Interview With Peter Welsh

[The Coon Dog]

Peter Welsh - 165 games & 92 goals.

Best & Fairest 1972



TCD: Hi Peter, thank’s for your time.

PW: You’re welcome.

I have a confession to make. When I was a kid I had the #4 on the back of my jumper. My Mum worked at Borthwicks with your Dad back in about 1970. Actually your Dad Jack, played with Footdcray, didn’t he?

Yes, in unusual circumstances. He originally cam from Narrarndra & played rugby league. When he came down to Melbourne he started to play Aussie Rules with his mates & had only played a few games before Footscray invited him down.

Where did you grow up?

In Yarraville, so I played with F & Y Socials in the old FDL.

Given you Dad was a Bulldog, did you barrack for the club as a kid?

No, I supported Essendon & with a few mates would regularly trek out to Windy Hill. I admired John Somerville & always wanted to be like him.

When did you come to Footscray?

I was invited down in 1968 & that year played under 19’s, reserves & seniors.

Can you remember your first game?

Yes, it was against Collingwood at the Western Oval & I played on Ernie Hugg. We lost.

In 1975 you were first on the scene when Neil Sasche sustained his horrific neck injury.

Yes, & as you did in those day you tried to encourage them to get up. I knew it was serious when Neil said, ‘I can’t feel my legs.’

Did it affect the way you played as it did with Laurie Sandilands?

No, I understand that it’s a contact sport & was always mindful that an injury was always a possibility, but no, it didn’t affect the way I played.

Who were some of the better player you played with at Footscray?

* Gary Dempsey – Just the most outstanding mark I ever saw.
* David Thorpe – The was none better when it came to ball gathering.
* Kelvin Templeton – Outstanding, was head & shoulders above everyone else, particularly in his Brownlow year,
* Steven Power – Gave away height most weeks when on the half back flank.
* George Bissett – Verey courageous & a good overhead mark.
* Ian Dunstan – A very good player in a lesser team

What about some of your opponents?

* Jezza – Had a huge spring & could run flat out & bend down to pick up the ball without slowing down.
* Malcolm Blight – He could do anything, go both ways & use either side.
* Gary Wilson – He was a ‘stick figure’ but had a huge heart & went all day.
* Schimma – Great leader & was so determined. Applied 100% effort to everything he did.

Do you keep in touch with any of your former team mates?

Yes, living in Williamstown I regularly see Terry Wheeler & Barry Round prior to his move up to Queensland, Steven Power, Alan Stoneham & Ross Abbey.

Any funny stories you can share?

Because we were all relatively young & cheeky when I first started out we used to play pranks prior to training. Alan Stoneham had once filled Bluey Harpshire’s work boots with water. It started a round of tit for tat which saw Stoneham’s jocks coated with dencorub just prior to a team meeting. It was hard to keep a straight face as his face got progressively redder.

Did you ever get reported?

Yes, once, against Geelong. I had done my knee, but in those days you didn’t come off, you went to the forward line. I tried to punch the ball, but was a bit slow hobbling to it & collected Wayne Closter, then fell on top of him.

Bluey Hampshire then decided to remonstrate & we went toe to toe. I got rubbed out for 2 weeks & Bluey got 4.

Who were your coaches at Footscray & what were their strengths?

* Charlie Sutton – Taught us one on one, whereas most others concentrated on team fitness/tactics.
* Ted Whitten – Mr. Football, strutted around as if he owned the place. He was larger than life. I loved one of his traits, where if he was late getting to a dust up & it looked like finishing, he’d stand between our player & the opposition & throw his arms back & would say, ‘C’mon boys, let the umpire sort it out.’ In every instance he did this he’s whack the opposition player fair on the nose as he threw his arms back. I reckon I saw him do it half a dozen times.
* Bob Rose – A gentleman. A fantastic guy who instilled discipline in us. Was never really the same after his son’s car accident.
* Billy Goggin – Cheeky little bloke, who I had played against. He got us really fit & also worked on our individual skills. The best of the coaches I had.
* Don McKenzie – Don was ‘pinch hitting’ & I didn’t have much to do with him & I had done my knee for the second time & really struggled to come back.

What are some of your better memories?

Tough one. It was an honour in 1972 to win the Best & Fairest, but playing against Richmond in front of 80,000 fans & playing well was onother. I loved the battles with players like Royce Hart & Robert Walls. It was a challenge against those types of players.

When did you retire?

I was 27 but my knee’s were shot, so I went up to live in Bacchus Marsh whilst I taught Physical Education in Melton. I coached Bacchus Marsh for a season, but came back to live in Williamstown.

How did you feel when you heard the club was going to merge in 1989?

I though to myself, it’s got to this stage, has it?’ I went to the rally on the Sunday & bumped into Peter Gordon, who wanted to know my feelings. I got involved from there. I realised that it was more than just a footy club & had a place of importance to the wider community & supporters. I wasn’t going to let it go without a fight.

Happy with the way the place has changed & how things are progressing onfield?

Very happy. Campbell Rose is a magician, with some of what he’s achieved. I was fortunate enough to get a sneak peek at the Elite Learning Centre recently & with the leading edge stuff clubs crave these day, it might just give us that extra 1% we are looking for.

How will we go this year?

It’ll take a good team to beat us, for sure.

Thank’s for your time Peter.

You’re welcome.

[Twodogs]

Dencorub in your jocks?


Ouch!



Great read Barry.

[bornadog]

I remember big Welsh in the 70's when I was a teen. He was a little slow but very tough and could take a great grab.

[The Dogs Bollocks]

Thanks again TCD

Nice bloke, met him at a past players function.

[Fossie 32]

Good to see Peter interviewed before Johnno's record breaker - paying tribute to Brad.

[merantau]

Yes, another very good player for us who gave 100% every time he went out on the park.

[Twodogs]

Yes, another very good player for us who gave 100% every time he went out on the park.

Woosher wore the same number as the Bont I think.

[bornadog]

Woosher wore the same number as the Bont I think.

Yes he wore the number 4. I use to think he was a big bloke playing at CHF, but the Bont is actually slightly taller.

[Bulldog4life]

Living in Yarraville I always remembered the rumour.... or fact I'm not sure.... about Welshy. At 16 he couldn't get into his Footscray High footy team but at 17 he was playing AFL for the doggies.

[Twodogs]

Living in Yarraville I always remembered the rumour.... or fact I'm not sure.... about Welshy. At 16 he couldn't get into his Footscray High footy team but at 17 he was playing AFL for the doggies.

Geez. Even I got into the Footscray High footy team. The only reason I bothered with years eleven and twelve was playing footy, cricket and soccer.

[RGT]

living in yarraville i always remembered the rumour.... Or fact i'm not sure.... About welshy. At 16 he couldn't get into his footscray high footy team but at 17 he was playing afl for the doggies.

that is only partly true. Peter played in the footscray high footy team when he started as a vfl player. He was a dominant player but would succumb to sledging too easily and ended up belting a kid from another school and getting sent off by the umpy. I was coach of the team so after that game i dropped peter because i knew we could win the next game without him. But the team wasnt aware of that and complained about him being dropped but they needed to know they could win without him - which they did. They also won the western division high schools premiership that year and beat the central division premiers also.
Hope peter is well - and celebrating the doggies premiership win yesterday. Who is two dogs by the way?
Bob t

[Twodogs]

that is only partly true. Peter played in the footscray high footy team when he started as a vfl player. He was a dominant player but would succumb to sledging too easily and ended up belting a kid from another school and getting sent off by the umpy. I was coach of the team so after that game i dropped peter because i knew we could win the next game without him. But the team wasnt aware of that and complained about him being dropped but they needed to know they could win without him - which they did. They also won the western division high schools premiership that year and beat the central division premiers also.
Hope peter is well - and celebrating the doggies premiership win yesterday. Who is two dogs by the way?
Bob t

Hi Bob. Could you please set up an account so I can send you a message?