The Coon Dog
14-05-2008, 05:04 PM
Robert Groenewegen 1978-86
79 Games 29 Goals
http://fnwb.com.au/images/fnwb_robertgroenewegen.jpg
TCD: Thanks very much for your time Robert.
RG: You’re welcome.
Let’s start with what most people want to know about; the 1985 plane trip.
You know what happens on the end of season trip stays on the end of season trip.
OK. Then let’s start with you as a junior. Where did you start your footy career
I began with Braybrook Football Club in the juniors.
Did you play there with anyone of note?
Yeah, this cheeky little bloke, you might have heard of him, name’s Doug Hawkins.
Must have been a handy team with you & Hawk in it?
It certainly was, we won 6 premierships & were runners up the other year.
How did you get to Footscray?
In 1977 I was still playing juniors in the morning & I played about 7 games in the seniors at Braybrook. I got selected to represent the FDL (Footscray District League) against other leagues & from there I made what is now the equivalent of Vic Metro.
So, you were spotted & Footscray came calling?
I had decided that I was going to have another season at Braybrook, but Billy Goggin & Bluey Hampshire came to my house & said they wanted me to play with Footscray, not Braybrook.
Your first year at Footscray was 1978; did you play reserves that season?
Mostly, tho I managed to play 6 games in the seniors that year.
Can you remember your debut?
Yes, it was against Melbourne at the MCG. I received a handball from Ted Whitten Jnr. & kicked a goal. We won a close game.
In those days a win would have been celebrated long & hard.
Yes, it was funny. About that time mixing with the opposition after a game was being phased out, We usually ended up in the Social Club, but it was often too crowded so we’d end up elsewhere.
What stands out as a highlight in your time at the Bulldogs?
The semi final in 1985 when we beat North Melbourne.
When did you finish your career at Footscray?
I finished up at the end of the 1987 season. I didn’t manage a senior game that year & was Captain of the reserves. After the season Mick Malthouse told me my chances would be limited.
Where did you go after Footscray?
I went down to Tasmania & coached Glenorchy for a season.
Did you play on after that?
Yes, I came back to Melbourne & played a season with Williamstown in the VFA. I then went back to Tasmania & played for 7 seasons with North Launceston. I finally retired at the ripe old age of 37.
You’re still in Launceston?
Yes, I’m the Venue Manager at Aurora Stadium.
How did you end up there?
I was originally a town planner & was working with the City of Launceston & became heavily involved in the redevelopment at the ground.
So, was it your fault over the St.Kilda v Fremantle ‘sirengate’ affair?
It wasn’t one of my most enjoyable weeks, but to be honest it was a time keeping error. The siren sounded & the umpire signaled for a ball up. The time keeper assumed the umpires signal was to acknowledge he had heard the siren. The time keeper then looked down to attend to some paperwork & unbeknowns to him the game continued.
Looking forward to the Bulldogs coming down in a few weeks?
Sure am, even before playing for the club I barracked for them & have all my life.
Some of the better players who were at the club in your time?
• Doug Hawkins – I played all my junior career with ‘The Hawk’ & just marveled at his skill level, even after returning from a serious knee injury.
• Simon Beasley – Funny looking bloke with that big melon of his, but gee he was courageous.
• Brian Royal – A fantastic footballer, wonderful, just hard at it.
• Brian Cordy – So consistent, Toby never let you down.
• Peter Foster – Just hard at it too.
• Andrew Purser – Undersized ruckman who just went at it all day.
Some of the better players you saw for the opposition?
• Paul Roos – I was used as a defensive forward & often took the resting ruckman as he came down, which was when Roos took off, you would look around for him & he’d be gone.
• Malcolm Blight – He did some damage to us. I once played on him. Wish I’d never after that.
• Leigh Matthews – I admired him immensely, just a great footballer.
OK, the plane trip?
All right, it was very much an incident that was blown out of all proportion. There were a few problems on the first leg, from Melbourne to Fiji. That was when I became ‘Captain Groenewegen’. A few pests (who shall remain nameless) played up on the second leg from Fiji to Hawaii, tho I don’t know for sure who as I was asleep most of this leg.
You must remember times were different & we were drinking most of the night before at the North Melbourne Social Club. When we got to the airport we hopped right into it again at the Kangaroo Bar.
The pests weren’t Shorty Daniels & Budgie were they?
Laughs. They might have been.
The team photo in the Western Times?
Laughs again. I didn’t think they would have published that. Copped heaps over it from my team mates tho.
Incidentally, I saw in the NAB U’18 Championships a Joseph Groenewegen staring for Tasmania, any relation?
Yes, he’s my son.
How many games did you play for Footscary?
79.
Damn, another potential father/son dashed by a handful of games. Thanks for your time Robert.
79 Games 29 Goals
http://fnwb.com.au/images/fnwb_robertgroenewegen.jpg
TCD: Thanks very much for your time Robert.
RG: You’re welcome.
Let’s start with what most people want to know about; the 1985 plane trip.
You know what happens on the end of season trip stays on the end of season trip.
OK. Then let’s start with you as a junior. Where did you start your footy career
I began with Braybrook Football Club in the juniors.
Did you play there with anyone of note?
Yeah, this cheeky little bloke, you might have heard of him, name’s Doug Hawkins.
Must have been a handy team with you & Hawk in it?
It certainly was, we won 6 premierships & were runners up the other year.
How did you get to Footscray?
In 1977 I was still playing juniors in the morning & I played about 7 games in the seniors at Braybrook. I got selected to represent the FDL (Footscray District League) against other leagues & from there I made what is now the equivalent of Vic Metro.
So, you were spotted & Footscray came calling?
I had decided that I was going to have another season at Braybrook, but Billy Goggin & Bluey Hampshire came to my house & said they wanted me to play with Footscray, not Braybrook.
Your first year at Footscray was 1978; did you play reserves that season?
Mostly, tho I managed to play 6 games in the seniors that year.
Can you remember your debut?
Yes, it was against Melbourne at the MCG. I received a handball from Ted Whitten Jnr. & kicked a goal. We won a close game.
In those days a win would have been celebrated long & hard.
Yes, it was funny. About that time mixing with the opposition after a game was being phased out, We usually ended up in the Social Club, but it was often too crowded so we’d end up elsewhere.
What stands out as a highlight in your time at the Bulldogs?
The semi final in 1985 when we beat North Melbourne.
When did you finish your career at Footscray?
I finished up at the end of the 1987 season. I didn’t manage a senior game that year & was Captain of the reserves. After the season Mick Malthouse told me my chances would be limited.
Where did you go after Footscray?
I went down to Tasmania & coached Glenorchy for a season.
Did you play on after that?
Yes, I came back to Melbourne & played a season with Williamstown in the VFA. I then went back to Tasmania & played for 7 seasons with North Launceston. I finally retired at the ripe old age of 37.
You’re still in Launceston?
Yes, I’m the Venue Manager at Aurora Stadium.
How did you end up there?
I was originally a town planner & was working with the City of Launceston & became heavily involved in the redevelopment at the ground.
So, was it your fault over the St.Kilda v Fremantle ‘sirengate’ affair?
It wasn’t one of my most enjoyable weeks, but to be honest it was a time keeping error. The siren sounded & the umpire signaled for a ball up. The time keeper assumed the umpires signal was to acknowledge he had heard the siren. The time keeper then looked down to attend to some paperwork & unbeknowns to him the game continued.
Looking forward to the Bulldogs coming down in a few weeks?
Sure am, even before playing for the club I barracked for them & have all my life.
Some of the better players who were at the club in your time?
• Doug Hawkins – I played all my junior career with ‘The Hawk’ & just marveled at his skill level, even after returning from a serious knee injury.
• Simon Beasley – Funny looking bloke with that big melon of his, but gee he was courageous.
• Brian Royal – A fantastic footballer, wonderful, just hard at it.
• Brian Cordy – So consistent, Toby never let you down.
• Peter Foster – Just hard at it too.
• Andrew Purser – Undersized ruckman who just went at it all day.
Some of the better players you saw for the opposition?
• Paul Roos – I was used as a defensive forward & often took the resting ruckman as he came down, which was when Roos took off, you would look around for him & he’d be gone.
• Malcolm Blight – He did some damage to us. I once played on him. Wish I’d never after that.
• Leigh Matthews – I admired him immensely, just a great footballer.
OK, the plane trip?
All right, it was very much an incident that was blown out of all proportion. There were a few problems on the first leg, from Melbourne to Fiji. That was when I became ‘Captain Groenewegen’. A few pests (who shall remain nameless) played up on the second leg from Fiji to Hawaii, tho I don’t know for sure who as I was asleep most of this leg.
You must remember times were different & we were drinking most of the night before at the North Melbourne Social Club. When we got to the airport we hopped right into it again at the Kangaroo Bar.
The pests weren’t Shorty Daniels & Budgie were they?
Laughs. They might have been.
The team photo in the Western Times?
Laughs again. I didn’t think they would have published that. Copped heaps over it from my team mates tho.
Incidentally, I saw in the NAB U’18 Championships a Joseph Groenewegen staring for Tasmania, any relation?
Yes, he’s my son.
How many games did you play for Footscary?
79.
Damn, another potential father/son dashed by a handful of games. Thanks for your time Robert.