Jump to content


Recommended Posts

Posted

When the Melbourne Football Club introduced the concept of a scholarship squad in the mid 1970s the first player to graduate from there to the senior team was half forward flanker Andrew Moir from Beaumaris who played in the Demons' Under 19s in 1976 and made his debut as an 18 year old in round 1, 1977 against South Melbourne at the MCG.

Coach Bob Skilton placed the Mentone Grammar graduate on the wing in his debut game which saw a bad loss for the Demons who struggled throughout the season and finished second last. Moir played the next four matches (2 goals), all of them defeats and then lost his place in the team to Tom Flower, brother of champion player, Robbie. He didn't reappear in the senior team until the opening round of the following season under new coach Dennis Jones. That season was a disaster for the club but Moir established himself as an elusive half forward who could take a grab and kick goals, playing 18 games (13 goals) in his team's wooden spoon season.

Moir remained a regular under his third coach Carl Ditterich (1979-80) and again in Ron Barassi's first year at the helm but he played his last game in round 22, 1981 against Hawthorn at Princes Park to finish with career statistics of 73 games for 68 goals.

He remained at the club in 1982 but failed to play a game and was traded to North Melbourne in a straight swap for Rodney Wright at the end of the year. He did not manage a game for the Kangaroos.

The 183cm, 74.5kg Moir's best season was 1979 when he kicked 25 goals including a career best five goals against North Melbourne in round 9. He was fortunate to be missing injured later in the season when the club recorded its worst ever result in its history - a 190-point loss to Fitzroy at VFL Park.

Times were tough around the club during Moir's career. He didn't play in a winning team until his second year at the club, had four coaches, the team took two wooden spoons and he personally tasted victory only 12 times, a winning percentage of only 16.43%.

Fast forward three decades into the future and Andy Moir, as he was often called and who wore guernsey number 29 during his time at Melbourne, will fittingly passing on that jumper number to his nephew Jayden Hunt who was drafted at number 57 in last month's national draft.

While Jayden's uncle made his path to the club via its scholarship squad and under 19 team (now superceded as a talent pathway by the TAC Cup), Hunt came onto an AFL list quietly, without any fanfare. He is the quintessential smoky.

He played his junior football with East Sandringham and at Brighton Grammar where he was small but dogged in his early teens. Then, between school years 10 and 11 he grew over a foot in height. His growth spurt which has taken him to his current 187cm and 76kg caused him to miss a lot of football (he captained the school tennis team instead) and he was far off the radar when he tried to make the Sandringham Dragons Under 18 squad earlier this year.

The youngster who has amazing talent, dexterity and pace missed out, meaning that he was never in the AFL's main talent programme. Instead, he was confined to school football at Brighton Grammar and a couple of games for the old boys under 19 team in the VAFA. He was impressive enough at that level to make the APS representative team where he starred and that effort earned him a place in the Young Guns squad that played in the week before the VFL grand final.

Hunt was the only member of two teams of hopefuls who was TAC Cup age and he impressed enough to be selected in the main draft. A top sprinter who has run an 11.1 second 100 metres at APS level, his pace makes him a stand out. Those attributes must have impressed some of the talent scouts who came to watch his more fancied schoolmates.

On the night of the draft, SEN's Mark Fine described him as an outstanding prospect. He told of how he went to an APS game to watch co-commentator Robert Shaw coach Brighton Grammar at Caulfield Grammar. Shaw's team contained two top 10 draft prospects in Josh Kelly and Christian Salem but it was speedster Hunt who caught his eye. He took kick outs playing off half back and ran and carried all day.

Shaw was equally effusive calling him a "revelation" in his team when asked about Hunt but added that he was light and would need plenty of time. Shaw explained that the down side with Hunt was that "he's never run a lap or lifted a weight". In that respect, his story is not dissimilar to that of Collingwood's Paul Seedsman.

If Hunt is to follow in that player's footsteps, he has also has some good football genes. Apart from his former Demon uncle, Jayden is said to be a descendent of five-time Collingwood premiership player Harold Rumney, who was part of the Magpie era when they won four successive flags from 1927-1930. And his mother plays golf with the mother of another celebrated Brighton Grammarian Jack Watts.

It might be a while before we see the raw youngster in Melbourne colours, but Demon fans are a patient lot. We've waited thirty years to see the next coming of Andy Mohr wearing the number 29. Let's hope Melbourne is more successful in Hunt's time at the club.

  • Like 1

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Demonland Forums  

  • Match Previews, Reports & Articles  

    TRAINING: Friday 22nd November 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers were out in force on a scorching morning out at Gosch's Paddock for the final session before the whole squad reunites for the Preseason Training Camp. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS It’s going to be a scorcher today but I’m in the shade at Gosch’s Paddock ready to bring you some observations from the final session before the Preseason Training Camp next week.  Salem, Fritsch & Campbell are already on the track. Still no number on Campbell’s

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports 2

    UP IN LIGHTS by Whispering Jack

    Those who watched the 2024 Marsh AFL National Championships closely this year would not be particularly surprised that Melbourne selected Victoria Country pair Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay on the first night of the AFL National Draft. The two left-footed midfielders are as different as chalk and cheese but they had similar impacts in their Coates Talent League teams and in the National Championships in 2024. Their interstate side was edged out at the very end of the tournament for tea

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Special Features

    TRAINING: Wednesday 20th November 2024

    It’s a beautiful cool morning down at Gosch’s Paddock and I’ve arrived early to bring you my observations from today’s session. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Reigning Keith Bluey Truscott champion Jack Viney is the first one out on the track.  Jack’s wearing the red version of the new training guernsey which is the only version available for sale at the Demon Shop. TRAINING: Viney, Clarry, Lever, TMac, Rivers, Petty, McVee, Bowey, JVR, Hore, Tom Campbell (in tr

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    TRAINING: Monday 18th November 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers ventured down to Gosch's Paddock for the final week of training for the 1st to 4th Years until they are joined by the rest of the senior squad for Preseason Training Camp in Mansfield next week. WAYNE RUSSELL'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS No Ollie, Chin, Riv today, but Rick & Spargs turned up and McDonald was there in casual attire. Seston, and Howes did a lot of boundary running, and Tom Campbell continued his work with individual trainer in non-MFC

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    2024 Player Reviews: #11 Max Gawn

    Champion ruckman and brilliant leader, Max Gawn earned his seventh All-Australian team blazer and constantly held the team up on his shoulders in what was truly a difficult season for the Demons. Date of Birth: 30 December 1991 Height: 209cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 224 Goals MFC 2024: 11 Career Total: 109 Brownlow Medal Votes: 13 Melbourne Football Club: 2nd Best & Fairest: 405 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 12

    2024 Player Reviews: #36 Kysaiah Pickett

    The Demons’ aggressive small forward who kicks goals and defends the Demons’ ball in the forward arc. When he’s on song, he’s unstoppable but he did blot his copybook with a three week suspension in the final round. Date of Birth: 2 June 2001 Height: 171cm Games MFC 2024: 21 Career Total: 106 Goals MFC 2024: 36 Career Total: 161 Brownlow Medal Votes: 3 Melbourne Football Club: 4th Best & Fairest: 369 votes

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 5

    TRAINING: Friday 15th November 2024

    Demonland Trackwatchers took advantage of the beautiful sunshine to head down to Gosch's Paddock and witness the return of Clayton Oliver to club for his first session in the lead up to the 2025 season. DEMONLAND'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS Clarry in the house!! Training: JVR, McVee, Windsor, Tholstrup, Woey, Brown, Petty, Adams, Chandler, Turner, Bowey, Seston, Kentfield, Laurie, Sparrow, Viney, Rivers, Jefferson, Hore, Howes, Verrall, AMW, Clarry Tom Campbell is here

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports

    2024 Player Reviews: #7 Jack Viney

    The tough on baller won his second Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Trophy in a narrow battle with skipper Max Gawn and Alex Neal-Bullen and battled on manfully in the face of a number of injury niggles. Date of Birth: 13 April 1994 Height: 178cm Games MFC 2024: 23 Career Total: 219 Goals MFC 2024: 10 Career Total: 66 Brownlow Medal Votes: 8

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Melbourne Demons 3

    TRAINING: Wednesday 13th November 2024

    A couple of Demonland Trackwatchers braved the rain and headed down to Gosch's paddock to bring you their observations from the second day of Preseason training for the 1st to 4th Year players. DITCHA'S PRESEASON TRAINING OBSERVATIONS I attended some of the training today. Richo spoke to me and said not to believe what is in the media, as we will good this year. Jefferson and Kentfield looked big and strong.  Petty was doing all the training. Adams looked like he was in rehab.  KE

    Demonland
    Demonland |
    Training Reports
  • Tell a friend

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