Jump to content

Throwback- Wrecker Whelan

Bobby Clark

By Bobby Clark
in Melbourne Demons

 Share

Recommended Posts

Bobby Clark Demon

Bobby Clark   121

Posted
Posted (edited)

Wrecker Whelan my all time favourite demon. Not the best player we've had but certainly one of the toughest and brutal player to don the red & blue. What is everyone's thoughts on wrecker?

IMG_20170306_030409.png

Edited by Bobby Clark
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bobby Clark Demon

Bobby Clark   121

Posted
  • Author
Posted
34 minutes ago, Stinga2 said:

Should have made the top 150 over some of the names that got in there. A great demon and a great bloke!

 

Certainly lived up to his nickname "wrecker"

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wrecker45 Redleg

Wrecker45   3,378

Posted
Posted

As much as i love the above clip and it was the single greatest passage of play i have seen as a Melbourne supporter in my lifetime. 

That wasn't the defining moment of his career.

When he kicked out from full back you knew he would hit a target. He simply didn't miss and had a thumping kick on him.

Whoever he played on before the days of zones would just have a quiet day. Without fail.

His tackles were brutal and he attacked the ball with a wreckless regard for himself and or others.

 

 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bobby Clark Demon

Bobby Clark   121

Posted
  • Author
Posted
16 minutes ago, Wrecker45 said:

As much as i love the above clip and it was the single greatest passage of play i have seen as a Melbourne supporter in my lifetime. 

That wasn't the defining moment of his career.

When he kicked out from full back you knew he would hit a target. He simply didn't miss and had a thumping kick on him.

Whoever he played on before the days of zones would just have a quiet day. Without fail.

His tackles were brutal and he attacked the ball with a wreckless regard for himself and or others.

 

 

Ahha love the username mate.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wrecker45 Redleg

Wrecker45   3,378

Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, Bobby Clark said:

Ahha love the username mate.

I'd love to claim genius in picking a username almost 20 years ago that would stand the test of time. Alot of luck involved.

Any one looking for one at the moment i'd be looking around Clayton or Oliver...

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Bobby Clark Demon

Bobby Clark   121

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

If Bernie got 1 week, He would get 10 weeks for that today......

 

Wrecker would have got 20 weeks for that bump on hird these days.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wrecker45 Redleg

Wrecker45   3,378

Posted
Posted

There are not many players since our original team of the century that i can imagine making our next.

Neitz, Jones and Whelan the exceptions.

I wont go into the other two but if positions stay true in the next 80 years Whelan will be up for nomination. 

Just hope we have a few premierships by then so he goes down the pecking order.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wrecker45 Redleg

Wrecker45   3,378

Posted
Posted
10 minutes ago, Bobby Clark said:

Wrecker would have got 20 weeks for that bump on hird these days.

It wasn't a Leigh Matthews, player of the century, snipe. Hird got in between Whelan and the football. Whelan braced but he was attacking the footy. Whelan also got up and handballed to TJ who kicks the goal.

It was no cheap shot and it is a shame you can't attack the footy like that anymore.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Stinga2 Demon

Stinga2   194

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Wrecker45 said:

There are not many players since our original team of the century that i can imagine making our next.

Neitz, Jones and Whelan the exceptions.

I wont go into the other two but if positions stay true in the next 80 years Whelan will be up for nomination. 

Just hope we have a few premierships by then so he goes down the pecking order.

 

Sadly he didn't even make the top 150 names in our 150th year. So I can't see him in a team of the century.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Wrecker45 Redleg

Wrecker45   3,378

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Stinga2 said:

Sadly he didn't even make the top 150 names in our 150th year. So I can't see him in a team of the century.

The large majority of those were eligible for the previous team of the century, which I have hanging on my office wall. Most didn't make it.

The team of the century was announced in 2000. Only a handful of the top 150 played since that era and I stand by what I said. I don't want to bag a hero but Whelan clearly stands higher than Anthony Mcdonalnd, Hopgood or Guy Rigoni in the pecking order.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dazzledavey36 Legend

dazzledavey36   52,915

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, Stinga2 said:

Should have made the top 150 over some of the names that got in there. A great demon and a great bloke!

 

When i see Paul Hoogood named in that list and not Matthew Whelan you know its a big joke!

Whelan is the first ever Aboriginal to reach 150 games and yet we couldn't sneak him in.

Whelan was an absolute gun. Was tough as they come and played the game fair.

Its so good to have him back at the club on a working capacity. He must really be proud of Nev Jetta who is pretty much a player clone of himself. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Biffen Legend

Biffen   12,862

Posted
Posted

Looked small but had a big impact and was tough.

Even if he is remembered solely for the bump on James Tird ,what a memory.

Great point about his kick ins, I'd nearly forgotten,and the rugby tackles.

Very skilled backman and pretty quick from memory.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wrecker45 Redleg

Wrecker45   3,378

Posted
Posted
39 minutes ago, Biffen said:

Looked small but had a big impact and was tough.

Even if he is remembered solely for the bump on James Tird ,what a memory.

Great point about his kick ins, I'd nearly forgotten,and the rugby tackles.

Very skilled backman and pretty quick from memory.

He wasn't slow by foot but I think he was one of those players who looked quicker because he could read where the ball was going before anyone else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rodney (Balls) Grinter Redleg

Rodney (Balls) Grinter   10,642

Posted
Posted

Never really knew him as wrecker back in the day, more so simply as Wheels, but Wrecker is pretty appropriate.

Definitely up there in my favorite players of the era, but highly underated and forgoten by most outside the MFC supporter base.

Toughness was in good supply at the MFC in those days, Nathan 'Doggy' Brown and Shaun Smith and even  Hoppy were all hard as nails, but I don't think any were quite in the same calibre of speed, toughness and steadfastness in defence as Matty Wheelan.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pates Trident

Pates   9,625

Posted
Posted

He was definitely a player well loved by the Melbourne faithful but probably not well recognised by the wider AFL community. He was rarely beaten and played a big role in mentoring Aaron Davey, I was felt if Flash was ever feeling the brunt of the opposition it would be Wheels who'd be the first there to defend him. 

Anybody know what he's up to now?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thrice Demon

Thrice   216

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, Pates said:

He was definitely a player well loved by the Melbourne faithful but probably not well recognised by the wider AFL community. He was rarely beaten and played a big role in mentoring Aaron Davey, I was felt if Flash was ever feeling the brunt of the opposition it would be Wheels who'd be the first there to defend him. 

Anybody know what he's up to now?

He's rejoined the club as Indigenous Project Officer: http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-02-17/whelan-rejoins-melbourne-in-new-role

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
John Crow Batty Trident

John Crow Batty   8,791

Posted
Posted (edited)

Neville Jetta is filling the Wreckers role quite admirably now and not because he is also indigenous.They both play similar hard no nonsense small defender roles. 

Edited by america de cali
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Sir Why You Little Legend

Sir Why You Little   36,676

Posted
Posted
18 minutes ago, demoniac said:

For younger folk Whelan The Wreckers were the best known Melbourne demolition company. Went belly up late 80s/early 90s. Known for their 'WHELAN THE WRECKER WAS HERE' signs.

Yes. They just smashed sh!t up all over Melbourne. 

Part of the scenery of our city

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    EASYBEATS by Meggs

    A beautiful sunny Friday afternoon, with a light breeze and a strong Windy Hill crowd set the scene, inviting one team to seize the day and take the important four points on offer. For the Demons it was not a good Friday, easily beaten by an all-time largest losing margin of 65 points.   Essendon threw themselves into action today, winning most of the contests and had three early goals with Daria Bannister on fire.  In contrast the Demons were dropping marks, hesitant in close and comm

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 4

    DEFUSE THE BOMBERS by Meggs

    Last Saturday’s crushing loss to Fremantle, after being three goals ahead at three quarter time, should be motivation enough to bounce back for this very winnable Round 5 clash at Windy Hill. A first-time venue for the Melbourne AFLW team, this should be a familiar suburban, windy, footy environment for the players.   Essendon were brave and competitive last week against ladder leader Adelaide at Sturt’s home ground. A familiar name, Maddison Gay, was the Bombers best player with

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 33

    BLOW THE SIREN by Meggs

    Fremantle hosted the Demons on a sunny 20-degree Saturdayafternoon winning the toss and electing to defend in the first quarter against the 3-goal breeze favouring the Parry Street end. There was method here, as this would give the comeback queens, the Dockers, last use of the breeze. The Melbourne Coach had promised an improved performance, and we did start better than previous weeks, winning the ball out of the middle, using the breeze advantage and connecting to the forwards. 

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    GETAWAY by Meggs

    Calling all fit players. Expect every available Melbourne player to board the Virgin cross-continent flight to Perth for this Round 4 clash on Saturday afternoon at Fremantle Oval. It promises to be keenly contested, though Fremantle is the bookies clear favourite.  If we lose, finals could be remoter than Rottnest Island especially following on from the Dees 50-point dismantlement by North Melbourne last Sunday.  There are 8 remaining matches, over the next 7 weeks.  To Meggs’

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons

    DRUBBING by Meggs

    With Casey Fields basking in sunshine, an enthusiastic throng of young Demons fans formed a guard of honour for the evergreen and much admired 75-gamer Paxy Paxman. As the home team ran out to play, Paxy’s banner promised that the Demons would bounce back from last week’s loss to Brisbane and reign supreme.   Disappointingly, the Kangaroos dominated the match to win by 50 points, but our Paxy certainly did her bit.  She was clearly our best player, sweeping well in defence.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 4

    GARNER STRENGTH by Meggs

    In keeping with our tough draw theme, Week 3 sees Melbourne take on flag favourites, North Melbourne, at Casey Fields this Sunday at 1:05pm.  The weather forecast looks dry, a coolish 14 degrees and will be characteristically gusty.  Remember when Casey Fields was considered our fortress?  The Demons have lost two of their past three matches at the Field of Dreams, so opposition teams commute down the Princes Highway with more optimism these days.  The Dees held the highe

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 1

    ALLY’S FIELDS by Meggs

    It was a sunny morning at Casey Fields, as Demon supporters young and old formed a guard of honour for fan favourite and 50-gamer Alyssa Bannan.  Banno’s banner stated the speedster was the ‘fastest 50 games’ by an AFLW player ever.   For Dees supporters, today was not our day and unfortunately not for Banno either. A couple of opportunities emerged for our number 6 but alas there was no sizzle.   Brisbane atoned for last week’s record loss to North Melbourne, comprehensively out

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 1

    GOOD MORNING by Meggs

    If you are driving or training it to Cranbourne on Saturday, don’t forget to set your alarm clock. The Melbourne Demons play the reigning premiers Brisbane Lions at Casey Fields this Saturday, with the bounce of the ball at 11:05am.  Yes, that’s AM.   The AFLW fixture shows deference to the AFL men’s finals games.  So, for the men it’s good afternoon and good evening and for the women it’s good morning.     The Lions were wounded last week by 44 points, their highest ever los

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 3

    HORE ON FIRE by Meggs

    The 40,000 seat $319 million redeveloped Kardinia Park Stadium was nowhere near capacity last night but the strong, noisy contingent of Melbourne supporters led by the DeeArmy journeyed to Geelong to witness a high-quality battle between two of the best teams in AFLW.   The Cats entered the arena to the blasting sounds of Zombie Nation and made a hot start kicking the first 2 goals. They brought tremendous forward half pressure, and our newly renovated defensive unit looked shaky.

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    AFLW Melbourne Demons 11

  • Tell a friend

    Love Demonland? Tell a friend!
×
×
  • Create New...