Yallourn Football Club YFC - Bruce Knight, Vin Sabbatucci, Morris 'Mossie' Williams, Arthur Nicholas, Brian Edmondson & Keith Angove

YALLOURN FOOTBALL CLUB 1945-65

1957~ YALLOURN PLAYERS DOMINATE LVFL AWARDS - BRUCE KNIGHT, VIN SABBATUCCI & MORRIS ‘MOSSIE’ WILLIAMS.

Following the formation of the LVFL in 1954, football flourished in the ‘Valley and rapidly gained patronage, publicity and prominence. The consequent wider newspaper coverage from Warragul to Sale and the involvement of country radio stations (3UL, 3TR & 3GI) generated greater interest in local football and this, in turn, boosted attendances and gave an ‘edge’ to the competition.

Television had been introduced into Australia in 1956 (the Olympic year) and the marketing potential of football was being realized by business and the media. Sponsorship, awards and prizes were an increasing part of VFL football. Country leagues and clubs also saw the sense in fostering stronger links with business and the media.

Those with acumen realized the business potential that was created through advertising and sponsorship of local clubs. In small country towns, many businesses supported local sport simply because it was part of ‘good citizenship.’ Gradually the connection between local football and corporate sponsorship increased in suburban and country football.

In Yallourn there were several business awards for local players throughout the season. The 1957 YFC Annual Report indicated that many local enterprises were generous in assisting the club to purchase trophies. Mr Henry Wilson (Butcher), Mr G. Dickson Brown (Publican), Purvis Stores, Mr Premier (Chemist), Rockman’s (General Store) and H.W. Devine & Co. (Funeral Directors) were the listed names of trophy donors at the YFC Annual Presentation of Trophies that year.

At LVFL level, there were three major business awards on offer for players in the 1957 season. They were:-

1. ‘The Carlyon Hotel Award’.

2. ‘The Ekon Award’ ~ Ekon Heating and Engineering was a substantial business in Latrobe Street, Morwell. Ekon specialized in briquette/electric water heaters, air conditioning, arc welding and steam pipe fabrication.

3. ‘The Hinkley Stores Award’ ~ Hinkley Stores were a forerunner of the modern day supermarkets and stocked a wide variety of foodstuffs such as fruit, vegetables, milk, bread, pastries, confectionary, packaged goods etc.
When compared to the lucrative awards in modern football, the prizes in that era were relatively modest. Each award was to the value of £50.oo (fifty pounds). (Note: The average annual wage for a male worker in 1960 was about £296.oo).

In 1957, Yallourn FC players dominated the LVFL awards as shown:-

1. ‘The Carlyon Award.’ (£50.oo)
Bruce Knight (Yallourn) and Maurie Reeves (Warragul) tied for the award with 23 votes each. Lester Ross (Moe) finished third.

2. ‘The Ekon Award.’ (£50.oo)
Bruce Knight polled 27 votes to win from Alan Morrow (Sale) and Dick Baxter (Moe).

3. ‘The Hinkley Stores Award.’ (£50.oo)
Morris ‘Mossie’ Williams (Yallourn) tied with Maurie Reeves (Warragul) with 21 votes. Alan Morrow (Sale) recorded 15 votes to be runner-up in that award.

FOOTNOTES ~

BRUCE KNIGHT
1. Bruce Knight was a tough, dependable and tireless ruckman who played his first game for Yallourn in the late 1940’s and retired from the game in the 1960’s.

2. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that Bruce played 200 senior XVIII games for YFC.

3. Bruce’s career highlights included:-
- LVFL representative against GFL and SGFL in 1958.
- YFC Best and Fairest in 1956 and 57.
- Ekon and Carlyon Hotel LVFL Awards in 1957(as above).
- Davey’s Menswear Award (1950).
- G. Dickson Brown Trophy in 1953.
- Most Improved Trophy in 1953.
- Coach of Newborough FC in 1959-60.
- MGFL Premiership coach of Newborough in1959.
- Represented MGFL in 1960.

4. Bruce was another Yallourn player eagerly sought by VFL clubs. Bruce trained with Collingwood in 1951 and 1952. Jack Dunn, a well known journalist of those times, wrote in ‘The Argus’~ 29th May 1951…
“Bruce Knight, Yallourn follower, who was included on Collingwood’s final list will train at Victoria Park…”

5. Bruce Knight died on August 9th 2006.

6. Bruce was the son of club stalwart Tom Knight. Tom was a truly remarkable and energetic character at YFC. Tom had been a coach, player and official of the club in past years. Tom was regularly mentioned in the match reports of the YFC in the early 1930’s. Tom features often in the match report of the 1936 Grand Final against Morwell. {Note: The scores were: - Yallourn 14.17. (101) defeated Morwell 9.8. (62)}.

7. Bruce’s brother (Daryl) also played LVFL football and served YFC with distinction. Daryl was a spirited player and a consistent goal kicker for the Blues. In 1951, Daryl won the club’s goal kicking award. He was awarded the Most Unselfish Player Trophy in 1952 and also won a Special Trophy (Purvis Stores) in 1953.

MORRIS ‘MOSSIE’ WILLIAMS.
8. ‘Mossie’ Williams played in the 1948 YFC premiership team and was regarded by many as one of Yallourn’s greatest footballers. ‘Mossie’ was the brother of Doug who played 120 games with Carlton in 1944-51. ‘Mossie’ also played with Carlton and was a member of the Carlton Reserves Premiership team in 1951. ‘Mossie’ returned to YFC in 1954. He was an elite player in LVFL football in 1957 and was Runner-up to Bruce Knight in the Yallourn FC’s Best and Fairest Trophy. ‘Mossie’ also represented the LVFL against the Gippsland Football League in 1955.

9. A comprehensive story about the remarkable football careers of Doug and ‘Mossie’ has been written and was posted on the Virtual Yallourn website in August 2013.

VIN SABBATUCCI
10. In 1957, Vin Sabbatucci coached Yallourn. Vincenzo better known as Vin, was born to Vincenzo and Cecilia in 1935 at North Fitzroy. Vincenzo senior was a musician and Cecilia was a restaurateur. Vin commenced his education at St Thomas’s School in Clifton Hill and then attended Xavier College where he excelled at rowing and football. As a footballer, Vin came under notice at Xavier College. With positive encouragement from Frank Curcio, he played with Fitzroy Reserves in 1952 and 1953. (Note: Vin’s mother was the first cousin of VFL and Fitzroy FC legend, Frank Curcio. Frank played 249 games for Fitzroy between 1932 and 1948. Frank captained Fitzroy (1938-41) and also represented Victoria on three occasions.) Vin was cleared to St Kilda in 1954. (Note: During 1954, Vin also completed National Service military training and a press cutting mentioned Vin being in Army Camp during that season).

11. His first VFL game was against Melbourne and he kicked 3 goals. Vin won the Best & Fairest for St Kilda Reserves in 1954. His last match for St Kilda was against South Melbourne in 1955. ‘The Argus’ newspaper described Vin as a ‘nuggety rover’ and in another match report referred to his ‘hard work’ around the packs. Vin played a total of 6 VFL matches and kicked 9 goals. In June 1955 Vin crossed to Camberwell FC (VFA).

12. Vin took over the coaching role at Yallourn FC from Gerald Marchesi who had been cleared to Heyfield (GFL). Vin was a powerfully built rover (166cm) with great speed and was a prodigious kick. Vin was hampered by a broken thumb and leg injury that year but he made his presence felt with his strong style of play when he took to the field.

13. After leaving Yallourn FC at the start of the 1958 season, Vin’s football took him far and wide on a marvellous career of playing and/or coaching football for the next 25 seasons. Between the years 1958 and 1982, Vin coached or played for…..
Clayton (1958 &1964), Highett (59-60 & 75-76), Rushworth (1961-63), Carrum (1965-66), Waverly (1967-70 & 77-80), Fitzroy FC~specialist coach, Chadstone (1974) and he also coached Beaumaris in 1982. These appointments included several premierships, prestigious awards and inter-league representation in 1958 when Vin was selected to represent the Federal FL.

14. While Vin made his mark in VFL and VFA football, he was also regarded as an outstanding professional runner and, in later years, a running coach. Research shows that Vin ‘made the news’ in pro-running in December 1956 when he won the Talbot Gift (off 8 yards) in 12.3 seconds. He also won the Talbot Sprint (75 yards) on that day. Over the next twenty years, Vin became a celebrity in the sport of professional foot racing.

15. Vin was recognised as a leading coach and trained many of Melbourne’s best professional runners including Evan Armstrong, who won the Bendigo Gift (1977) and Brian Parker, who won that event in 1971. Vin also trained Prahran Gift winners Rod Butters (1982) and Bill Liston (1984). In 1977-78, Vin won the Australian Professional Runners and Trainers Association most celebrated award of the ‘Trainer of the Year’.

16. Vin Sabbatucci was nominated for the AFL Italian Team of the Century. The team was selected from 148 VFL/AFL well-known footballers of Italian origin. Frank Curcio was selected in the back pocket and Ron Barassi was named the coach of the team. A gala occasion to mark the announcement of the team was held at the Crown Palladium in May 2007.

17. Vin and his wife Veronica had six children…Stephen, Michael, Mark, Vincent, Adam and Kym.

18. Yallourn FC only enjoyed the talents of Vin for a brief time but there is no doubt he was an adept sportsman, dedicated coach and a remarkable human being. Vin Sabbatucci died in August 2007 at the Sandringham Hospital aged 72 years.

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE 1957 SEASON
19. Yallourn won 5 games and lost 16 games in 1957. In an eight team competition, the club finished 7th on the LVFL ladder. The club’s percentage was a mere 71.12%. It is fair to say that 1957 was one the Blues’ toughest and most testing seasons in LVFL football.

20. 1957 saw three young but very promising back men Brian Edmonson, Keith Angove and Arthur Nicholas play their first senior games for YFC. All went onto have fine careers in LVFL football and they were loyal and dedicated players for the Blues. John Hutchinson played his first game for Fitzroy in that season at the age of 20 years. (See Virtual Yallourn story Nid 24275).

21. In 1957, Sale defeated Traralgon in the LVFL Grand Final to win its third flag in four seasons. Sale won another LVFL premiership in 1959. Sale’s coach was former Richmond centre man, John Nix. John won the Trood/Rodda Medal in 1957 with 21 votes. (Note: John was recruited to Richmond from Trafalgar in 1949).

22. Maurie Reeves (Warragul) played 10 games with Melbourne in 1953.

23. Alan Morrow (Sale) went onto play 163 games with St Kilda (1957-66) and was a member of St Kilda’s premiership team.

24. Lester Ross, who finished third in the ‘Carlyon Award’ in 1957, won the Trood /Rodda Medal the following season. Lester later played with St Kilda and also starred in the SANFL.

25. In 1958, Yallourn FC appointed former North Melbourne Vic Lawrence as the coach of the club. Vic had captained North Melbourne in 1955 and had played centre half back in the Victorian team in 1952. (See Virtual Yallourn story Nid 24126).

Thanks to Stephen and Michael Sabbatucci for their information and enthusiastic support for these footnotes about Vin Sabbatucci.

Written by Roger Spaull for Virtual Yallourn ~ May 2013.

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