5 Minute Wonders

[Biffinator 2]

Comrades, here are two more from the early eighties:

Les Bamblett

Michael Reynolds.

Biffinator.

Robbie Walters.....9 goals in a game........to prison?

Yep, Rhino, that was Nick Carter out there against Sandy on Sat. Didn't go too badly, either.

And "Dirty" Dave Williams....if only we'd played him in the '87 prelim...yes, he captain-coached Rochester(where we got him from) to a premiership. What a handpass to Gazza at VFL Park for the winning goal in the(?)88 final v.WCE.

The best David Williams moment IMO was the goal he kicked against Carlton in the last quarter of the 88 Preliminary GF. He was about 50 metres out with his opponent, with no-one between them and the goals. He lent forward against his opponent as the ball sailed over their heads, and then he ran back, picked up the ball and slotted it through.

How we all cried with happiness. The day had come. But then Strawbs got rubbed out at the Tribunal, and it only got worse from there. . .

Biffinator.

[Prodigal Son 0]

Interesting article on Chinese footballers by John Harmes I have pasted the bit about Dannie Seow

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfoo...1174134585.html

The most nominated player by a long way was Dannie Seow. He was nominated by a number of members of the Hong Kong Dragons AFC, where he still plays occasionally. Sam Pang, who was in the Collingwood under 19s when Seow was at the club, had always claimed Dannie was not Chinese.

The Pang thesis was soon quashed when Dannie emailed — from Shanghai, in Chinese. "Ni Hao, John!" he began. "Wo hen gao xing ni gei wo da dianhua. (Or should I say, 'I'd be happy if you gave me a call'.)" So I did.

Dannie's father is full Chinese. His grandfather is from Xiamen and his grandmother from Beijing. After 18 games with Collingwood and seven with Melbourne from 1986-90, Dannie took a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina as a wide receiver but wound up the punting coach with a degree in economics and Japanese. He lives in Shanghai where he owns a media and entertainment company and is studying Chinese law. He signed his email "Regards, Xiao Xiong". (I'm not sure Sam Pang got that one right.)

[Dee*ceiving 1,738]

I remember Matthew Collins having a reasonable season in a back pocket HBF in 2000. Was ok in the GF as well. He always wore the forearm protector which confirms the chronic arm injuries he suffered.

Did he play another game for the MFC following the 2000 GF.

Does anyone remember the Cockatoo-Collins boys from the mid 90s, absolutely useless both of 'em.

Sean Charles played some great games for the MFC as well before his chronic injuries caught up with him. Actually had pace and a game style similar to our current Flash.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Robbie Walters.....9 goals in a game........to prison?

Yes he did. At the MCG. Later cleared to Collingwood. Got into strife with the plod. Sort of goes hand in hand with them.

Lally Bamblett was a gifted aboriginal footballer who inate ball skills made him special. Unfortunately he did not have the appetite for AFL footy. We swapped him to WB for Strawbs O'Dwyer. He did nothing there and then returned up Shepparton way to work with the local aboriginal people.

Michael Reynolds - Big raw boned Tasmanian who caused a stir with his hard hitting football style. Optimists thought we had uncovered the CHF in the Brereton mould we were looking for. Suffered a knee injury and never delivered on the hype.

Tata,

Collins played a couple of games in 2001 but form and injury took its toll on him.

Cocky brothers were a recruting mistake big time. It was an error to recruit one of them. It was a disaster to recruit both of them. i recall their first game against Geelong in 1996. They got swatted away like flies when they got near the ball. Enough said.

Charles allegedly had fantastic aerobic capacity as I recall G Lyon commenting that when he saw Sean Charles run 100 x 100 metre sprints at training he thought his 1st 100 was quick. He thought his 100th 100 was just as quick! Unfortunately lack the maturity and applications required and was cruelled by injury. Was sacrificed on field by Balme too often out of position. Definitely not as good as Davey though.

[Rampaging Demons 1]

adrian campbell from the bulldogs - kicked some bags, then nothing!

donald cockatoo collins - played some okay footy, then disappeared. remember him breaking an opponents jaw at punt road in a 'legitimate' shirtfront;

brad sparkes & john ahern - member of the winning night grand final team at waverley;

matthew mahoney - promised so much and delivered nothing except for the game at victoria park where we beat the filth, jakovich turning it on too

[Nasher 33,682]

Beams is the captain of the Devils in the VFL now. Very exciting player at that level, is probably amongst the best VFL listed players in the competition. Couldn't quite cut it at the top, seemed to make too many mistakes. Definitely playing at the right level now.

[caco demon 29]

I don't think Moorcroft even lasted 5 minutes.

I saw garry play in a pre-season game against the roos in Canberra. He sat in the goal square for the last quarter and did nothing. No wonder he didn't last 5 minutes.

[Nasher 33,682]

Jeff Hilton anyone?

Nick Carter - ex Fitzroy - No idea at AFL level. Was he playing for Bendigo Bombers on the weekend?

Carter was one of the 8 Fitzroy players to go to Brisbane. Didn't last long there. And yes he plays for Bendigo now, I have a feeling he was the captain there at one point.

[praha 11,267]

James Cook came from the Bulldogs in 2000.

In his first senior game, against Adelaide in the Ansett Cup at Football Park, he booted 6 goals in a win on a Sunday night.

We lost the following week I believe.

In round one against Richmond I think it was he did nothing, then the following week against the Kangas on a Friday night he booted 6 and we mauled the roos. After that he was never seen again. Retired mid-year. Very injury prone at all 3 of his clubs, was a decent goal kicker though. Had the potential for 100 in a year, but never got the consistency of games going.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

He was a slack trainer with poor attitude to ftiness at WB and Carlton but had skills. This accounted for his injury prone careers there When he joined MFC he trained hard pre season and had dropped alot of weight. However he did an ACL in the game after the Kangas game and at 28/29 decided enough was enough.

[Dee*ceiving 1,738]

I recall James Cook struggling to keep his fitness up and weight down which no doubt contributed to his injuries.

I believe he took an absolute screamer in his early days playing for Carlton, may have won mark of the year?

Not to cast any dispersions but I heard a rumour that Gary Moorcroft had a habit of thieveng from teammates at both Essendon and Carlton and that may have contributed to him getting the flick from both clubs.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,540]

Did Gary Moorcroft ever play a game for us as well?

Fabian Francis was also a one game wonder bac in 91

Gary Moorcroft kicked our first goal of the 2003 Wizard Cup against Richmond at the Dome (a freak soccer off the ground) and I remember all the Dees supporters jumping for joy and claiming he was the MFC next big thing.

Missed the season opener against Hawthorn but was quickly elevated for a round 2 clash against his old mob the Bombers at the MCG. Played much of the game on the wing and did deadly squat. (so did the MFC)

Was immediatly dropped for our round 3 blockbuster against the Western Bulldogs under the closed Dome roof (dees won by 6 goals). And remained in Sandringham while the Dees played a stinker at Skilled against Geelong.

While all hope was lost for the 'red nut', Moorcroft was suddenly rushed back in the side for our round 5 Anzac Day Night game against Sydney. Young Gary kicked a nice second qtr goal from outside 50 however his team wasn't so 'nice' as we let go a 3 goal 3qtr time lead into a 4 goal loss.

Gazza was on his last legs against West Coast for a traditional Saturday afternoon battle at the MCG. While the bloke with the ginger hair was again next to useless, he did kick a ripping goal from 55 (from a set shot) as the Dees came from nowhere to snag a 4 point lead at half time. Alas the 'Class of 2003' couldn't sustain their second quarter effort and went down by 6 goals.

Thanks for the memories Gary Moorcroft!!!!!!!

[Nasher 33,682]

BBP have you read any articles by the coodabeens? Your writing style sounds exactly like one of their writers. Great work!

I had always thought Moorcroft was a handy player who was unlucky to lose his spot at Essendon. I only needed to watch him play once or twice to realise how wrong I was.

[deesrock 0]

adrian campbell from the bulldogs - kicked some bags, then nothing!

donald cockatoo collins - played some okay footy, then disappeared. remember him breaking an opponents jaw at punt road in a 'legitimate' shirtfront;

brad sparkes & john ahern - member of the winning night grand final team at waverley;

matthew mahoney - promised so much and delivered nothing except for the game at victoria park where we beat the filth, jakovich turning it on too

Matthew Mahoney was one I remembered. He was a big tall bloke and suffered from white line fever - think he got suspended in his first (?) game against the Swans. He played on a trip to the US and Garry Lyon gave him a huge rap - then...........nothing. I believe he headed up to the Gold Coast to play but not 100% on that one.

I remember Adrian Campbell. Played aroung the same time at Tony Campbell.

[Dee*ceiving 1,738]

Another recruit that Garry gave a wrap only to see him go bust was Nick Pesch.

We got him from the Crows in the mid 90's and he gave us nothing, he had chrinic hamstrings or something from memory.

A similar experiment was Craig Turley, another one that blew up in our faces. He had a terrible back problem and never regained his early 90's form with the Eagles or the Demons.

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,540]

BBP have you read any articles by the coodabeens? Your writing style sounds exactly like one of their writers. Great work!

I had always thought Moorcroft was a handy player who was unlucky to lose his spot at Essendon. I only needed to watch him play once or twice to realise how wrong I was.

Cheers mate,

Yeah I have read the Coodabeens. Their a great laugh!

[Rogue 585]

Certainly some guys mentioned that I'd forgotten about.

I'm not sure guys like Charles, Collins, Jackovich, or Shanahan could be called 5 minute wonders though

[Hards 2]

David Williams was delisted for a year under the unwritten rule that clubs had first right to reacquire a player who sat out a year due to injury. Richmond went against this and grabbed him. He wasn't happy about it and ended up chucking it in and going back to the country.

Two more recent ones - Trent Ormond-Allen and Sean Charles.

Charles was more than five minutes, but after his wrist injury he didn't do much with us, then even less with Carlton and St.Kilda.

[Dee*ceiving 1,738]

TOA came over from SA with huge wraps. I remember Talking Footy showing footage of him taking a massive grab in an SANFL game

[Pates 9,697]

Brent Grgic (spelling?) looked very good for a while then went to crap. I was soooo glad when Geelong picked him up, i believe we even got Bizzell in that deal.

[Dalrot 85]

Brent Grgic (spelling?) looked very good for a while then went to crap. I was soooo glad when Geelong picked him up, i believe we even got Bizzell in that deal.

We actually got pick 55 (?), Bizzell was a seperate trade.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

They were separately lodged trades with the AFL.. But I understand CAC has advised that the negotiations with Geelong covered both. I further understand that one deal would not have proceeded without the other occurring.

[Dee*ceiving 1,738]

What a dissappointment Brent turned out to be. Looked a future superstar in his first 20 games until he progressively became more and more useless.

My fondest memory of him was against the filth, he played CHF and took 12 marks and kicked 4 goals in a BOG performance.

[gOLLy 401]

I always hated moresoft especially wen he took out Shaun Smith that year (was that with a arm cast on) and even wen he came over to the deez I HATED HIM. Just a sniper....that rumour wouldnt suprise me either

No word on Dean Chiron yet??? (spelling)

[Adzman 2,154]

Anyone remember Jay Viney???

Was supposedly better than Todd.