Vale Laurie Mithen

[Whispering_Jack 29,966]

I know it’s not always appropriate to make comparisons between eras but if you think Ron Barassi (6 premierships) as Christian Petracca and Laurie Mithen (5 premierships) as Clayton Oliver then you might understand the importance of Laurie Mithen to the golden era we experienced during his career with the club.

The other coincidence is the influence of players coming from Ormond to Melbourne and getting the # 11 guernsey. That’s 6 flags that I’m aware of to date.

Laurie Mithen was one of our truly greatest ever players.

[durango 2,007]

I remember one day when MFC was losing Norm Smith moved Laurie Mithen to FF and he kick 6 goals for us to win the match, he was a great player in an era of great players. 

[hemingway 7,625]

50 minutes ago, durango said:

I remember one day when MFC was losing Norm Smith moved Laurie Mithen to FF and he kick 6 goals for us to win the match, he was a great player in an era of great players. 

From all accounts Laurie was a bit Clarryesque. Played in the centre and generated a lot of play. He was tough and was a target for the opposition. Not overly fast but read the play well. An instinctive player good on both sides of his body but had his fair share of injuries as his career continued. I was unaware of his post Melbourne days at Port Melbourne and in WA. 

At 87 he had a good innings. I hope he got to watch the Granny and celebrate the win. 

One of the greats. Like others of that era , he was loyal, self-effacing and modest. 

[forever demons 2,220]

Absolute champ,I was only a young boy back then but players like him made me want to eat a footy.Was rapt when Greg Wells got his number and played in the middle ,just like LM

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

One of my all time favourite Demons. Such a polished, beautifully balanced footballer. He had the perfect combination of sublime skill and toughness. It was always a delight to watch his brilliant passages of play which occurred oh, so regularly. RIP Laurie and thanks for the memories.

[58er 6,422]

Lasting Memories of Laurie in the 1950/60 glory days as a tough very accomplished centreman. Great team man and thoughts with the Mithen family snd his close teammates of the same era.

Wonderful he experienced our Glag last season. 

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

On 2/3/2022 at 5:24 PM, Biffen said:

The Old Man mentioned Mithen in reverent tones as being an equal to Barassi at the MFC in terms of skill and class.

He must have been quite a player.

He certainly was.

[Tim 3,418]

13 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

One of my all time favourite Demons. Such a polished, beautifully balanced footballer. He had the perfect combination of sublime skill and toughness. It was always a delight to watch his brilliant passages of play which occurred oh, so regularly. RIP Laurie and thanks for the memories.

That’s often mentioned about him, and was targeted by opposition players accordingly, apparently. I heard that he kicked 6 goals in a quarter against Fitzroy in a match where we flew home late but still lost. In looking at AFL Tables it was 1959 (when he won the Bluey in a flag year), and amazingly, he only kicked one other goal in the entire 75 other quarters he played that year. 

His last kick for us was the “winning goal” that was disallowed in the dying seconds of the 1962 First Semi against Carlton - iirc it can be seen in the MFC club history DVD.

Edited February 5, 2022 by Tim

[daisycutter 29,612]

40 minutes ago, Tim said:

That’s often mentioned about him, and was targeted by opposition players accordingly, apparently. I heard that he kicked 6 goals in a quarter against Fitzroy in a match where we flew home late but still lost. In looking at AFL Tables it was 1959 (when he won the Bluey in a flag year), and amazingly, he only kicked one other goal in the entire 75 other quarters he played that year. 

His last kick for us was the “winning goal” that was disallowed in the dying seconds of the 1962 First Semi against Carlton - iirc it can be seen in the MFC club history DVD.

certainly controversial

Quote

The Demons' season ended in high controversy after an incident late in the game. Carlton's Graeme Anderson cleaned up Geoff Tunbridge after a dropped mark, and as Laurie Mithen charged towards an open goal the umpire brought the ball back for a ball-up. It might have been a free kick to the Demon, it might have been play-on, but nobody could work out how it was a ball-up. It was the last MFC act Tunbridge had been involved with as he retired at the end of the year.

 

[Demonland 72,087]

A nice thread on Twitter about Laurie’s life from his family. 

 

[Dante 2,739]

On 2/5/2022 at 4:37 PM, daisycutter said:

certainly controversial

 

As a youngster I recall Laurie having a few battles with Carlton's Laurie Kerr, they were both number 11 for their side and both centremen. Both very good players.

[mauriesy 7,286]

Taught me in English at Melbourne High the year before he left for Perth.

[Demons3031 375]

On 2/3/2022 at 6:25 PM, monoccular said:

Another sad passing from our history, but at least he lived to see us break the drought.

Laurie was always hard at the ball and gave no quarter.

If I recall correctly it was the 1961 2nd Semi Final where he was dropped behind the play, in what may have been a game changing incident - it was said to be by a Hawk (alleged by some who claim to have seen it happen, one who went on to become a prominent QC or even a judge though my memory may be failing so please don't quote me.  Happy to be corrected).  No video review in those days so he went on the play in their inaugural premiership.

There was an incident in one game I seem to recall, involving Brendan Edwards, the Hawk centre player?

[Demons3031 375]

I do remember him being switched to full forward on one occasion during a match and kicking several goals. He had the skill and being a good mark and kick, as well as perhaps playing the famous decoy full forward role.

[Demons3031 375]

2 hours ago, Demons3031 said:

There was an incident in one game I seem to recall, involving Brendan Edwards, the Hawk centre player?

The ruckman in question was John Winneke. :)

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

7 hours ago, Demons3031 said:

The ruckman in question was John Winneke. :)

Yes, it was John Winnike. I remember the incident but not the exact detail of same.