Vale Geoff Tunbridge

[hardtack 10,400]

Just tweeted by MFC:

With great sadness, we advise the passing of triple premiership player Geoff Tunbridge (link to DemonWiki).

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

The original will o' the wisp half forward. In my mind's eye a high, looping punt wobbles through the goals at the city end.

[Deeoldfart 7,993]

The original will o' the wisp half forward. In my mind's eye a high, looping punt wobbles through the goals at the city end.

You nailed it Elusive. Another of our favorite sons from the Glory Years is no longer with us. Vale Geoff.

[hemingway 7,615]

Very sad news.I was lucky enough to talk to Tunna over several years at my local licensed grocer before he moved down Hastings way. He was a lovely bloke who was always happy to talk about the Demons. He was modest unassuming and had a wicked dry sense of humour. At times he was quite grumpy but never rude. RLike many from that era he felt that players today were overpaid and spoilt although recognised that times had changed He talked about how happy he was when Melbourne paid his petrol money to drive to training from his teaching job in Ballarat. He talked with reverence about Norm Smith and his love for the man. He talked about his great mate Ronald Dale. He often talked about his hate (perhaps strong dislike is more diplomatic) for Collingwood and Carlton. At the time of our meeting he enjoyed going to the MCG to watch the Demons often with Ron and enjoyed the get togethers with his mates from the glory years. The mateship that survived from those great years was very special. Sad that Geoff did not get to see the rise of the Demons. He was a great fella.

T

[Sir Why You Little 36,595]

We lose another one..

Thankyou Geoff

3 Flags

Now they are the players who make the Top 50

RIP Demon.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,321]

The original will o' the wisp half forward. In my mind's eye a high, looping punt wobbles through the goals at the city end.

So sad to hear of Tunna's passing. Those wobbly punt kicks sailing right through the goals were so ugly but oh so BEAUTIFUL! Boy, did it make opposition supporters want to hit their heads against the nearest fence post.

Geoff was a left footer and could not kick with his right foot but even though his opponents knew this he had the speed and elusiveness to run in a big arc before sending yet another goal through for his beloved Demons. They rarely, if ever caught him. Thanks for the memories Tunna and may you rest in peace and watch over our present boys as they attempt to rise up the ladder. A great player of the Melbourne Football Club.

[angrydee 842]

One of my very favourite players. Magic.

RIP Tunna.

[Flying Cloud 152]

I consider myself very fortunate to have had him as a teacher over several years. He was a great teacher, and a wonderful bloke. After my father, the second major influence in why I follow the Dees.

http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2964989/city-loses-a-footy-champ/?cs=61

[hemingway 7,615]

Always thought he was 23 when he played his first game, but DemonWiki tells us that he was 25. Quiet remarkable when you look at his record which include 3 premierships. Also another era when players had jobs, trained twice a week and playing VFL was an option and not mandated by dollars. Also a reminder that players over 18-20 years of age can still make it and should always be a consideration (a la Vandenberg)

[Whispering_Jack 29,167]

I first started following the Demons in late 1954 and have vague childhood memories of 1955/6 but it was in 1957 that I became a dedicated Demon follower on a weekly basis.

Geoff Tunbridge was therefor the first "recruit" I remember coming to the club and I'm pretty sure he was there from the first game of '57 and he fitted into the team like a glove. We lost some great players after the '56 premiership so Geoff was one of our bonuses, particularly because he was mature age when he started. On top of being a star player in a star studded team, he was a gentleman and, from people who knew him throughout his long career in education, that went right through his life

I hope of young, new up and comer's can follow his lead and achieve the same success he did in his life as a sportsman and a teacher.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,321]

Always thought he was 23 when he played his first game, but DemonWiki tells us that he was 25. Quiet remarkable when you look at his record which include 3 premierships. Also another era when players had jobs, trained twice a week and playing VFL was an option and not mandated by dollars. Also a reminder that players over 18-20 years of age can still make it and should always be a consideration (a la Vandenberg)

Also loved the article which stated that he once started pre match warm up with his weekly free pie still in his hand. How different from today. The pies were much much bigger in those days too. Took much longer to eat let alone digest.

[hemingway 7,615]

Also loved the article which stated that he once started pre match warm up with his weekly free pie still in his hand. How different from today. The pies were much much bigger in those days too. Took much longer to eat let alone digest.

bobby one last story. what struck me about Tunna was that even in old age he looked an unlikely type to play league football, still thin and almost awkward in his movements. However, he had a quiet fierceness and intensity about him that you could imagine would translate into one very determined footballer. He also gave the impression of not suffering fools gladly. He told me a story that some years past he applied for a teaching job at a very well known private school nestling in the leafy suburb of Hawthorn. He was upset when the school turned down his application in a very dismissive fashion. However, he had the last laugh. Some weeks later the school discovered his illustrious football career and rang him to offer him the job with the added bonus that he could coach the school footy team. It was an ingratiating approach that he did not appreciate given their earlier attitude towards him. He said with a wry smile that it gave him great pleasure to tell the caller that he could "stick the job up his a...."

[Bobby McKenzie 2,321]

bobby one last story. what struck me about Tunna was that even in old age he looked an unlikely type to play league football, still thin and almost awkward in his movements. However, he had a quiet fierceness and intensity about him that you could imagine would translate into one very determined footballer. He also gave the impression of not suffering fools gladly. He told me a story that some years past he applied for a teaching job at a very well known private school nestling in the leafy suburb of Hawthorn. He was upset when the school turned down his application in a very dismissive fashion. However, he had the last laugh. Some weeks later the school discovered his illustrious football career and rang him to offer him the job with the added bonus that he could coach the school footy team. It was an ingratiating approach that he did not appreciate given their earlier attitude towards him. He said with a wry smile that it gave him great pleasure to tell the caller that he could "stick the job up his a...."

Great story mate. He must have been a character as well as a bloody good footballer.

[ijbfossil 77]

The greatest Demon "will o the wisp" I saw until Robbie F came along.

To not start until age 25 and be that good - amazing.

And a fantastic sense of humour and raconteur.

Another extremely sad loss.

[dee-eee 231]

Great memories as a kid of stomping my feet on the floorboards of the Grey-Smith Stand after a spectacular Tunna goal .In those days there were often specialist "types" for some positions . Half-forwards were skinny swoopers in long sleeves and we had a couple of the best in Tunna and later Barrie Vagg .

[gsmith12 491]

I was fortunate to know Geoff in the early sixties after he returned to play footy and cricket for the Ballarat footy/cricket clubs.

A gentleman in every sense of the word yet competitive and brave on the field.

Respected by his students at Ballarat Grammar School.

Not huge in stature, he regularly took on bigger men at CHF for Ballarat and gave them a lesson.

RIP Tunna.

Sad news for ET no doubt.