38
Heyfield 9 - 10 1303 1350 96.52 36
Trafalgar 7 1 11 1316 1404 93.73 30
Warragul 7 1 11 1190 1318 90.29 30
Sale 7 1 11 1179 1450 81.31 30
Drouin 2 1 16 996 1686 59.07 10
Stratford 1 1 17 741 2044 36.25 6
As can be seen, Yallourn finished just outside the four that season with 10 wins and a ‘healthy’ percentage of 139.15%.
The Yallourn defence had held ‘all comers’ to 922 points. Only Traralgon (808) fared better in that ‘measure of defence’ during 1964.
Yallourn must have lamented the three narrow defeats at the start of the season when the club lost to Maffra in Round: 1 (4 points), Round: 2 against Bairnsdale (6points) and also in Round: 4 to Heyfield by only 3 points.
John Hutchinson stepped down as coach at the end of the 1963 season and the YFC committee then appointed former Prahran rover Garry Butler as coach for 1964. Garry came with impressive credentials and it was abundantly clear from pre-season training that he was an enthusiastic and thoughtful coach.
Garry was only 24 years of age and his appointment as the coach of a major country league club created great interest and discussion ‘around the traps.’
Yallourn had recruited strongly in 1964 and the new names included … Rob Robinson (Hill End), Neville Gorman (Yallourn North), Brian Trevaskis (Murchison) and John Karp (North Melbourne 3rds). Mike Collins (Heyfield/Melbourne) who had been transferred in his work with the SECV had also been recruited to the club. Time would prove what a valuable acquisition Mike Collins would become for the Blues. Yallourn had again secured the services of Neville Linney for 1964 and he was to be the foremost player up forward for the Blues. (See the stories of Mike Collins and Neville Linney on the Virtual Yallourn website). Rob Robinson was to emerge as a star rover in Gippsland football and later in his career he was chosen to represent the LVFL in the VCFL Championships against the Alberton FL and Mornington Peninsula FL in 1966. Rob was also cleared to Moe FC after a couple of seasons at YFC. Some of the early newspaper reports regarding Rob’s performances with YFC indicated that he was rover of immense talent and unlimited potential.
Garry Butler spoke highly of Rob and rated him as…
“…one of the most spirited and hardest players he had ever seen in all his years of football.”
Neville Gorman was a tall, long kicking and polished forward who had been a stand out youngster at the Yallourn North Football Club. As a teenager, Neville had been a member of the Yallourn North team which had won the MGFL Premiership in 1963. That season YNFC was coached by ex-Trafalgar wing man Len Hayes. Neville was to become an outstanding player in LVFL football.
On the debit side Yallourn had lost the services of the club’s champion ruckman Steve Szabo. Steve had been cleared to Morwell FC at the start of the 1964 season. Team sheets are unavailable from that season, but it is possible (using some deduction and guess work) to name a probable team for the early rounds of that season…
B: Tony Radford Adrian Sexton Michael Scully
HB: Norm Hall Mike Collins Con Kelly
C: Graham Bond Ray Rumbold Peter Bertoli
HF: Kevin Gould Neville Gorman Brian Trevaskis
F: Rob Robinson Neville Linney Jim Carlisle
R: Murray French Grant Cowley Garry Butler
Others to gain senior selection during that season included….Alan Coad, Col Wiggins, John Karp, Jock McGregor, Col Webster, Brian Rochford, Ron McGregor, Graham Davey and Michael Smith.
GARRY BUTLER ~ ROVER & COACH IN 1964
Garry Butler was born in 1940 in South Yarra. Garry’s father (Frank) had played football at VFL level for the St Kilda reserves. As a youngster growing up in the city, Garry took delight in following Melbourne in the VFL and also Prahran in the VFA. The VFA was a very popular competition in those days and it was not uncommon for football fans to have two metropolitan teams to follow during the winter months.
Gary attended Trinity Grammar and he grabbed considerable attention as a skilful footballer in his teenage years. He then graduated to Melbourne Third XVIII and Melbourne Reserves. In his book about the Prahran Football Club Football noted VFA historian Marc Fiddian wrote…
“...but the trend was to find tall players and Melbourne’s coach Norm Smith advised him (Garry) him he was too short.”
Norm was placing great emphasis on tall wingmen and flankers and Garry, rightly or wrongly, didn’t fit into Norm’s scheme of things.
Garry was 165cm (5’-5’’) and it would seem that Norm’s blunt assessment would have discouraged most. However as is well known in football and life that … ‘it is not the size of the dog in the fight… it is the size of the fight in the dog’… Garry reacted in a most positive fashion to Norm’s assessment and immediately crossed to the other ‘love of his life’… Prahran Football Club at the start of the 1961 season.
Garry was a standout rover in the VFA (Second Division) and his strong play and obvious courage attracted a lot of positive comment. In 1962 he took his football to another level and he won the Field Trophy for the Best and Fairest Player in the VFA. Garry then transferred in his work with the SECV to the Latrobe Valley in 1964. It is well known that Yallourn FC wasted little time in appointing him to the coaching position. It would seem that Garry’s favourite colour was ‘Blue’ as he signed on the line with great enthusiasm for his first stint as a football coach. (Note: Prahran was known as the ‘Two Blues’ in those years.) Garry made an impressive debut with Yallourn in his first game against Maffra in Round:1 of the 1964 season. Throughout that season he was regularly mentioned for his ‘in-under style of roving’ and his ability to lead by example. ‘The Live Wire’ mentioned that … “he shirked nothing in the packs’.
Garry’s remembers his first season with Yallourn…
“Time acts to minimize and eliminate memory. What stays are faces and events. I was blessed with a tremendous amount of support from my team mates and club administrators during my brief stay at Yallourn. I remember little of who played well, or where and when they did so. What I do recall is the fact that my stay with the club was one that I and my family enjoyed immensely.
One of Garry’s most memorable games for the Blues was in Round: 17 against Warragul at Yallourn. YFC needed to win that match to have any chance of playing LVFL finals. The early signs in the first half of the game were not promising. Warragul held sway by 15 points at the ‘big break.’ The second half was desperate football as Yallourn, with an eye on the finals, rallied. With Ray Rumbold controlling the midfield, the Blues kicked nine goals to the ‘Gulls’ solitary one major in the second half of the game. The Blues ran out eventual winners by 38 points. Garry Butler and Neville Linney each kicked three goals. Mike Collins (ex-Heyfield/ Melbourne) was a key factor in the win by restricting the opportunities of Warragul’s forward line led by a sensational youngster named Alan Noonan (later Essendon) and Bob Green. Garry was named as the best player for the Blues in that critical victory.
The scores that day were:
Yallourn: 2.4. 2.5 6.9. 11.11 ( 77)
Warragul: 3.0 5.2 5.2 6.3 (39)
Goals for Yallourn: Butler 3 Linney 3 Kelly Coad French Trevaskis Scully
Best for Yallourn: Butler Rumbold Trevaskis Scully Bertoli French Carlisle
The game was played at Yallourn and the gate receipts were £57.0.0(pounds).
In what ‘The Live Wire’ described as a “cruel blow” the Blues missed the finals that year.
However, more bad news was to follow as on September 30th ‘The Live Wire’ carried the story…“BLUES LOSE GARRY BUTLER AS COACH.”
Garry had been relocated in his work with the SECV to Fisherman's Bend and he would be forced to leave Yallourn. It was disappointing news for the club but the YFC arranged a farewell for Garry at the Hernes Oak Hall. It is said to have been a ‘bumper send-off’ for the popular coach and rover. In his farewell speech to the players, officials and supporters Garry said that…
“…he had applied for the coaching job at Prahran but if he was unsuccessful he would love to return to Yallourn.”
In his only season as coach at YFC, Garry had played a key role in recruiting, ‘blooding’ young players and had set the course for a ‘successful rebuild’ of the team that would reap rewards in 1966.
At the start of the 1965 season Gary was cleared back to Prahran Football Club and he continued with the PFC for the next three seasons. The highlight of his playing career during this period was being appointed captain and leading PFC to the VFA Second Division premiership.
In an ‘emphatic’ victory, Prahran 17.12.114 defeated Geelong West 5.15.45 in front of a crowd of 9000 at Toorak Park. Garry kicked 2 goals and was also mentioned in the team’s best players.’ The Age’ (September 12th 1966) reported that …
“Rovers Garry Butler and Tommy Skidmore….were other stars in Prahran’s impressive win.”
With that win Prahran Football Club was promoted to First Division.
Garry returned to Yallourn FC in 1968 and played well again that season. Unfortunately he was seriously injured when he received a broken jaw in an ‘on-ball incident’ in the last home and away game against Bairnsdale. Although described as ‘heavy impact to the head’ the incident was overlooked by the umpire. It is hard to believe that there was no umpire’s report that day and Garry’s severe injury was ignored by officials of the LVFL.
There is no doubt that such ‘head high and forceful contact’ would have been closely examined/reviewed by the tribunal in modern football.
After some thought and angst Garry retired from football at the age of 28. It was a sad way for such a fair and honourable sportsman to retire from the sport that he loved so much.
Garry had played about 35 games and kicked 50 goals (approx.) for the Blues. He will be remembered as a courageous rover and dedicated coach in the history of the YFC.
Finally, looking back at his time at Yallourn Football Club, Gary said…
“The time spent was a wonderful learning experience for me. My time at Yallourn gave me a platform of behaviour that has influenced my life ever since. I believe that time spent with other people who are pursuing a similar goal to the one you want to achieve can be personally rewarding. I hope my team mates got as much out of our joint experiences as I did.”
Notes to the above story re: Garry Butler:-
1. Kevin Sheedy also starred in the above win for Prahran in 1965. In 1966 Kevin crossed to Richmond in controversial fashion which attracted wide comment in the media.
2. Rick Belford, who played with Yallourn in that era, was also a former Prahran footballer. Rick won the Trood/Rodda Medal in 1962 and a story about Rick is also posted on the Virtual Yallourn website.
3. Another prominent footballer from Yallourn named Les White won the Liston Trophy in 1935 while playing with Prahran.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF 1964 SEASON
Despite missing out on a berth in the finals there were numerous highlights for the club that year:-
1. Yallourn’s brilliant defender Mike Collins won the Trood/Rodda Medal for the Best and Fairest Player in the LVFL. Mike won with 17 votes from Traralgon’s brilliant centre man Brian Hammond (15 votes). Ted Heesom*(Sale), Dev Beaumont (Stratford) and Ken Leeson (Drouin) each polled 14 votes.
Mike Collins was the son of former Melbourne champion and Yallourn President Jack Collins. Mike’s brother Geoff also captained Melbourne in 1954. A story regarding the Collins family will be posted on the Virtual Yallourn website. (*Note: see footnotes regarding Ted Heesom)
2. In 1964 Jim Carlisle won the YFC’s Peter O’Neill Memorial Trophy for the YFC’s Best and Fairest Player. It was remarkable victory in such a prestigious award as Jim had played only 32 senior games and was just nineteen years of age. He had played his junior football with YFC.
A photograph of Jim Carlisle and the 1961 Third XVIII team is posted with this story. Jim was selected for his first senior game in 1962. He had won the Most Unselfish Player award in 1963. He was a clever and agile ruckman with strong hands. Jim, Jill (his sister) and Lorna (mother) were active and enthusiastic members of the Yallourn Tennis Club. Jill and Jim had strong reputations as players in the Latrobe Valley Tennis Association.
3. Note: Jim Carlisle died in 2010. The newsletter of the ‘The Yallourn Association’ (YOGA) published in January 2011 carried a notice regarding Jim’s sad passing.
Jim’s contribution to the YFC in the 1960’s was indeed significant and he will live in the memories of players and supporters as a loyal club man and an excellent ruckman in LVFL football.
4. Murray French was runner-up in the club award that year. Mike Collins, who had joined the club from (Heyfield/Melbourne), finished third despite winning the LVFL Trood/Rodda Medal. Note: Murray won the YFC’s Best and Fairest award in 1965. A story of Murray’s career with YFC was posted on the website in 2013. (Nid 24189).
5. Neville Linney came third in the LVFL goal kicking award with 50 goals that season. Neville had won the award in 1963 with 64 goals and was regarded as one of the LVFL’s best forwards. Neville, who had had played for St Kilda and Victoria some years earlier, kicked 12 goals against Stratford in June in 1964. In that season Alan Noonan (later Essendon FC) won the award.
6. Grant Cowley played his 50th senior match for YFC against Bairnsdale in Round: 13 that year…
“Grant Cowley celebrated his 50th match for the Blues with another hard-hitting forceful display”… The Live Wire July 22nd 1964.
Grant had won the club’s Best and Fairest Player trophy in 1963. He was later to represent the LVFL in VCFL Championships. Grant played his last game for the Blues in 1974. A story of Grant Cowley has been posted on the Virtual Yallourn website. (Nid 24183).
7. The YFC Reserves played off against Traralgon in the Grand Final that season. Joe Carmody was the coach of the Blues Reserves and he had moulded the team into an enthusiastic and united combination. In a high standard game, Yallourn shocked Traralgon that day and almost pulled off an unexpected victory. ‘The Live Wire’ reported that…
“Yallourn rank outsiders nearly caused the upset of the season
and gave Traralgon a fright in the LVFL Seconds Grand Final.…the Blues won the hearts of the big crowd on Saturday.”
The scores were:-
Traralgon: 2.2 6.8. 8.12. 9.15. (69)
Yallourn : 1.2 4.4 7 .6. 8.11. (59)
Goals for Yallourn: Rochford 4 Mike Smith 2 McGregor Vinall .
Best for Yallourn: M. Smith Rochford Goode Duncan Mc Gregor Davey Vinall .
8. Michael Smith won the YFC’s Supporters’ Trophy that day and further enhanced his status as a potential VFL footballer. Michael was a spectacular high flying forward who was later to be considered for listing by Richmond Football Club. Michael was also an outstanding cricketer for Yallourn Colts and went on to play Senior XI for VCA District Club Prahran.
9. Bob McGregor, the curator of the Yallourn Oval, won the plaudits of LVFL officials for the excellent condition of the Yallourn Oval that day. ‘The Live Wire’ scribe had little doubt that Yallourn Oval was…
“…surely the best playing surface in the LVFL.”
10. It was announced early in March that Richmond FC would visit Yallourn to take part in a trial match against a combined local team. Former Yallourn star Tom Garland, who was cleared to Richmond in 1962, was mentioned in the article. The results of that trial game were not found in research.
11. The decision to re-form the Hernes Oak Junior Football Club was greeted with enthusiasm by local football fans. The HOFC had lapsed some 25 years earlier. However, with sponsorship and practical assistance of the YFC Officials and Yallourn Past Players’ Association, the hopes of Hernes Oak in reforming a junior football club were realised.
12. In 1964 the Yallourn Thirds participated in the LVFL finals and played in the Preliminary Final at Moe against Morwell. In an exciting and combative contest Morwell 7.6. (48) defeated Yallourn 5.6. (36).
13. One of the notable events of that season was when Melbourne Football Club invited the Yallourn FC Under :18 team to attend the VFL Grand Final at the MCG. The trip, which was arranged by former Yallourn FC President Vic Johns, included the Yallourn boys being billeted at Melbourne 4th XVIII players’ homes. It was a memorable experience for the young boys from the country to visit the Melbourne FC. At that time Melbourne was the ‘powerhouse’ club of the VFL. On that day the Demons defeated Collingwood by 4 points to win the 1964 VFL Premiership.
14. The YFC was a well structured and efficiently administered club during this period. The YFC was a club that was seen to be friendly and most welcoming for new players and their families.
Club President Roy Norden was enthusiastic, upbeat and always cheerful in carrying out his duties. Roy’s spirited manner had a positive effect on the morale of players and supporters.
Alex McGregor, who was elected to the position of secretary in 1961 was a conscientious, and popular figure within the club and the LVFL. Alex’s dynamism was a major factor in the efficient operation of the club in that period.
15. In other LVFL news that season, Stan Morcom (ex-Richmond) coached Maffra and Don Williams was cleared from Sale back to Melbourne FC. Kevin Hogan (ex-South Melbourne) who had coached Sale in 1961 took over the coaching position again at Sale.
16. In 1964 Traralgon won the LVFL Premiership by defeating Morwell at the Yallourn Oval.
FOOTNOTES ~ TED HEESOM
1. Ted Heesom was cleared from Yinnar FC (MGFL) to Yallourn in the period when Vic Lawrence was coaching the club.
2. Ted made an immediate impression on debut with YFC. It was not only his shock of blonde hair that stood out… Ted was seen to be a courageous and a highly skilled young footballer. Most observers realized that he was a player of immense potential.
3. Ted gained a reputation as a daring and forceful player for Yallourn. He played in the First Semi Final against Bairnsdale FC at Sale in September 1960. After leading at every change Yallourn failed to score in the last term, Bairnsdale kicked 6 goals to swamp the Blues and win by 29 points. Ted Heesom kicked two goals and was named as one of the best players for YFC that day.
4. Ted signed and was cleared to the Melbourne Football Club. He wore the number 36 guernsey and was mentioned in match reports for the MFC reserves team. Ted’s listing with Melbourne generated a lot discussion in Yallourn and his progress in the VFL ranks was followed with keen interest. Ted made the news in 1961 when ‘The Age’ newspaper reported that… “Ted Heesom, a wingman, had received a minor injury”… in a full scale trial-game with the Demons.
5. Ted was attending the Victorian Police Academy in this period and he was later transferred to the Sale Police Station.
6. Ted played with Sale FC between 1964 and 1969. Tassie Deacon, a former team mate of Ted’s and also the historian at Sale FC, estimates that Ted played 105 senior games with Sale FC. Considering Ted’s matches with Yallourn and those at Sale, he played 135 (approx) senior games of LVFL football.
7. Ted finished equal-third in the LVFL Trood/Rodda Medal in 1964 (see above).
8. He also won two Best & Fairest awards at Sale FC in 1964 and 1967.
9. In 1967 Ted represented the LVFL against the Alberton Football League. The game was played at Yarram on June 10th. According to the VCFL archives, the LVFL 22.23.155 defeated the Alberton FL 9.10.64.
10. Ted Heesom was named on the half back flank in the Sale FC’s ‘Team of the Century.’ The star- studded team included such country champions as …Tom Hart, Bob Mason, John Nix (Richmond), Alan Morrow(St Kilda), Ian Brewer (Collingwood), Bill Stephenson (St Kilda) and Alex Schuback. Ted’s selection in such company gives some measure of his brilliance in major league football.
11. Ted was an identity in LVFL football circles and he was a ‘big favourite’ within the Sale FC. It is believed that Ted was transferred to the Bairnsdale Police Station in 1970.
12. When discussing great Yallourn footballers the exploits of Ted Heesom should never be overlooked. Most would agree that, in the context of Gippsland football, Ted rates as ‘one of the true greats of Gippsland football.’
Written for Virtual Yallourn by Roger Spaull~ July 2013.
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