RIP Max Walker

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

Wore the number 1 jumper.  I remember him as a kid, when we used to go into the change rooms after a game.  Of course, in those days, there weren't many wins to celebrate.  He always had time for the kids and I still have his autograph. A boy from Tassie.  State and Test cricketer, VFL footballer, qualified Architect, media personality, public speaker and prolific author.  Just an all round great bloke.   Sadly missed

Requiescat in Pace Tangles. 

[chook fowler 19,551]

Interesting to reflect on his bowling - his performance certainly stack up with the very best. Also a lovely drop kick I remember

[daisycutter 29,738]

6 minutes ago, chook fowler said:

Interesting to reflect on his bowling - his performance certainly stack up with the very best. Also a lovely drop kick I remember

that's a bit harsh, chook

only joking..... one drop kick to another - lol

played junior footy and cricket against max. nice down-to-earth guy, always liked a laugh - rip, big fella

[General Malaise 209]

Tragic news.
In the mid 90s the footy-tipping comp I'm in held an art auction for a prostate cancer charity honouring Teddy Whitten. We held it at Ron Barassi's pub and Tangles volunteered as auctioneer. Such a lovely generous funny man.
Same goes for Ron of course, both total gentlemen.

[48 Year Now 97]

I too remember Maxie from his Melbourne days. Always wanted to and thought one day I would meet him later in life as I knew his sister Lexie. She too had the same zest for life as Maxie. A sad loss. Thanks for the memories 

[Lord Travis 10,763]

He played before I was born, but I saw his cricket highlights and home was a true champion. I met him about 2-3 years ago at a function and he was a genuinely friendly and funny guy. Wasn't too happy with how the Dees we're going at that stage but we had a laugh anyway.

Thiughts with his family and friends.

[jane02 3,749]

What a sad day. RIP Big Max.

[Satyriconhome 10,879]

Bumped into him in a lift at the G last year, took me a second or two to tecognise him, he remembered we had met about 5 years previously, I am easily recognisable but [censored] knows how he remembered after meeting so many people    a top guy RIP Max

[beelzebub 23,383]

Bugger

Ava good rest Mr Walker 

[davo 209]

Loved Maxy, great cricketer and good Demon, will be missed

[mdemon 266]

5 hours ago, iv'a worn smith said:

Wore the number 1 jumper.  I remember him as a kid, when we used to go into the change rooms after a game.  Of course, in those days, there weren't many wins to celebrate.  He always had time for the kids and I still have his autograph. A boy from Tassie.  State and Test cricketer, VFL footballer, qualified Architect, media personality, public speaker and prolific author.  Just an all round great bloke.   Sadly missed

Requiescat in Pace Tangles. 

Excellent tribute IWS. 

Max was my 1st hero at the MFC - the No.1 lovingly stitched by my late Mum on to the back of my rather prickly Demons guernsey was my favourite clobber for many years. (Segued seamlessly into Gary Baker after Max gave it away).

IIRC debuted in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan with Thommo - significantly different outcomes.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

Very sad indeed. How he enjoyed his sport. He played cricket hard but always had a smile on his face.  Pity some of our sour faced test cricketers couldn't follow suit! Must be something in the name Max. Our Gawny is very similar to Tangles in his outlook. 

[melborn4vr 13]

6 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Some good stuff in this article and in the comments attached.

Apparently Max was the only person to play Test cricket and get a Brownlow vote.......... (a trivia question that will likely live forever)

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/sep/28/max-walker-former-australian-cricketer-dies-aged-68

Laurie Nash- South Melb and two tests Australia as fast bowler in the 30's. Also Keith Miller.

RIP Tangles.

Edited September 28, 2016 by melborn4vr

[KingSlayer33 170]

I was working with my father all day today and he played cricket against Max in school in Hobart, footy with him at MFC and went to RMIT with him at the same time (different courses though).

He told me what a genuine person he was and how every now and then when he ran into Max he would always stop for a chat and be interested in what my old man had been up to etc. In his opinion - "...one of the nicest people you could ever meet".

RIP Max.

[Earl Hood 6,101]

41 minutes ago, KingSlayer33 said:

I was working with my father all day today and he played cricket against Max in school in Hobart, footy with him at MFC and went to RMIT with him at the same time (different courses though).

He told me what a genuine person he was and how every now and then when he ran into Max he would always stop for a chat and be interested in what my old man had been up to etc. In his opinion - "...one of the nicest people you could ever meet".

RIP Max.

King I was thinking your dad must be Ray Biffen but then you said he went to RMIT. I think Ray was a car salesman, not a student. 

[CBDees 3,167]

I also went to RMIT (with Max). He will be remembered as being the only architectural student to play cricket for the staff against the other students. Shortly after that he graduated!

[monoccular 17,574]

Another sad reminder of the hazards of melanoma, especially in those who spend lots of time in the sun.

RIP Max.  You will be missed not only as a sports legend, but as an inspiring genuine human being. 

[Number of the Beast 80]

RIP Tangles, a top bloke

[KingSlayer33 170]

2 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

King I was thinking your dad must be Ray Biffen but then you said he went to RMIT. I think Ray was a car salesman, not a student. 

Ray must have been a pretty good player whereas my dad was average at best. (heaps better than me though so I can't sledge him) I think he played about twenty games.

[Guest]

I was actually hoping that the 12th Man skit where he changed his name to Mike Walker was actually true if it meant that the bloke born as Max Walker were still alive.

Sadly not. Great memories of Maxy mostly hosting Wide World of Sports as a kid. In those days, I used to watch it for the pro wrestling matches they used to put on (which you could only really watch if you rented pay per views on VHS back in the day)  and I got to see Maxy and Ken Sutcliffe have all kind of weird and wonderful events on the show (wood chopping which made for interesting live television, weight lifting with Darrel Eastlake going off his dial, yachting which was boring as pizz).

The early days of the Footy Show were interesting as well with Lou on the couch (though it sadly led to the cultural sewer that is now the current Footy Show). I will remember the day when Mal Brown declared war on the Richmond board (which ultimately left our old mate CS with no choice but to resign).

And it goes without saying, the stuff with the 12th Man was magnificent. They always said that only Richie used to get arky about it but Bill, Tony and Maxy acknowledged the cult status it gave them. 

If I am feeling a bit nasally in the shower tomorrow, I will give the old Max-o-phone a blast in your honor.

RIP Maxy. You were a true gentleman and a true character in the best sense of the word.

 

[hardtack 10,627]

One of my favorites at the MFC back in the day...and he remained an MFC lad at heart. I took this shot at the Shanghai demo game against Brisbane Lions a few years back...

Edited September 29, 2016 by hardtack

[Sir Why You Little 37,130]

"Go Silver Service..." Help me out Ritchie...

 

absolute classic!

[Guest]

6 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

"Go Silver Service..." Help me out Ritchie...

 

absolute classic!

Twas Silver Sovereign (if you were referring to the horse Maxy bet on in the Still the 12th Man). 

Richie: 'It's Ken's appeal to the ladies versus your appeal to the yobbos and d***heads. It's as simple as that Max.' (paraphrase)

Edited September 29, 2016 by Colin B. Flaubert
Added a word.

[Sir Why You Little 37,130]

2 hours ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

Twas Silver Sovereign (if you were referring to the horse Maxy bet on in the Still the 12th Man). 

Richie: 'It's Ken's appeal to the ladies versus your appeal to the yobbos and d***heads. It's as simple as that Max.' (paraphrase)

I stand corrected. 

But the laughs are still the same!