50 Year Anniversary, Neil Sachse Tragedy, April 12th 1975-2025

[Mat Lyons]

It's 50 years today since Neil Sachse, in his second game, collided with Kevin O'Keefe of Fitzroy and never walked again.

Any memories of that day for those who were present and the aftermath/impact on players and the Club?

[Jeanette54]

I was there that day; can't believe it was 50 years ago. I remember the hush that fell over the ground, I guess that maybe the player's body language communicated to the crowd that this was no ordinary incident. If memory serves correct Laurie Sandilands was Captain at the time, and he was visibly upset. We won, but it was almost like both sides just went through the motions after that. The game just didn't seem to matter anymore.

[Mat Lyons]

I was there that day; can't believe it was 50 years ago. I remember the hush that fell over the ground, I guess that maybe the player's body language communicated to the crowd that this was no ordinary incident. If memory serves correct Laurie Sandilands was Captain at the time, and he was visibly upset. We won, but it was almost like both sides just went through the motions after that. The game just didn't seem to matter anymore.

Yep, that's correct. Laurie spoke with me last year about the trauma of the incident and how none of the players received counselling at the time, which eventually led to an implosion and the end of his career.

[Before I Die]

I was there. After a quiet first game he was starting to show his elite skill level.

It was also the end for Bob Rose as a coach after the car accident to his son the previous year.

[Smads57]

I was there but probably too young to appreciate the extent of the injury at the time. I equally thought he looked like a player before the incident.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

I wasn't at the game but that year i started a scrap book which i now have in front of me.
The Sun under the headline "Sachse... heading for the crunch" has a series of 6 photos (courtesy of channel 7) showing a frame by frame account of the incident( Peter Welsh, in the foreground, had tried to pick him up). Quite chilling even after all this time.

Another article reads as follows:

"How much did we win by coach?" Neil Sachse asked Footscray's Bob Rose on Saturday night.
He was paralysed in a bed in the Austin Hospital spinal injuries ward.
A few minutes before, Sachse, 24, had been told he was a quadriplegic with no hope of playing football again.

A truly remarkable man and i highly recommend reading his autobiography.

[Bornadog]

I was in the John Gent stand and of course saw it happen, but at the time didn't know how bad it was. It is a terrible tragedy to happen to anyone.

[Grantysghost]

They have his jumper in the museum with the cuts where they removed it from him. It’s quite confronting knowing the outcome.

[jeemak]

I borderline want to vomit every time I read things about this. Just a horrible and highly significant part of our history.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

He seemed such a smooth player.
It hit me hard that fate could be so cruel, it was a shock I still carry.
Ambrose Palmer, boxing coach of Lionel Rose and ex Footscray player thought footy more dangerous than boxing.
Ambrose had his head balloon in a pack.

[Jeanette54]

Ambrose Palmer, boxing coach of Lionel Rose and ex Footscray player thought footy more dangerous than boxing.
Ambrose had his head balloon in a pack.

According to my Grandfather, Ambrose was a pretty good footballer, although there was always some idiot on the opposition trying to make a name for themselves by provoking him to fight. He never did.

[Mat Lyons]

I wasn't at the game but that year i started a scrap book which i now have in front of me.
The Sun under the headline "Sachse... heading for the crunch" has a series of 6 photos (courtesy of channel 7) showing a frame by frame account of the incident( Peter Welsh, in the foreground, had tried to pick him up). Quite chilling even after all this time.

Another article reads as follows:

"How much did we win by coach?" Neil Sachse asked Footscray's Bob Rose on Saturday night.
He was paralysed in a bed in the Austin Hospital spinal injuries ward.
A few minutes before, Sachse, 24, had been told he was a quadriplegic with no hope of playing football again.

A truly remarkable man and i highly recommend reading his autobiography.

Hose B Romero, do you have just the one scrapbook or have you collected various clippings over the years? I would be very interested to see these! As you may be aware, I have a podcast with Dougie Hawkins for past players and would love access to images that are related to the subjects. Would you be willing to share your pics and tell me more about hat you've got? Cheers, Matty

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Hose B Romero, do you have just the one scrapbook or have you collected various clippings over the years? I would be very interested to see these! As you may be aware, I have a podcast with Dougie Hawkins for past players and would love access to images that are related to the subjects. Would you be willing to share your pics and tell me more about hat you've got? Cheers, Matty

Sure. Have sent you a PM.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

According to my Grandfather, Ambrose was a pretty good footballer, although there was always some idiot on the opposition trying to make a name for themselves by provoking him to fight. He never did.

Great to have a dad with his generation's knowledge of the club and players.
He'd have plenty of cherished memories worth writing down

The oral history gets lost.

[Jeanette54]

Great to have a dad with his generation's knowledge of the club and players.
He'd have plenty of cherished memories worth writing down

The oral history gets lost.

I am starting to realise that even my own memories of Western Oval are somewhat distant for so many of WOOF's contributors. And, of course, there will be some whose memories well pre-date mine. Its now (well on May 2nd) fifty-five years since EJ's last game, and 66 years since my first real recollections of a cold, dark, wintry Western Oval on a Saturday afternoon (it was almost always Saturday afternoon back then). I do remember one Anzac Day game against St. Kilda at Junction Oval. EJ played in attack with the wind, and in defense when we kicked against it. But it was a special day for another reason. At half time there was a ripple of applause from the Bulldog fans, gradually getting closer to us. The subject of this admiration turned out to be Footscray Brownlow medalist, Norm Ware, and because my Grandad knew him from cricket or something, I was given the singular honour of a hand shake from the great man. In those VFL days, it was truly a suburban game, with so many now defunct ovals. Victoria Park, Glenferrie, Brunswick Street, Albert Park, Junction Oval, Princess Park, Windy Hill and Punt Road. There were no ovals named after sponsors back then, and even the best footballers had full time jobs which kept them in touch with their local communities. Spectator facilities were abysmal, as anyone who used the corrugated iron clad, cold and flooded loos at the scoreboard end will attest. Speaking of loos, I remember the toilets at the MCG with their painted signs, detailing which armed forces units were authorised to use which facility block; a left over from WW2. The Footy Records were sixpence, and later a shilling, and all the keen punters (including some of the players) would pay attention to the race results which were displayed on the scoreboard for all to see, and note in the Record. The seats around the oval fence were "reserved" for their regulars, a bunch of fearsome old ladies, and woe betide anyone silly enough to sit in one of these spots. I am sure they contributed to an increase in my vocabulary, none of which I could use at home. And then there was the Police Horse, which was ridden from the South Melbourne stables every match day. During the game it "lived" in a small cyclone fenced enclosure, into which it was reversed after patrolling the oval each game interval. Then there was the Hide Street State Scholl band, and the big canvas sheet for collecting donations at three quarter time. The players dressing rooms held the greatest treasure of all, the Victorian Champions Pennant, on the wall, enclosed in a cracked glass case. No other club had one, it was ours. Which takes me back to another of my Granddad's Bulldog stories, he was at that game. Sorry I didn't mean to go on this long, but once you got me started.....