Early Bloomers

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

No quiz this time. Just thought I would look up how our FIRST YEAR PLAYERS over the years fared in the Brownlow count. Top scorers were:

Percy Beams 15

Greg Parke 11

Bob McKenzie (snr) 10

Allan La Fontaine 10

Alan Johnson 8

Don Williams 8

Andrew Obst 8

Hassa Mann 7

Jack Mueller 7

Of these, Greg Parke was the surprise. To me anyway.

The big names who failed to poll any votes in their first year included Stan Alves, Ron Barassi, Jeff Farmer, Fred Fanning, Denis Cordner, Don Cordner, Gary Hardeman, Travis Johnstone, James McDonald, Ian Ridley, Stuart Spencer, Russell Robertson, David Neitz, David Schwartz, Adem Yze, Brian Wilson, Norm Smith, Jim Stynes and Greg Wells. Leading MFC Brownlow vote getter Robbie Flower polled 3 votes in his first season.

[monoccular 17,574]

Interesting that the most recent was Andrew Obst - would have been ? early 1990s, and as I recal a mature aged recruit.

I guess it just shows what a bloody hard game it is to break into.

[Freddy Fuschia 747]

Not on the subject of Brownlow votes but Terry Leahy won the Bluey Truscott in his debut season in 1967 but never lived up to that form again and ended up going to the Swans.

[hardtack 10,627]

Of these, Greg Parke was the surprise. To me anyway.

I think he made his presence known with his high flying marking - he was a truly spectacular player to watch (in the same was as Robertson was and Jurrah is)... so I'm not too surprised I suppose.

[Whispering_Jack 30,674]

I think he made his presence known with his high flying marking - he was a truly spectacular player to watch (in the same was as Robertson was and Jurrah is)... so I'm not too surprised I suppose.

The blond hair didn't hurt Greg Parke's ability to capture votes either.

[bazza226 74]

It's a pity he could not kick. Looked to handball at all times.

[hardtack 10,627]

It's a pity he could not kick. Looked to handball at all times.

A little unfair... in 1972 he kicked 63 goals and had a total of 242 goals from 171 games for his VFL career.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

Not on the subject of Brownlow votes but Terry Leahy won the Bluey Truscott in his debut season in 1967 but never lived up to that form again and ended up going to the Swans.

Good spotting Freddy. I hadn't looked up Terry's stats re the Brownlow. In 1966 he was the Bluey winner(in his first year). In the Brownlow however, he polled just 1 vote with a career total of 4.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

Interesting that the most recent was Andrew Obst - would have been ? early 1990s, and as I recal a mature aged recruit.

I guess it just shows what a bloody hard game it is to break into.

Started in 1990. You make a good point how hard the game is today to start a successful career.

[Sir Why You Little 37,133]

A little unfair... in 1972 he kicked 63 goals and had a total of 242 goals from 171 games for his VFL career.

Had number 26 on my first footy jumper. The 9 became a 6 after Hassa retired.

[hardtack 10,627]

Had number 26 on my first footy jumper. The 9 became a 6 after Hassa retired.

Yeah, as a kid, Hassa (and by association, Len) was my favourite player.

[3031 11]

Not on the subject of Brownlow votes but Terry Leahy won the Bluey Truscott in his debut season in 1967 but never lived up to that form again and ended up going to the Swans.

Interesting that Terry Leahy came up in the thread as I was reading about him last night.

I think he was thrown around in a variety of tough roles in an undermanned team at the time.

Apparently he and Graeme Jacobs (another handy player) left the club and went to South Melbourne at the same time after being disciplined over an end of season incident..see Demonwiki