Jump to content

Oldest premiership/surviving player/s.

bush demon
in Melbourne Demons

Featured Replies

 
 

I think Noel McMahen from '48 is still with us!

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 1

    51 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Was trying to findout the answer to your question and came up with this great link on the MFC website.

    Makes for fantastic reading....

     

    https://www.melbournefc.com.au/history/premiership-years

    I was interested so ran this page through the Wayback Machine. Here's what it looked like BEFORE we broke the drought:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20210319055523/https://www.melbournefc.com.au/history/premiership-years

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    • Author
    1 hour ago, bush demon said:

    Who would that be, and what premiership year?

     

    Or earliest year, regardless of premiership.

  • Quote
    1 hour ago, Diamond_Jim said:

    Was trying to findout the answer to your question and came up with this great link on the MFC website.

    Makes for fantastic reading....

     

    https://www.melbournefc.com.au/history/premiership-years

    Bought back so many memories as I have seen the GF's from 1955. Thanks to my Poppa.

  • Quote
    • Like 2
    • Love 1

    42 minutes ago, bush demon said:

    Or earliest year, regardless of premiership.

    I reckon Noel McMahen might have that covered, too?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    22 minutes ago, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

    I reckon Noel McMahen might have that covered, too?

    He must be the only player left from 1948 from either side 

  • Quote

    Noel McMahen.  94yo.  95 at end of October. 

    My late father said he was one of the toughest blokes on the team but a true leader.  Played in 48, 55&56 premiership teams. Captained 1955-56.  MFC team of the century half back. Life member. 

    Never got to coach us unfortunately. Probably would have been a successor to Norm Smith 

    I remember Noel from the Redlegs function that I was invited to in the 1990s.  He loved the Dees. So passionate.  So vocal.  Sometimes had to be “advised” to calm down given he was about 70 at the time.  

    One of our greatest players.  

  • Quote
    • Like 4
    • Love 2

    I hope we get a photo of Noel, and others, with the Cup.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    I saw him play and he was a very good center half back at a time at 184cm he would be a half back flanker in the modern game where center half forwards are upward of 194cm.

    It shows how the modern game has changed when you compare the modern rover/ruck rover, 178cm upwards to 194cm, to the past ruckmen Wise 188cm, Denis Cordner 191cm, Don Cordner 188cm, Terry Gleeson 193cm and a tall Bob Johnson 198cm the one thing they all had in common the played for MFC in premiership some might not get a game in MFC 2021 team?

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    2 hours ago, durango said:

    I saw him play and he was a very good center half back at a time at 184cm he would be a half back flanker in the modern game where center half forwards are upward of 194cm.

    It shows how the modern game has changed when you compare the modern rover/ruck rover, 178cm upwards to 194cm, to the past ruckmen Wise 188cm, Denis Cordner 191cm, Don Cordner 188cm, Terry Gleeson 193cm and a tall Bob Johnson 198cm the one thing they all had in common the played for MFC in premiership some might not get a game in MFC 2021 team?

    Bob would be able to kick further than Steve, and he had a better hair do.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    5 hours ago, spirit of norm smith said:

    Noel McMahen.  94yo.  95 at end of October. 

    My late father said he was one of the toughest blokes on the team but a true leader.  Played in 48, 55&56 premiership teams. Captained 1955-56.  MFC team of the century half back. Life member. 

    Never got to coach us unfortunately. Probably would have been a successor to Norm Smith 

    I remember Noel from the Redlegs function that I was invited to in the 1990s.  He loved the Dees. So passionate.  So vocal.  Sometimes had to be “advised” to calm down given he was about 70 at the time.  

    One of our greatest players.  

    He must have been tough. I recall Lou Richards on World of Sport complaining that when he played against Melbourne Noel used to rough up the Collingwood players.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Love 2
    46 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

    He must have been tough. I recall Lou Richards on World of Sport complaining that when he played against Melbourne Noel used to rough up the Collingwood players.

    But an absolute gentleman in his latter years. I was lucky to attend a number of small lunches where he regaled us with his recounts and tales of the times. I hope that he gets to the ton!

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    • Love 1

    I know it's been a big couple of weeks but Michael Hibberd is still around isn't he?

  • Quote
    • Haha 1

    Ken Melville, Best and fairest 1953, played in the 1956 Premiership team. Ken lives in Perth and would be around 90 years old. The other 1956 premiership player would be Clyde Laidlaw who would be a similar age to Ken. Both were fantastic players.

  • Quote
    • Like 2

    15 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

    Ken Melville, Best and fairest 1953, played in the 1956 Premiership team. Ken lives in Perth and would be around 90 years old. The other 1956 premiership player would be Clyde Laidlaw who would be a similar age to Ken. Both were fantastic players.

    Looks like Noel is winning the race:

    Born 30/10/26,(94) 

    Ken 11/2/31  (90)

    Clyde 27/11/33 (87)

    I met Noel by accident one night after a game.  He had taken the wrong turn leaving Box Hill station and was wandering the street when he flagged me down.  I set him on his way to where his daughter was meeting him.

    Interesting I am sure it was Clydes son was featured on Australian Restoration on the ABC recently, as they had restored a house they owned in Beaumaris.  Showed pictures of the son with his brothers as young boys decked out in Demons gear.

  • Quote
    • Like 3
    39 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

    Ken Melville, Best and fairest 1953, played in the 1956 Premiership team. Ken lives in Perth and would be around 90 years old. The other 1956 premiership player would be Clyde Laidlaw who would be a similar age to Ken. Both were fantastic players.

    A great centre man but gave it away too early like Stuart Spencer who did not live to see the premiership and Bluey Adams passed away before this triumph as well.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
    4 hours ago, durango said:

    A great centre man but gave it away too early like Stuart Spencer who did not live to see the premiership and Bluey Adams passed away before this triumph as well.

    Another two oldies from Premiership years are Laurie Mithen and Brian Dixon. Must be others too. Neither Brian nor Laurie could match Noel McMahen though.

  • Quote
    • Like 1
     
    6 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

    Looks like Noel is winning the race:

    Born 30/10/26,(94) 

    Ken 11/2/31  (90)

    Clyde 27/11/33 (87)

    I met Noel by accident one night after a game.  He had taken the wrong turn leaving Box Hill station and was wandering the street when he flagged me down.  I set him on his way to where his daughter was meeting him.

    Interesting I am sure it was Clydes son was featured on Australian Restoration on the ABC recently, as they had restored a house they owned in Beaumaris.  Showed pictures of the son with his brothers as young boys decked out in Demons gear.

    Johnny Beckwith is still with us. 

    And yes Andrew Laidlaw from the Royal Botanic Gardens is one of Clyde’s sons. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1
    16 hours ago, hemingway said:

    Johnny Beckwith is still with us. 

    Wow that’s great. Hopefully he enjoyed the win. My late father said he was an absolute champion. I remember in the 80s, Peter Mckenna was commentating and always referred to a ball kicked cleverly out of bounds that it was “like the great John Beckwith”. 

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    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...
    Go to topic listing

    Featured Content

    • PREVIEW: Carlton

      Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • REPORT: North Melbourne

      I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

      • 4 replies
      Demonland

    • CASEY: Werribee

      The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

      • 0 replies
      Demonland

    • PREGAME: Carlton

      The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

        • Like
      • 222 replies
      Demonland

    • PODCAST: North Melbourne

      The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
      Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
      Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

      • 29 replies
      Demonland

    • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

      The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

        • Love
        • Thanks
        • Like
      • 253 replies
      Demonland
    View All