Pick Ups

[Twodogs]

I think you mean Jon Ballantyne not Jon Bennet.

Nup, I definitely mean Jon Bennett. Ballantyne played 5 or 6 years later and was a bone fide gun prospect from the bush, not from another league team. Bennett was a hopeful from St Kilda.

Bennett nearly won a game that we hadn't kicked a goal in until 3/4 time off his own boot on the last. It was a wet, wet day at Whitten Oval and Essendon led 3 goals to none at tge start of the last quarter. Bennett kicked 2 and put us in front with not long to go (think Royal kicked the other) but bloody Neil Cordy went wandering and was 30 metres away from his direct opponent who was standing in the goal square all by himself when Tim Watson spotted him and landed it on his chest.

*!*!*!*!ing Neil Cordy, there was 30 seconds to go in the match!

[Twodogs]

In the early 70s we picked up a blond-headed ruckman from Melbourne - Phil Baker? He was pretty good for a while.
In 67 we got Ken Greenwood from Carlton. He came 2nd in our B&F in his first year and played over 70 games - a good pick up.

The only Phil Baker I can think of is Snake Baker who played full forward for North. (Long bombs to Snake! Barrassis 3/4 time instructions in the the 1977 grand final replay) There was Gary Baker a ruckman who went from us to Melbourne. He did pretty well with them won a B&F (in a poor team) and played state footy.

[Jeanette54]

I remember Stewie Magee (South Melbourne), Ken Greenwood (Carlton), Bluey Hampshire (Geelong), and Robert McGhie (South Melbourne) from a few years ago.

[Twodogs]

There's some good memories associated with that list of names. Bruce Duperouzel played some cracking games for us as a loose man down back. The first time I saw him play he cut us to ribbons. He was a very good ball user, clever and could read the play well. Mark Kellett had the best "Don't argue of his era. Chris Hansen was a really solid defender. Stephen Lunn - an ordinary ordinary footballer. The Golden Greek specialised in the spectacular and shunned the mundane.
I didn't see much of the Phil the Shark as I was o/s at the time but I believe he was pretty handy.
I saw Les Bamblett intercept a handpass at the 'G' against the Pies and snap a goal. Fair dinkum, it happened that quick it was if he was psychic.
Emmett Dunne was in the Force. I once heard a wag at the Western Oval yell. "Dunne, you couldn't get a kick in an interview room."
Peter Foster was a terrific player. One of our best ever pick ups. Great mark, great kick. I wish we could find another like him

I know that Lallie Bamblett goal that you speak of, in fact I saw it on YouTube recently. He did it with trap doors. Les had a series of tunnels underneath all the grounds and every now and then he'd appear from one of his tunnels, intercept a handball or mark a pass meant for somebody else and waddle into the open goal while opponents ran into each other or fell over if there wasn't a teammate handy to run into. It's the only thing that makes any sense.

[GVGjr]

In the early 70s we picked up a blond-headed ruckman from Melbourne - Phil Baker? He was pretty good for a while.
In 67 we got Ken Greenwood from Carlton. He came 2nd in our B&F in his first year and played over 70 games - a good pick up.

I think it is Gary Baker and then Greg Parke from Melbourne.

[merantau]

The only Phil Baker I can think of is Snake Baker who played full forward for North. (Long bombs to Snake! Barrassis 3/4 time instructions in the the 1977 grand final replay) There was Gary Baker a ruckman who went from us to Melbourne. He did pretty well with them won a B&F (in a poor team) and played state footy.

Yes, you're right both times. Gary Baker it was. Jon Bennet completely passes me by. No recollection of him whatsoever. I was traveling between 73 and 75 - maybe that's why. In those days, if you wanted football news you had to find an Aussie embassy and check out some month old newspapers!

[merantau]

I know that Lallie Bamblett goal that you speak of, in fact I saw it on YouTube recently. He did it with trap doors. Les had a series of tunnels underneath all the grounds and every now and then he'd appear from one of his tunnels, intercept a handball or mark a pass meant for somebody else and waddle into the open goal while opponents ran into each other or fell over if there wasn't a teammate handy to run into. It's the only thing that makes any sense.

Yours is the only logical explanation TD. It was, and still is, a thing of wonderment.

[Bulldog4life]

I think it is Gary Baker and then Greg Parke from Melbourne.

Yes it was a direct swap between those players. Parke lasted a couple of years with us and played some good games. Early to mid 70's I think. Was an excellent mark at centre half forward.

[Bulldog4life]

I remember Stewie Magee (South Melbourne), Ken Greenwood (Carlton), Bluey Hampshire (Geelong), and Robert McGhie (South Melbourne) from a few years ago.

Stewie was a great pick up. Centreman and half forward. Played over 100 games with us. Ended up captaining our club too.

[Doc26]

Jose Romero switched to us from North Melbourne in 1995 and won the Charles Sutton Medal in 1996. Our best pick up, again in North Melbourne's own backyard, having just won the VFL's U19 Morrish Medal with them, is our Hall of Famer and Brownlow Medalist, Tony Liberatore.

[Mofra]

Jose Romero switched to us from North Melbourne in 1995 and won the Charles Sutton Medal in 1996. Our best pick up, again in North Melbourne's own backyard, having just won the VFL's U19 Morrish Medal with them, is our Hall of Famer and Brownlow Medalist, Tony Liberatore.

Does Scott Wynd count? Also zoned to North, they screwed up the paperwork (the year was wrong?) and we pounced.

[Twodogs]

Does Scott Wynd count? Also zoned to North, they screwed up the paperwork (the year was wrong?) and we pounced.

I can't remember how it happened (the year out of date thing sounds about right) but North had until Wynd turned 17 to sign him, they didn't and we did at a minute past midnight on his 17th birthday. I think it was in a hospital ward where Scott was recovering from knee surgery. Scott, his dad and Chooka Merrington (our recruiting guy at the time) were all there just waiting until midnight for North's hold to expire.

I used to love when we would name the Wynd Romero Liberatore first ruck. Jose Romero never played as a ruck rover in his life. I'm sure we only ever named them like that to tick North off!

[jeemak]

I can't remember how it happened (the year out of date thing sounds about right) but North had until Wynd turned 17 to sign him, they didn't and we did at a minute past midnight on his 17th birthday. I think it was in a hospital ward where Scott was recovering from knee surgery. Scott, his dad and Chooka Merrington (our recruiting guy at the time) were all there just waiting until midnight for North's hold to expire.

I used to love when we would name the Wynd Romero Liberatore first ruck. Jose Romero never played as a ruck rover in his life. I'm sure we only ever named them like that to tick North off!

We certainly showed North Melbourne with our lost preliminary finals while they were busy making grand finals and winning premierships!

Paul Hudson was an excellent get for us, 214 goals from 108 games was a solid return.........irrespective of his hungry behaviour that cost us a goal in the last quarter of the 97 prelim!

[Dry Rot]

I am waiting for Twodogs to nominate Ben Harrison.

[Twodogs]

I am waiting for Twodogs to nominate Ben Harrison.

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