The Coon Dog
28-07-2008, 05:28 PM
Andrew Purser, 1983-1987, 112 games & 16 goals
Best & Fairest 1984
http://i6.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/00/ed/b1a7_1_b.JPG
TCD: Hi Andrew & welcome to WOOF.
AP: You’re welcome & thank you for inviting me.
Where did you grow up?
We lived on a farm in a little town called Mogumber, which is 140 km’s north of Perth. Basically all there was there was a pub, a railway station & a native mission where young aboriginal children were relocated.
There were about 100 kids that attended the local school & about 80 of them were from the mission. We used to play footy at lunchtime & afterschool. Gee those kids were good & just so quick.
When did you move to Perth?
I attended boarding school at Swanleigh, so I moved there when I commenced High School.
Who did you play for in the WAFL?
It was strange, but because of where I grew up, I was zoned to East Fremantle, even tho I really knew very little of the club as I was from the other side of Perth.
Who did you barrack for as a kid?
I supported Swan Districts in the WAFL & in the VFL many West Australian’s had a soft spot for North Melbourne as many former WA players such as Barry Cable went to the Kangaroos.
So how did you become a Bulldog?
Prior to the draft we see now, there was an earlier version that commenced in 1981. At the end of 1982 Footscray, who had finished last drafted me with the first selection.
Was that a surprise?
Yes, it was expected that Gary Shaw, an onballer from Claremont was going to be the number 1 pick, but he slipped to number 3 where Collingwood secured him. There was speculation that Collingwood had paid a significant financial inducement to both Footscray & St.Kilda to overlook him.
Do you remember your fist game with Footscray?
Yes, it was against Geelong at VFL Park. There were a heap of us that made our debuts that day. We lost by 5 goals.
You won the Charles Sutton Medal in 1984, was that a surprise?
It was strange. Doug Hawkins was the favourite & he had a huge entourage there that night. I won by one vote & you could have heard a pin drop!
How did you get the nickname ‘Polly’?
When I was at East Fremantle, Tony Buhagiar joked one night that I was our next Polly Farmer. It just stuck from there.
It was a real surprise when you retired at the end of 1987. You were only 29 years old. What prompted that decision?
I was a stockbroker & the market crashed in October 1987. That coupled with the wear & tear on the body after 5 years of having these giants jump all over & into me. My batteries had run flat too & I spoke with my wife & we decided to return to Perth.
Was Mick Malthouse happy with that decision?
No, but he accepted my reasoning. I wanted to go out while I was on top.
Did you play again when you returned to Perth?
I was talked into it by Bruce Monteath at West Perth & had a run pre season, but East Fremantle wouldn’t clear me, unless a sizeable fee was exchanged. I thought it easier all round if I just hung up the boots.
Earlier you mentioned being jumped into. Who were some of the better ruckman you played against?
There were so many back then, for example, if you played Essendon Sheedy threw Simon Madden at you, then Paul Salmon & then Roger Merrett. Mark Lee at Richmond was tough & physical & Peter Moore was up & about as well as John Mossop at Geelong, Justin Madden at Carlton & Matt Rendell at Fitzroy. I hated playing St.Kilda as they had 2 nutcases in Jeff Sarau & Wow Jones who'd rather a fight than a feed & they were into all day, mad buggers they were!
What about some of your team mates?
• Doug Hawkins – An outstanding player, his body work one on one was just terrific. We had a set play where Rick would kick out from full back to Doug & you just knew he’d get the ball. His one handed pick ups off wet & heavy grounds too were a delight.
• Rick Kennedy – A strong leader & a great influence at the club. Tough & uncompromising.
• Brian Royal – Just had the knack of where to go to get the ball & kick a goal.
• Tony McGuinness – Very skillful & had a lovely long raking left foot kick.
• Simon Beasley – A great focal point & he often kicked really difficult goals. Kicked big bags on occasions too.
• Jim Edmond – Jock was a great character & a terrific leader. It’s a shame he went to Sydney in 1986.
• Peter Foster – A fantastic centre half back who made his opponents work for every kick.
Who was the Bulldog’s ruck coach during your time at the club?
Sam Newman. He was fantastic, but very injury prone too. He modelled his style on Polly Farmer.
Did he use videos back then?
Yes, but nowhere near as sophisticated as we see today. He used to get Fred Cook to edit some tapes & just put highlights together.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster, if any of the rumours about Cookie’s videos are true.
Funny you should say that. One day my wife’s parents were over & Sam rocked up large as life & said to my in-laws, I’ve got a tape of some of Andrew’s highlights & he wacked the video into the machine.
Unfortunately it was one of Freddie’s blue movies featuring him going at it hammer & tongs. Poor Sam just couldn't find the stop button on the remote. He became extremely embarrassed & beat a hasty retreat.
Do you still have an interest in football?
Yes, I still follow the Bulldogs. That created a few concerns at one stage. Mick asked me to be the Eagles ruck coach from 1992-1994. I made it very clear to Mick that my loyalty was to Footscray & I wouldn’t help out when the Eagles & the Bulldogs played one another. No way was I going to work against the club I had spilt blood for! Mick was OK with that.
Do your children barrack for the Bulldogs?
Unfortunately no, my Mother in Law corrupted them when the Eagles were the only team in town.
How old are they?
Ben is 18, he is a very good basketballer & is hoping to get a scholarship to a University in America to further his basketball & Emma is 14.
Do you get to Bulldogs games in Perth?
When I can, tho it’s hard as they often schedule games on a Sunday afternoon, which is usually the time I’m watching my son play basketball.
Funny, one game a while back my wife & I were with Ben at the entrance to the Bulldogs rooms. Libba came out & walked up to my wife & started chatting with her. Ben was incredulous! Do you really know him Mum? This was when Libba was public enemy number 1 after really giving it Ben Cousins one day.
Thank you so much for your time Andrew.
That’s fine, glad to help & good luck with your website.
Best & Fairest 1984
http://i6.ebayimg.com/02/i/001/00/ed/b1a7_1_b.JPG
TCD: Hi Andrew & welcome to WOOF.
AP: You’re welcome & thank you for inviting me.
Where did you grow up?
We lived on a farm in a little town called Mogumber, which is 140 km’s north of Perth. Basically all there was there was a pub, a railway station & a native mission where young aboriginal children were relocated.
There were about 100 kids that attended the local school & about 80 of them were from the mission. We used to play footy at lunchtime & afterschool. Gee those kids were good & just so quick.
When did you move to Perth?
I attended boarding school at Swanleigh, so I moved there when I commenced High School.
Who did you play for in the WAFL?
It was strange, but because of where I grew up, I was zoned to East Fremantle, even tho I really knew very little of the club as I was from the other side of Perth.
Who did you barrack for as a kid?
I supported Swan Districts in the WAFL & in the VFL many West Australian’s had a soft spot for North Melbourne as many former WA players such as Barry Cable went to the Kangaroos.
So how did you become a Bulldog?
Prior to the draft we see now, there was an earlier version that commenced in 1981. At the end of 1982 Footscray, who had finished last drafted me with the first selection.
Was that a surprise?
Yes, it was expected that Gary Shaw, an onballer from Claremont was going to be the number 1 pick, but he slipped to number 3 where Collingwood secured him. There was speculation that Collingwood had paid a significant financial inducement to both Footscray & St.Kilda to overlook him.
Do you remember your fist game with Footscray?
Yes, it was against Geelong at VFL Park. There were a heap of us that made our debuts that day. We lost by 5 goals.
You won the Charles Sutton Medal in 1984, was that a surprise?
It was strange. Doug Hawkins was the favourite & he had a huge entourage there that night. I won by one vote & you could have heard a pin drop!
How did you get the nickname ‘Polly’?
When I was at East Fremantle, Tony Buhagiar joked one night that I was our next Polly Farmer. It just stuck from there.
It was a real surprise when you retired at the end of 1987. You were only 29 years old. What prompted that decision?
I was a stockbroker & the market crashed in October 1987. That coupled with the wear & tear on the body after 5 years of having these giants jump all over & into me. My batteries had run flat too & I spoke with my wife & we decided to return to Perth.
Was Mick Malthouse happy with that decision?
No, but he accepted my reasoning. I wanted to go out while I was on top.
Did you play again when you returned to Perth?
I was talked into it by Bruce Monteath at West Perth & had a run pre season, but East Fremantle wouldn’t clear me, unless a sizeable fee was exchanged. I thought it easier all round if I just hung up the boots.
Earlier you mentioned being jumped into. Who were some of the better ruckman you played against?
There were so many back then, for example, if you played Essendon Sheedy threw Simon Madden at you, then Paul Salmon & then Roger Merrett. Mark Lee at Richmond was tough & physical & Peter Moore was up & about as well as John Mossop at Geelong, Justin Madden at Carlton & Matt Rendell at Fitzroy. I hated playing St.Kilda as they had 2 nutcases in Jeff Sarau & Wow Jones who'd rather a fight than a feed & they were into all day, mad buggers they were!
What about some of your team mates?
• Doug Hawkins – An outstanding player, his body work one on one was just terrific. We had a set play where Rick would kick out from full back to Doug & you just knew he’d get the ball. His one handed pick ups off wet & heavy grounds too were a delight.
• Rick Kennedy – A strong leader & a great influence at the club. Tough & uncompromising.
• Brian Royal – Just had the knack of where to go to get the ball & kick a goal.
• Tony McGuinness – Very skillful & had a lovely long raking left foot kick.
• Simon Beasley – A great focal point & he often kicked really difficult goals. Kicked big bags on occasions too.
• Jim Edmond – Jock was a great character & a terrific leader. It’s a shame he went to Sydney in 1986.
• Peter Foster – A fantastic centre half back who made his opponents work for every kick.
Who was the Bulldog’s ruck coach during your time at the club?
Sam Newman. He was fantastic, but very injury prone too. He modelled his style on Polly Farmer.
Did he use videos back then?
Yes, but nowhere near as sophisticated as we see today. He used to get Fred Cook to edit some tapes & just put highlights together.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster, if any of the rumours about Cookie’s videos are true.
Funny you should say that. One day my wife’s parents were over & Sam rocked up large as life & said to my in-laws, I’ve got a tape of some of Andrew’s highlights & he wacked the video into the machine.
Unfortunately it was one of Freddie’s blue movies featuring him going at it hammer & tongs. Poor Sam just couldn't find the stop button on the remote. He became extremely embarrassed & beat a hasty retreat.
Do you still have an interest in football?
Yes, I still follow the Bulldogs. That created a few concerns at one stage. Mick asked me to be the Eagles ruck coach from 1992-1994. I made it very clear to Mick that my loyalty was to Footscray & I wouldn’t help out when the Eagles & the Bulldogs played one another. No way was I going to work against the club I had spilt blood for! Mick was OK with that.
Do your children barrack for the Bulldogs?
Unfortunately no, my Mother in Law corrupted them when the Eagles were the only team in town.
How old are they?
Ben is 18, he is a very good basketballer & is hoping to get a scholarship to a University in America to further his basketball & Emma is 14.
Do you get to Bulldogs games in Perth?
When I can, tho it’s hard as they often schedule games on a Sunday afternoon, which is usually the time I’m watching my son play basketball.
Funny, one game a while back my wife & I were with Ben at the entrance to the Bulldogs rooms. Libba came out & walked up to my wife & started chatting with her. Ben was incredulous! Do you really know him Mum? This was when Libba was public enemy number 1 after really giving it Ben Cousins one day.
Thank you so much for your time Andrew.
That’s fine, glad to help & good luck with your website.