Diamond Jim Tilbrook and Glenn Swan 1973

[Ruzz63Ron 58]

Did anyone listen to Jim Tilbrook last night on SEN with Finey? It was great listening. On Robbie Flower's debut at Geelong, Jim kicked 6 and Glenn Swan kicked 8!

I wonder what happened to Swann - he only played one year for us. Does anyone know?

Tilbrook played in 5 premierships before coming to us. My vague and distant best memory is one day on the G before a game, he was having shots at goal and roosted one with a torpedo from a very long way out.

[Grimes Times 1,278]

http://www.sen.com.au/audio

[pineapple dee 2,892]

I remember when Tilbrook was recruited, he was our great white hope. Of course so was Graeme Molloy and so was Templeton and so were ......... so many more

[pineapple dee 2,892]

Names lost in the mists of time.

[pineapple dee 2,892]

Can I just say, I've cracked 100 posts ( some of them half decent )

[Sir Why You Little 34,770]

June 9 1973. I remember that game very well

My 10th birthday

Diamond Jim was better than he is remembered.

The team didn't utilize his talents properly IMO

[Redleg 37,930]

June 9 1973. I remember that game very well

My 10th birthday

Diamond Jim was better than he is remembered.

The team didn't utilize his talents properly IMO

Agree.

He would be a sensation today as he was big, fast and had the biggest kick on the run I can recall. His first kick in the AFL, was a goal from the wing at Waverley, on a wet ground. I thought God had come to Melbourne.

Today's footy would suit him down to the ground. He was an outside receiver, who could run and carry and boot long goals. Steven Stretch would be even better than he was, in today's game as well.

[Sir Why You Little 34,770]

Agree.

He would be a sensation today as he was big, fast and had the biggest kick on the run I can recall. His first kick in the AFL, was a goal from the wing at Waverley, on a wet ground. I thought God had come to Melbourne.

Today's footy would suit him down to the ground. He was an outside receiver, who could run and carry and boot long goals. Steven Stretch would be even better than he was, in today's game as well.

yep. Solid and very wide across the shoulders

I think he was paid about $70,000 which in '73 was enormous coin. Remember Big Carl had come over the same year on similar coin

So maybe the regular team players resented this

I need to listen to the interview

[Redleg 37,930]

yep. Solid and very wide across the shoulders

I think he was paid about $70,000 which in '73 was enormous coin. Remember Big Carl had come over the same year on similar coin

So maybe the regular team players resented this

I need to listen to the interview

More the style of footy in those days.

If you could draft Jim today, he would be a sensation.

[Sir Why You Little 34,770]

Diamond Jim had a similar build to Darren Bennett but a bit shorter.

He was mobile and i agree today he would be a lethal midfielder.

Remember that torp G Lyon let go in the '88 Prelim on halftime....That was a normal distance for Jim!

[dee-luded 2,958]

I remember when Tilbrook was recruited, he was our great white hope. Of course so was Graeme Molloy and so was Templeton and so were ......... so many more

trouble was we always thought we could recruit one player to cover all our vices. too many to cover.

when the issue was to change the clubs culture.

[tilly18 277]

I m really struggling to think of Tilbrook as an outside player. He was more a burst player with a huge physique.

I don't recall him running down the wing bouncing the ball, rather his long goals from the odd quarter of football when he turned it on. Lacked endurance I always thought.

He played in premierships with Sturt on a hff, didn't get a lot of kicks but could get goals.

As far as $ go I seem to remember

71 Tilbrook 38k

73 Ditterich 82k.

I too thought he was the cream on the cake after a great start in 71 but he just deliver any consistency.

[Gator 16,918]

I met Glenn Swan in 1986 when he made an enquiry at the business I was working at. I asked him if he was the 'one and the same' who kicked that bag 13 years earlier. He was shocked I remembered.

Like so many, his VFL career just didn't work out.

[bush demon 1,909]

More the style of footy in those days.

If you could draft Jim today, he would be a sensation.

Agree.

He would be a sensation today as he was big, fast and had the biggest kick on the run I can recall. His first kick in the AFL, was a goal from the wing at Waverley, on a wet ground. I thought God had come to Melbourne.

Today's footy would suit him down to the ground. He was an outside receiver, who could run and carry and boot long goals. Steven Stretch would be even better than he was, in today's game as well.

Goal from the wing at VFL park, i think that's stretching it. I do remember him running in to pick up a half volley that day (v swans was it?) and the ball bounced awkwardly making him look silly. He was moved to the half back line later on in his brief career and he became a more reliable rebounder.

[bush demon 1,909]

I remember when Tilbrook was recruited, he was our great white hope. Of course so was Graeme Molloy and so was Templeton and so were ......... so many more

Not to mention George Lakes in 1969. He got the cover photo on INside Football in the pre-season.

[Its Time for Another 4,054]

Saw him kick a post high point from near the centre of the Western Oval. Monster kick, still the biggest I've personally seen. Physique reminded me of Mickey Conlan. Big barrel chested. Tree trunk legs. Not overly tall or fast. Very disappointing in the end. Never lived up to the Messiah hype when he arrived. Seemed to remember hearing he ended up playing for Old Melbourne or someone after he finished his few years with us.

Edited August 6, 2015 by It's Time

[ManDee 7,092]

Met Diamond Jim at Moorabbin- StKilda game. Massive barrel chested man played like early Jack Watts with less skill. Probably about 6ft tall and 95kg

[tilly18 277]

Goal from the wing at VFL park, i think that's stretching it. I do remember him running in to pick up a half volley that day (v swans was it?) and the ball bounced awkwardly making him look silly. He was moved to the half back line later on in his brief career and he became a more reliable rebounder.

It was against South Melbourne and it rained all day. I don't think he got a touch until the 3rd quarter.

The team kicked 6 in a winning score and he didn't get one.

[tilly18 277]

Saw him kick a post high point from near the centre of the Western Oval. Monster kick, still the biggest I've personally seen. Physique reminded me of Mickey Conlan. Big barrel chested. Tree trunk legs. Not overly tall or fast. Very disappointing in the end. Never lived up to the Messiah hype when he arrived. Seemed to remember hearing he ended up playing for Old Melbourne or someone after he finished his few years with us.

Are you positive it was the Western Oval

He kicked one goal post high from the middle of Arden street late 71 after being moved into the centre for the final quarter. Dees stormed home to get a draw.

[barneymfc 152]

Remember these names so well saw tilly kick a bag a few times think it was 8 against geelong at the g one sunny afternoon I was about 20 yrs old had had seen the best in 50s 60s thought he was going to be the one who saved us ,meet him years later working as an estate agent,trained on beer and pies as for swanny could have been anything ,think he had a knee issue,but sure could play,George lakes from sa very good much like barry vagg

[barneymfc 152]

It was against South Melbourne and it rained all day. I don't think he got a touch until the 3rd quarter.

The team kicked 6 in a winning score and he didn't get one.

i think we kick 7 and ray carr kick them all at full forward ,but i might have the wrong game,

[loges 6,217]

Actually had his best season playing in defence. The straight ahead play suited him better

[Webber 10,179]

yep. Solid and very wide across the shoulders

I think he was paid about $70,000 which in '73 was enormous coin. Remember Big Carl had come over the same year on similar coin

So maybe the regular team players resented this

I need to listen to the interview

I heard a story (just can't remember who or when....age....grrrr) which came from a player at the time, that he was deliberately ostracised by the other players on game day for exactly those money reasons. It was the reason he never played to his potential, and why he left. I want to say it was via Brent Crosswell or Crackers Keenan. Crackers seems more logical cos he was just there at the time. I think? It's odd that we'd been so bereft of star 'big bags of goals' forwards for so long. Allen Jakovich broke that mould, but as we know, it ended up being too good to be true. Great while it lasted though.

[Its Time for Another 4,054]

Are you positive it was the Western Oval

He kicked one goal post high from the middle of Arden street late 71 after being moved into the centre for the final quarter. Dees stormed home to get a draw.

Yep positive. I wasn't there in '71. The one I saw was a spectacular "point" unfortunately not a goal. Unforgettable for the length unfortunately not the accuracy. I think it was '74.

[tilly18 277]

Yep positive. I wasn't there in '71. The one I saw was a spectacular "point" unfortunately not a goal. Unforgettable for the length unfortunately not the accuracy. I think it was '74.

Oops I misread your post. His distance kicking was incredible.