1958.50 years on! Into The Hall of Fame remembered forever!

[joffa corfe]

[Northern Pie]

We were were priviledged to have Turner (snr) @ our very First Northern Army Function up here in Queensland - he got called away early because of a bit of a family crisis befroe he could address the whole crowd @ the function, but I spent alot of time chatting to him and seeing that "glint" in his eye as he related his stories about the 58 side and their magnificent win. He spent alot of time mingling with the Pies faithful, signing autographs and chatting, he even sat with the supporter group @ the Gabba, I will never forget the time I had with a Collingwood Legend.

Cheers

[joffa corfe]

[joffa corfe]

Remembering our heros of 1958-50 years on
Barry Hooker Harrison


The mid-1950s saw the emergence of arguably the most formidable force in Victorian football since the Magpies' mighty four--in-a-row' team of three decades earlier. Norm Smith was the instigator of this threat to the Collingwood legend, and Melbourne, which conclusively won the premierships of 1955-56-57, was the team. On 20 September 1958, in a scenario that no Hollywood script writer could have wished to surpass, the only team standing between the Demons and the immortality of four successive VFL flags was - Collingwood. Regarded by most as an ordinary team fuelled more by old-fashioned 'G and D' than by any innate football talent, embarrassingly thrashed by Melbourne in the 2nd semi final, missing both their skipper Frank Tuck and arguably their most talented player in Bill Twomey, the Magpies entered the 1958 grand final as the longest odds outsiders for years. The Demons, thought the experts, would be too quick, too skilled and much too cohesive for Collingwood, whose only potential trump card lay in the almost fanatical determination of its players, who 'Phonse' Kyne had ensured were imbued to the brim with awareness of and heartfelt devotion to the club's unique tradition, as well as an understanding of the damage to that tradition which would result from Melbourne emulating - and hence, inevitably, de-valuing - one of its chief cornerstones, the winning of an unprecedented four VFL flags in succession.

Grand final day was cool and very wet, but this did not prevent a large crowd of 97,956 turning up to see Melbourne explode out of the blocks in typical, vibrant, assured fashion. With 'big guns' Barassi, Mithen, Beckwith and Johnson firing, the Demons totally dominated the opening term, and when they entered the first change with a 5.1 to 2.2 lead the only question on most observers' minds - Collingwood supporters excepted - was 'how much Melbourne?'

During the 2nd term, however, a change came over the game. As the ground got heavier, so the pace slowed, and the normally elusive Melbourne players were at the wrong end of some fierce body clashes. Moreover, they reacted in such a way that Collingwood's 'enforcers', Murray Weideman and Barry 'Hooker' Harrison, sensing a weakness, "systematically roughed up the potential Melbourne match-winners, notably Barassi and Mithen, who seemed to be involved in almost every flare-up" Slowly but surely, as Melbourne players concentrated on avoiding danger, or on 'evening up' with Harrison and Weideman, the Magpies began to make inroads into the deficit, adding 5.4 to 2.3 for the quarter to end up 2 points to the good at the long break.

The 3rd quarter brought more fiery incidents, but in between it was the Magpies who were playing nearly all the football, rattling on 5.3 to the Demons' 2 solitary behinds to more or less seal the game. Although Melbourne attacked relentlessly for most of the final term, the Collingwood backline, notably full back Harry Sullivan and back pocket Ron Reeves, reigned supreme, and when the final siren sounded the scoreboard confirmed what was arguably the biggest grand final boil-over in the VFL since Melbourne's triumph over Essendon precisely a decade earlier: Collingwood 12.10 (82); Melbourne 9.10 (64).

The Magpies' victory had been achieved by means of a quintessential team performance in which every player carried his weight. Even so, some individuals inevitably stood out, notably diminutive rover Thorold Merrett, who was credited with 25 kicks, ruckmen Graeme Fellowes and Ray Gabelich, half forward Bill Serong, wingman Ken Turner (21 kicks and 11 marks) - plus, of course, the aforementioned 'strong man' duo of Weideman and Harrison and, particularly in the final term, the last line defenders Reeves and Sullivan.

Despite the intensely physical nature of the contest, the umpires made only two reports: Melbourne's Ron Barassi was charged with striking Murray Weideman, and Barry Harrison was alleged to have charged Barassi. Both players were exonerated at the tribunal.

To be continued...

[joffa corfe]

This report proudly bought to you by Coventry Boots

[joffa corfe]

Australian ruckman Ray Gabelich was signed by Collingwood in 1954 before he had even played a single senior game in his home state. Formidably built, he gave the Magpies great service in 161 VFL games from 1955 to 1960 and 1962 to 1966, winning a Copeland Trophy in 1960, and being chosen to represent the VFL. He spent the 1961 season back home in Western Australia where he played 18 games with West Perth and was a member that year of his native state's Australian championship winning side at the Brisbane carnival, securing All Australian selection and a Simpson Medal in the process. During the 1961-2 summer he played briefly with Waratahs in Darwin, which he later recalled as the toughest time of his entire football career.
Ray Gabelich entered football folk lore in 1964 with a fifty metre run, which culminated in a goal, during that season's VFL grand final against Melbourne (match reviewed here). Gabelich finished on the losing side that day, as he had in 1956 and 1960. He played in the Magpies' winning grand final team of 1958, however.

Born 3rd July 1933
Recruited from..Mt Hawthorn West Perth
First Played...StKilda round 3 1955
Last played..St Kilda Grand Final 1966
Total games played...160 day, 3 night, 5 interstate.
Total Goals kicked.. 43 day, 3 night, no goals kicked interstate.
Club Honours...Copeland trophy 1960. Runner up 1959. Third 1964. Captain 1964-5. Vice captain 1962-63.
Equal second Brownlow medal 1959.

To be continued..58-50 years on.

[neil]

Brilliant, keep up the good work, loved the bit on Harrison

[joffa corfe]

[joffa corfe]

A Collingwood stalwart for a decade, Ken Turner packed plenty of ability, drive and courage into his slightly stocky 178cm, 76kg frame. A staunch Magpie supporter as a youngster, he worked his way through the club's junior ranks before making his senior VFL debut in the 5th round of the 1956 season against Carlton at Princes Park. On 16 September that year he lined up on a half forward flank in the losing grand final against Melbourne, and he would later play in the losing play-offs of 1960 and 1964 against the same opposition. Turner's proudest moment, however, came in the winning 1958 grand final - yet again against Melbourne - when his dynamic, strong marking performance on the wing belied the wet, slippery conditions. A VFL interstate representative on 7 occasions, the last of Turner's 170 VFL games came in the losing preliminary final of 1965 against Essendon when he was close to best afield. He booted a total of 56 goals in his career, and was perhaps a touch unfortunate never to win a Copeland Trophy although he almost invariably polled well. After retiring as a player he continued to serve the club he loved as a committee man.

Born 30 June 1935
Recruited from Thirds
First Played..Carlton round 5 1956
Last played..Essendon Preliminary Final 1965
Total Games played.. 171 day 4 night 7 interstate
Total goals kicked.. 56 Day 2 Night 1 interstate
Club Honours.. Runner up Copeland trophy 1958. Third in Copeland trophy 1961 and 1965.
Best player in finals in 1958
Deputy Vice Captain 1961-1965
Committee 1966-1972
Life member.
Interstate representative 1961-1962 and 1963.
VFL representative 1960 V Bendigo
Guernsey number 36-1965. 11-1957-61
3- 1962-65

Celebrating The heroes from 1958-50 years on to be continued...

[joffa corfe]

The odds of chatting to a player from the 58 Premiership is presently looking very very good...

Also currently talking to a wonderful old time supporter who was at the game he is now 72. The yarns about Melbourne supporters are hilarious the bastards havn't changed one bit..the interview with him will take place next week..and will appear on both websites Nicks and the joffasfrontpage.

What a special premiership this one was..against all the odds..we rodgered the mongrels big time

[joffa corfe]

Just got off the phone to old Des who was at the game in 1958 lovely bloke.
After the 58 Premiership Club legends Syd Coventry and Gordon Carlyon stated very publicy it was Collingwood's greatest ever premiership..wow that coming from them two guys is saying something.

PS. Many past players regard this as our best ever centre line in the history of our club
Merrett... B.Twomey... Healey.

[joffa corfe]

Fact.

Only two warriors from the 1958 Premiership have passed on
Gabelich
Harrison.

[joffa corfe]

An Australia Post issue. To celebrate our most famous Premiership.

[joffa corfe]

This coffee mug was issued after the 1958 Premiership. In a day when merchandise was hardly heard of..which makes it all more incredible..if anyone has an original send it my way

[die4pies]

Magnificent work Joffa.

Our history defines who we are today.

The significance of the win is often focussed solely on protecting the 4 in a row and the fact that Melbourne came so close to 6 straight. Another important part of the win was the fact that this was the centenary premiership. Melbourne started football back in 1958, they played with themsleves for a year (Some say they haven't stopped after 150 years ) and were looking for a huge win in the 100th season of Australian Rules. Once again the Flatites pooped all over their party as only we know how.

Keep up the great work Joffa. People need to know just how great our aged Magpie breathren really were.