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Memorable Kickers

Demons3031
in Melbourne Demons

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Blair Campbell  and Earl Spalding bring back any memories? I remember Blair playing against Melbourne in a night match at Lakeside oval once. Remarkable kick for goal. A shame his knee limited his career.

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    51 minutes ago, Demons3031 said:

    Blair Campbell 

    Credited with having invented the banana kick in the 60s, he played for Richmond then Melbourne.

    Also played Shield cricket for both Victoria and Tasmania.  Quite the sportsman, it would appear.

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    On 1/3/2020 at 10:53 PM, Demons3031 said:

    Peter Weekes (Number 25) came up in another post where his interesting kicking style was mentioned. It fired up my memories of players over the years who were either superb kickers or were remembered for having unusual styles of kicking. Being an older member of Demonland, my greatest memories were of Don Williams with his wonderful attacking drop kicks as he ran to the centre line from half back. And those exceptional drop kicks of Tassie Johnson from the goal square to the centre line-incredibly long and precise drop kicks that so often ended in the arms of Terry Gleeson, our ruckman at the time. Ian Ridley was another great from memory.

    Unusual styles reminded me of the awkward but effective kicking of Brian Dixon- a remarkable player. Ed Burston was another who was only on the scene for a short time late 60's - he  showed so much potential- he was still learning the art of goal kicking when his career was cut short. A unique kicking style. 

    I'm interested in your views on some of our kicking greats or unusual kickers. :)

    I think Ed burston ended up a teacher at peninsula grammar

    big guy right?

    boy we bullied him cruelly which was not fair he was a nice guy but to a 15 year old fair game

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    Ken Jungwirth never amounted to much, but in his first game (I think it was) he kicked four goals with huge torpedoes that spun perfectly without wobble or slew, and they had great hang-time.  So that he stays in the memory for his kicking; it promised so much..  Late replacement for someone if I'm remembering it right - but his kicks are an indelible memory. He led straight down the ground - but too far, so it seemed..  

    Great kicking is so fundamental to the game that it blinds me to other things - I still fully believe in Jack Watts...  his goal sealing the game against Collingwood is one of the great moments - seeing the whole crowd leap up together behind the goal in the Punt Road northern pocket ...  Watts aeroplaning, Collingwood doubled over with the exhaustion, and the exhilaration!  The high mark of course - but kicking must be the real essence of the game.  I agree with the comment Travis Johnston drew the player to the ball - Robbie Flower did the same.  Jurrah could do it.  Watching a long kick curling in to goal...  Great kicking is where a lot of the magic of footy is, surely?

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    1 hour ago, robbiefrom13 said:

    Ken Jungwirth never amounted to much, but in his first game (I think it was) he kicked four goals with huge torpedoes that spun perfectly without wobble or slew, and they had great hang-time.  So that he stays in the memory for his kicking; it promised so much..  Late replacement for someone if I'm remembering it right - but his kicks are an indelible memory. He led straight down the ground - but too far, so it seemed..  

    Great kicking is so fundamental to the game that it blinds me to other things - I still fully believe in Jack Watts...  his goal sealing the game against Collingwood is one of the great moments - seeing the whole crowd leap up together behind the goal in the Punt Road northern pocket ...  Watts aeroplaning, Collingwood doubled over with the exhaustion, and the exhilaration!  The high mark of course - but kicking must be the real essence of the game.  I agree with the comment Travis Johnston drew the player to the ball - Robbie Flower did the same.  Jurrah could do it.  Watching a long kick curling in to goal...  Great kicking is where a lot of the magic of footy is, surely?

    Great post Robbie. I always liked Ken Jungwirth..full forwards who kick goals were few and far between but he only played for such a short time. Not sure why he didn't stay for long.  I thought he did well with limited opportunities. Went to Prahran I think after a game or two at Carlton. Just  google checked..only  4 senior games at The Dees. At 79 kg's he did well..might have bulked up with a couple of seasons under his belt. 

    Have been thrilled by the great responses to this topic. You all have some great meaningful memories and I have enjoyed the sharing of these.

    Edited by Demons3031
    spelling

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    On 1/5/2020 at 1:45 AM, nosoupforme said:

    Yes that's true Phil Rhoden, not so much his drop kicks but his torpedo's punt kicks were so precise with the days it was like showing off his torpedo skills. It was always the perfect spin in the air as the crowd would sigh in awe almost all the time. Although he never had much of the ball in his games and played.mainly in the reserves. 

    https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/news/18120-victorian-solicitor-struck-off-for-professional-misconduct

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    On 1/6/2020 at 6:18 AM, bush demon said:

    Graham Molloy and Stan Alves both could roost beautiful torpedoes in the early 70s, before that kick was banned!

    They used to rave about Bartlett sinking goals from the hfwd flank on the outer side of the MCG - with his torps. Alves, one of our greatest at a time of demons stuck in the mire, used to sink these shots consistently from the wing, further out, both sides of the 'G. 

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    19 hours ago, demonstone said:

    Credited with having invented the banana kick in the 60s, he played for Richmond then Melbourne.

    Also played Shield cricket for both Victoria and Tasmania.  Quite the sportsman, it would appear.

    Also taught me to stab pass on the oval at Central Park, Malvern, in-between curling them backwards from the outside of the foot as if to goal. 

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    2 hours ago, Deemania since 56 said:

    Also taught me to stab pass on the oval at Central Park, Malvern, in-between curling them backwards from the outside of the foot as if to goal. 

    Which oval? I played cricket there in the early and mid 70's for Ewing....

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    On 1/5/2020 at 10:12 AM, tiers said:

    For sheer beauty and consistency, Phil Roden's drop kicks from full back in the reserves were without peer. Tassie Johnson and Bernie Massey were next best for drop kicks.

    Post the drop kick era, for distance, Darren Bennett and Paul Wheatley were consistently long and good. Flower, Lyon, Hughes, Yze, Davey and many others were long and reliable kicks and Jackovich especially when shooting for goal.

    But the greatest of all was Travis Johnstone who had the unique and innate ability to kick the ball so as to draw the player to the ball in the best position to take the mark. Unfortunately his team mates at the time could not adapt to his skill and did not anticipate his kicks and the coaching panel at the time seemingly ignored it. What a waste of a weapon.

    I didn't think Massey was much of a kick. Always drop punts, with no follow through, and short travel. Couldn't mark either. Good spoiler.

    I agree about Travis J.  So creative with his kicks. Sometimes Melksham can emulate those radar-like passes.

    Tassie Bob was a legend for his drop kicks.  Top class, versatile player, too.

    Remember when Darren Bennett kicked 4 in the last quarter from outside 50 (with the wind) at Windy Hill?  What a win that was!

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    3 hours ago, dieter said:

    Which oval? I played cricket there in the early and mid 70's for Ewing....

    Ewing Memorial cricket - knew it well. Same park, ran laps in training 5 nights per week. Used to live there as it was my 'local' open space. 

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    38 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

    Ewing Memorial cricket - knew it well. Same park, ran laps in training 5 nights per week. Used to live there as it was my 'local' open space. 

    I lived in Erica Avenue. Then in Wattletree Road.

    Edited by dieter

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    2 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

    I didn't think Massey was much of a kick. Always drop punts, with no follow through, and short travel. Couldn't mark either. Good spoiler.

    I agree about Travis J.  So creative with his kicks. Sometimes Melksham can emulate those radar-like passes.

    Tassie Bob was a legend for his drop kicks.  Top class, versatile player, too.

    Remember when Darren Bennett kicked 4 in the last quarter from outside 50 (with the wind) at Windy Hill?  What a win that was!

    Bernie Massey was a drop-kicker....

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    14 hours ago, dieter said:

    I lived in Erica Avenue. Then in Wattletree Road.

    Gawd! Neighbours!

    Know both, very well. 

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    On 1/4/2020 at 10:59 AM, Deemania since 56 said:

    Got to admit there were some expert kicking skills from many Melbourne players but the one kick that has cemented itself in my memory was that of John Tilbrook at Waverly Park. Scurrying around the back pocket on the outer side, he collected the ball and ran with it towards the half-back flank - but still short of that zone by many yards (as real measures were once called). He hoofed it well short of the half-back flank as mentioned, kicking it diagonally across the centre of the ground and it landed just one yard short of the inside point post. I'd heard several weeks later the very close measurement of that kick (recorded by other impressed observers very methodologically) that it carried 104 metres 'on-the-full' - which, if correct and there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the 'measurers,' makes it one hell of a bloody big torpedo punt kick and certainly, of the many big-uns achieved by Demon players, the biggest and best I have ever seen. 

    This sounds like it is from the mouth of Scomo, who believes in God, but not climate change.

     

    You sure you weren't playing a board game?  If I blur my eyes a bit, Deemania looks like dementia.

    Edited by TGR

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    42 minutes ago, TGR said:

    This sounds like it is from the mouth of Scomo, who believes in God, but not climate change.

     

    You sure you weren't playing a board game?  If I blur my eyes a bit, Deemania looks like dementia.

    Interesting angle, TGR; that is what we saw and it was a freak-out, a once in a lifetime observation. 

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    Darren Bennett at Windy Hill...last quarter . .......whenever it was......(.long ago)....I was behind the goals. Bennett kicked 4 or 5 goals from the 50 or further out. Each was a massive torpedo that went through post high....it was the most awesome display of power kicking I have ever seen.

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    Hunts goal in Alice Springs.....unbelievable ..........and I was at Princes Park when Malcom Blight kicked his massive goal from the centre.

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    Billy Jack

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    Simon Eishold-who could forget!!

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    On 1/4/2020 at 10:33 AM, dieter said:

    Bernie Massey, when he took over full back from Tas Johnson, kicked the ball just as far.

    During the 70's a player who came from WA as a full back was kicking punts from the goal square to the outer wing in Reserves matches. Ray someone.....

    It was Ray Holden, 1984,1985...

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    On 1/7/2020 at 1:50 PM, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

    I didn't think Massey was much of a kick. Always drop punts, with no follow through, and short travel. Couldn't mark either. Good spoiler.

    I agree about Travis J.  So creative with his kicks. Sometimes Melksham can emulate those radar-like passes.

    Tassie Bob was a legend for his drop kicks.  Top class, versatile player, too.

    Remember when Darren Bennett kicked 4 in the last quarter from outside 50 (with the wind) at Windy Hill?  What a win that was!

    Stuart Spencer's long raking drop kicks are firmly in my mind.

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