The Coon Dog
22-04-2009, 01:35 PM
Tony McGuinness
Footscray 1986 - 1990 (109 games, 57 goals)
Adelaide 1991 - 1996 (113 games, 60 goals)
http://i2.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f8/0e/53e8_1.JPG http://i1.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/37/73/8472_1.JPG
TCD: Tony, thank you so much for your time. I've had a few people ask me to have a chat with yourself.
TMcG: You're welcome.
Where did you grow up?
Glenelg.
As a boy did you barrack for the Bays?
No, funnily I supported Woodville. They had 3 players who I really rated; Malcolm Blight, Craig McKellar & Ray Huppatz.
Did you support a team in Victoria.
Yes, Hawthorn.
Where did you play your junior footy?
I started off playing school footy, but Glenelg had a really well structured junior program & I played with the junior squads at Glenelg until I was 16, then I played seniors in 1981.
How did you come to Footscray's attention?
Not without a little bit of drama. There was the very first VFL draft in 1981& I was drafted by Geelong. I didn't come across but I signed a form 4 tying me to them.
In 1985 Shane O'Sullivan was in Adelaide & I met him. He was responsible for Carlton recruiting Stephen Kernahan & he convinced me to join Footscray. I'm not sure what technicalities were involved, but they sorted them out & I came across to Victoria in 1986.
That was probably a good time to come over as there were quite a number of South Australian's who had come across so it made the transition a little easier & we formed pretty good friendships too.
Do you remember your first game with Footscray?
Yes, it was easter Monday so I had to wait all weekend. We played St.Kilda at the Western Oval & I kicked a goal with my first kick. We won by 17 points, but the talking point was the battle that raged all day between Rick Kennedy & Tony Lockett.
Did you enjoy your time at the Bulldogs?
Yes, very much. If a side hadn't been established in SA I would have been happy to see out my career with Footscray.
We were around the mark each of my years at the club except for 1989, but unfortunately we never quite made it to the finals. Probably the biggest disappointment was losing the round 22 clash against Melbourne at a packed Western Oval in 1987.
I really enjoyed 1990. The rally attended by 10,000 people is something I'll never forget. The terrific leadership of Peter Gordon, Terry Wheeler & Doug Hawkins were crucial in my view. A smart move appointing a couple of local boys as captain & coach. The success of that rally & raising all the money saved the club.
Which Bulldogs player stand out for you?
* Doug Hawkins - Outstanding skills, very very tough & strong around the ball.
* Simon Beasley - Tough one on one, outstanding on the lead & a terrific mark.
* Peter Foster - Could play CHB/CHF, just so strong & a great kick.
* Andrew Purser - A strong leader, not massive as a ruckman but rarely beaten.
* Rick Kennedy - A great captain who was as tough as nail at full back, but if needed could pinch hit up forward.
* Brian Royal - Had the ability to finish off so well.
* Steve Wallis - Just had the ability to find the ball.
* Scott Wynd - An outstanding leader.
* Chris Grant - Probably up there with Ted & Doug as the greatest players to represent the club.
* Leon Cameron - Great user of the ball by foot, either side too.
In 1991 The Adelaide Crows Football Club commenced in the AFL. You were obviously one of the first players the new club would have been interested in. Did you need much persuading?
No, not at all. I had always said that i would return to Adelaide. I have a very strong connection of family & friends over here, very strong.The formation of the Crows just hastened my return home earlier than I envisaged.
What about that first game for the Crows against Hawthorn?
It was massive! there was a huge build up to the game. We played Essendon in a practice game one Friday night & there was over 50,000 people there, so we knew it was going to be big, but to beat Hawthorn by 87 points was beyond everyone's imagination.
Do you recall who kicked the first ever AFL goal for the Crows?
I think it might have been me. A free kick for holding the ball against a great mate of mine, John Platten
You finished up at Adelaide in 1996 & if I recall rightly you were going to play for Sydney who undertook to draft you in the PSD. What happened there?
Sydney were over the salary cap. The AFL advised them that they were not eligible for a PSD pick, so that was it for me, retired.
Who were some of the better players you played with in your time at Adelaide?
* Chris McDermott - Tough, always at the bottom of the pack.
* Andrew Jarman - Outstanding ball gatherer & a terrific guy.
* Mark Riccuito - A bit like Doug in a way, terrific skills & very tough.
* Andrew McLeod - Just a brilliant player & knew how to find the ball.
* Shaun Rehn - Great competitor & huge effort to come back after 2 knee reco's.
* Tyson Edwards - Very skilled & a great ball gatherer.
What about some of you opponents?
* Stephen Kernahan - I was fortunate enough to play with him at Glenelg & in State of Origin. The best player I played against, just his ability to impact a game.
* John Platten - Great worker, worked his socks off all day.
* Craig Bradley - Just ran all day, knew how to get the ball & was exceptionally skillful.
* Andrew Bews - Strong competitor, hard at the ball & thought nothing of clipping you over the head but was always the first to shake your hand when the game ended.
* Paul Roos - It's no surprise he has coached an AFL Premiership. Just read the game so well. Terrific bloke too. We met up on a Gaelic tour to Ireland & have been close friends ever since.
You mentioned State of Origin games. How did you enjoy those?
Loved them! As good as you could get. Massive atmosphere, huge crowds & they brought out the best in you. It was tough though, in those days you played Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.
Who were your coaches in the AFL?
* Mick Malthouse - An extremely demanding & tough coach. He was perfect for me, hard but fair & he was the largest single influence on my career.
* Terry Wheeler - Perfect timing, had a history with the club, coached the reserves & was just the logical choice as coach.
* Graham Cornes - Had the ability to extract the best out of his players.
* Robert Shaw - Smart, a great footy brain, but I'm not sure the Adelaide supporters fully accepted him.
What have you done since retiring?
I coached Glenelg for 3 years from 1998-2000. We made the finals in 1999.
I had a sports store chain (Rowe & Jarman) that we built up from 1 store to 40 stores when I sold out in 2005.
For the past 5 years I have been an assistant coach at Port Adelaide & along with Matthew Primus, look after the midfield.
A huge part of my life though has been the setting up of the McGuinnes McDermott Foundation (MMF). In 1996 Chris McDermott & myself decided to raise money after we met 2 young boys who were seriously ill with cancer. Unfortunately they both passed away. The aim of the MMF is to raise money for children with cancer & serious illness & we have raised more than $10 million, which the Women's & Children's Hospital have been able to put to good use.
I probably put in 20 - 30 hours per week on a voluntary basis.
Is there a website for the MMF?
Yes, it's www.mcfoundation.com.au
http://www.rivergumhomes.com.au/fileadmin/template/images/McGuinnessLogo.jpg
Married/children?
Yes & Yes. My wife Georgina is a weekend newsreader on Channel 9 & we have 4 children; Charlotte 16, Lucy 13, Arabella 11 & Oscar 9.
Tony, thank you so much for your time & I really wish you & the MMF well.
You're welcome.
Footscray 1986 - 1990 (109 games, 57 goals)
Adelaide 1991 - 1996 (113 games, 60 goals)
http://i2.ebayimg.com/07/i/000/f8/0e/53e8_1.JPG http://i1.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/37/73/8472_1.JPG
TCD: Tony, thank you so much for your time. I've had a few people ask me to have a chat with yourself.
TMcG: You're welcome.
Where did you grow up?
Glenelg.
As a boy did you barrack for the Bays?
No, funnily I supported Woodville. They had 3 players who I really rated; Malcolm Blight, Craig McKellar & Ray Huppatz.
Did you support a team in Victoria.
Yes, Hawthorn.
Where did you play your junior footy?
I started off playing school footy, but Glenelg had a really well structured junior program & I played with the junior squads at Glenelg until I was 16, then I played seniors in 1981.
How did you come to Footscray's attention?
Not without a little bit of drama. There was the very first VFL draft in 1981& I was drafted by Geelong. I didn't come across but I signed a form 4 tying me to them.
In 1985 Shane O'Sullivan was in Adelaide & I met him. He was responsible for Carlton recruiting Stephen Kernahan & he convinced me to join Footscray. I'm not sure what technicalities were involved, but they sorted them out & I came across to Victoria in 1986.
That was probably a good time to come over as there were quite a number of South Australian's who had come across so it made the transition a little easier & we formed pretty good friendships too.
Do you remember your first game with Footscray?
Yes, it was easter Monday so I had to wait all weekend. We played St.Kilda at the Western Oval & I kicked a goal with my first kick. We won by 17 points, but the talking point was the battle that raged all day between Rick Kennedy & Tony Lockett.
Did you enjoy your time at the Bulldogs?
Yes, very much. If a side hadn't been established in SA I would have been happy to see out my career with Footscray.
We were around the mark each of my years at the club except for 1989, but unfortunately we never quite made it to the finals. Probably the biggest disappointment was losing the round 22 clash against Melbourne at a packed Western Oval in 1987.
I really enjoyed 1990. The rally attended by 10,000 people is something I'll never forget. The terrific leadership of Peter Gordon, Terry Wheeler & Doug Hawkins were crucial in my view. A smart move appointing a couple of local boys as captain & coach. The success of that rally & raising all the money saved the club.
Which Bulldogs player stand out for you?
* Doug Hawkins - Outstanding skills, very very tough & strong around the ball.
* Simon Beasley - Tough one on one, outstanding on the lead & a terrific mark.
* Peter Foster - Could play CHB/CHF, just so strong & a great kick.
* Andrew Purser - A strong leader, not massive as a ruckman but rarely beaten.
* Rick Kennedy - A great captain who was as tough as nail at full back, but if needed could pinch hit up forward.
* Brian Royal - Had the ability to finish off so well.
* Steve Wallis - Just had the ability to find the ball.
* Scott Wynd - An outstanding leader.
* Chris Grant - Probably up there with Ted & Doug as the greatest players to represent the club.
* Leon Cameron - Great user of the ball by foot, either side too.
In 1991 The Adelaide Crows Football Club commenced in the AFL. You were obviously one of the first players the new club would have been interested in. Did you need much persuading?
No, not at all. I had always said that i would return to Adelaide. I have a very strong connection of family & friends over here, very strong.The formation of the Crows just hastened my return home earlier than I envisaged.
What about that first game for the Crows against Hawthorn?
It was massive! there was a huge build up to the game. We played Essendon in a practice game one Friday night & there was over 50,000 people there, so we knew it was going to be big, but to beat Hawthorn by 87 points was beyond everyone's imagination.
Do you recall who kicked the first ever AFL goal for the Crows?
I think it might have been me. A free kick for holding the ball against a great mate of mine, John Platten
You finished up at Adelaide in 1996 & if I recall rightly you were going to play for Sydney who undertook to draft you in the PSD. What happened there?
Sydney were over the salary cap. The AFL advised them that they were not eligible for a PSD pick, so that was it for me, retired.
Who were some of the better players you played with in your time at Adelaide?
* Chris McDermott - Tough, always at the bottom of the pack.
* Andrew Jarman - Outstanding ball gatherer & a terrific guy.
* Mark Riccuito - A bit like Doug in a way, terrific skills & very tough.
* Andrew McLeod - Just a brilliant player & knew how to find the ball.
* Shaun Rehn - Great competitor & huge effort to come back after 2 knee reco's.
* Tyson Edwards - Very skilled & a great ball gatherer.
What about some of you opponents?
* Stephen Kernahan - I was fortunate enough to play with him at Glenelg & in State of Origin. The best player I played against, just his ability to impact a game.
* John Platten - Great worker, worked his socks off all day.
* Craig Bradley - Just ran all day, knew how to get the ball & was exceptionally skillful.
* Andrew Bews - Strong competitor, hard at the ball & thought nothing of clipping you over the head but was always the first to shake your hand when the game ended.
* Paul Roos - It's no surprise he has coached an AFL Premiership. Just read the game so well. Terrific bloke too. We met up on a Gaelic tour to Ireland & have been close friends ever since.
You mentioned State of Origin games. How did you enjoy those?
Loved them! As good as you could get. Massive atmosphere, huge crowds & they brought out the best in you. It was tough though, in those days you played Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday.
Who were your coaches in the AFL?
* Mick Malthouse - An extremely demanding & tough coach. He was perfect for me, hard but fair & he was the largest single influence on my career.
* Terry Wheeler - Perfect timing, had a history with the club, coached the reserves & was just the logical choice as coach.
* Graham Cornes - Had the ability to extract the best out of his players.
* Robert Shaw - Smart, a great footy brain, but I'm not sure the Adelaide supporters fully accepted him.
What have you done since retiring?
I coached Glenelg for 3 years from 1998-2000. We made the finals in 1999.
I had a sports store chain (Rowe & Jarman) that we built up from 1 store to 40 stores when I sold out in 2005.
For the past 5 years I have been an assistant coach at Port Adelaide & along with Matthew Primus, look after the midfield.
A huge part of my life though has been the setting up of the McGuinnes McDermott Foundation (MMF). In 1996 Chris McDermott & myself decided to raise money after we met 2 young boys who were seriously ill with cancer. Unfortunately they both passed away. The aim of the MMF is to raise money for children with cancer & serious illness & we have raised more than $10 million, which the Women's & Children's Hospital have been able to put to good use.
I probably put in 20 - 30 hours per week on a voluntary basis.
Is there a website for the MMF?
Yes, it's www.mcfoundation.com.au
http://www.rivergumhomes.com.au/fileadmin/template/images/McGuinnessLogo.jpg
Married/children?
Yes & Yes. My wife Georgina is a weekend newsreader on Channel 9 & we have 4 children; Charlotte 16, Lucy 13, Arabella 11 & Oscar 9.
Tony, thank you so much for your time & I really wish you & the MMF well.
You're welcome.