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Are you there Harry? Vale Harry Beitzel

Traja Dee
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

5 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Do I recall correctly that it was Harry who had one of the original hair transplants?

It was a shocker worse than any Moreton Bay Bug you have ever seen. And one did wonder about the origins of the hair or its host body part.  Harry was a character and a product of his time. When you think about the big H and the media coverage of the day it was such a completely different era. Unrecognisable compared to today. 

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    9 hours ago, hemingway said:

    It was a shocker worse than any Moreton Bay Bug you have ever seen. And one did wonder about the origins of the hair or its host body part.  Harry was a character and a product of his time. When you think about the big H and the media coverage of the day it was such a completely different era. Unrecognisable compared to today. 

    It certainly was a "unique" look...!!  Great (and funny) memories!  Those were the days!

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    13 hours ago, Earl Hood said:

    Skeeter Coghlan? 

    That name doesn't ring any bells, Earl.  (But, early stage "Old Timer's Disease" may be setting in, so who knows?  LOL)

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    Harry was always insightful but one cross from Tommy Lahiff always sticks in my mind. Tommy was in the Collingwood rooms and when Harry asked him for any news just prior to the game, Tommy reported that " Daicos has got a groin".  

    That must be part of the reason that Josh Daicos was born.

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    2 hours ago, Vagg said:

    That name doesn't ring any bells, Earl.  (But, early stage "Old Timer's Disease" may be setting in, so who knows?  LOL)

    Kevin Skeeter Coghlan was an ex Collingwood and Hawk who also appeared on World of Sport footy panel for a few years. 

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    17 hours ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

    Do I recall correctly that it was Harry who had one of the original hair transplants?

    He sure did. Sewn into his skull!!!

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    1 hour ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

    Yeah it was in little tufts - like doll's hair.

    Exactly. In rows, like dolls hair!! :)

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    5 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

    He sure did. Sewn into his skull!!!

    And i just ate, now that's gota scare the little children.;)

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    Harry's calls of the 1977 finals series when Snake Baker and Tiger Crosswell tore it up were absolutely brilliant. He was a big influence on many that came after him including Hunt, Newman, Sheedy and Lane. A naive entrepreneur - led him to innovate brilliantly but get mixed up with some total tools as well.  

    And yes, his son Brad (who also umpired at VFL level), is a mad Dee. I'm led to believe he might even frequent 'land every now and then. The Big H also had a soft spot for the Deez and certainly loved the idea of "Brasso" coming 'home' in 1981. 

    Harry had a brilliant footy brain and was respected by many of the game's greatest players and coaches. That's a great legacy and compliment. 

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    On ‎14‎/‎08‎/‎2017 at 4:48 PM, bingers said:

    In October 1994, Beitzel was sentenced to 18 months jail, with a minimum of eight months to be served, after pleading guilty to obtaining financial advantage by deception over matters related to his work for a lottery organisation.[2] He served his sentence initially at Pentridge Prison and then at the open, minimum-security Morwell River Prison Farm. Beitzel strenuously denied that he had ever intentionally committed a crime.

    When it came to the crunch , after  irritating all parties  he  finally agreed to plead guilty .

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    Harry had a job telling lottery winners that they had won the big one.

    IIRC it was for the Oz version of the UK soccer pools. Big money for the winners.

    Because H was a trusted figure many would ask H what they should do with their money. It was alleged that H received an undisclosed commission from some of these investments in return for his recommendation.

    With the general economic collapse in '89 these schemes went bad and Harry's role came to light.

    Rex H was not a fan of Harry as I recall.

    Anyway he did his time and should now be remembered for the larger than life character that he was. Footy was a very different game in the days of radio and 3AW was king in the late70's and '80's.

    His sidekick Tommy Lahif was a mad Port supporter  and was a real genuine character.

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    2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

     

    His sidekick Tommy Lahif was a mad Port supporter  and was a real genuine character.

    Tommy was a great character. Passionate South Melbourne Cricket Club fan and aficionado of all sport, especially Aussie Rules and cricket. The ladies at SMCC would make him a special afternoon tea each match. There he'd relive stories to anyone that would listen. A brilliant, engaging storyteller. Always remember him saying Jack Mueller was the best footballer he ever saw. Interesting choice given that he had watched football for over half a century and saw the likes of Coleman, Baldock, Whitten, Barassi, Skilton, Blight and Matthews.

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    • 2 years later...
    On 8/14/2017 at 4:48 PM, Vagg said:

    Sad to hear it.  Well I remember the day when Harry reigned supreme over the ABC TV Footy Panel.  Was joined by the likes of "Chicken" Smallhorn, Tony Ongarello, Doug Heywood and a few other notables whose names escape me at the moment.

    RIP, Harry!

    Harry used to host a show on ABC on Saturday evenings during the VFL season called Today's Football. Panellists included Len Thompson, Carl Ditterich, Thorold Merrett, Roy Wright, 'Chick' Smallhorn, Murray Considine, Sergio Silvagni, Errol Hutchison, Tony Ongarello, Percy Beames and others. 

    They would often have a special guest player on. I remember players such as Mal Brown, Bruce Duperouzel and Kevin Murray appearing. 

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    5 hours ago, djray said:

    Harry used to host a show on ABC on Saturday evenings during the VFL season called Today's Football. Panellists included Len Thompson, Carl Ditterich, Thorold Merrett, Roy Wright, 'Chick' Smallhorn, Murray Considine, Sergio Silvagni, Errol Hutchison, Tony Ongarello, Percy Beames and others. 

    They would often have a special guest player on. I remember players such as Mal Brown, Bruce Duperouzel and Kevin Murray appearing. 

    and the great Doug Bigelow  and Kevin 'Skeeter' Coughlan who played 90 games for pies and hawks at just 163 cm and 56 kg.!

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