Trevor was reputed to have broken Russell's jaw in the 1979 Grand Final - so its a good bit of sportsmanship of Russell's part to shake Trevor's hand.


I also know someone who works with Russell - she is not familiar with football and only vaguely new that he played football.

I told her to call Russell by his football nickname of "Autumn Leaves" - and he was gobsmacked and asked how did you know about that.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I remember Ray Byrne being choppered out to hospital from Waverly one day while playing for us (against Essendon*). He had real guts. He didn't want to go even though he had damaged kidneys (I think) because we had only about 14 fit men.

Always like Russell Ohlsen - disappointed when he left. But it really was, "Leave Carlton and Miss Out" then.

Let those time return!

It could also be the reason that Russell was crying?.....(joke)....

I am sure that losing made it hurt all the more.

I've got some good stuff on Wayne Harmes.....so much in fact; I'm going to put it up in two separate parts.

The first entry of this first part is interesting....to me anyway...for 3 reasons.

This first article talks of Harmes, Sheldon and Buckley being age 19 in the 1979 Premiership side.

Peter Brown and Michael Young were 20; while Wayne Johnston, Peter Francis, Peter McConville and Alex Marcou
were only 21....that's 9 players aged 21 and younger!

I was also intrigued how "Carlton 1979 Premiers" T Shirts were being sold privately through the mail and obviously not VFL Approved.

Thirdly....I was intrigued with the ad underneath the T Shirt ad for "15 kg of meat for your Premiership Pack" barbie,
that could be ordered over the phone by ringing "Ray or Ken"............. ......



Next is an article written by Alf Brown who was retiring after being the Chief Football Writer at The Herald for 34 years; in which he tells the story
of Norm Smith after which the famous Medal is named.

Did you all know that "Runners" exist today because of Norm Smith?

This article explains about the onset of runners.

Most of the younger posters would have no idea why the Medal is named after Norm Smith and who he was;
and that Harmesy was a Great Nephew of his........this article explains.



The final 2 items in this part are pics of a happy Piggy Harmes receiving and proudly displaying the first ever Norm Smith medal.

I wouldn't mind chicking a premiership pack on the barbie right about now.

How's his Aunt stuffing her tongue down Harmesy's throat?

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Yeah....love the meat ad.....I didn't know that Norm Smith virtually invented the use of runners.....he was a genius of a coach.

To win Flags in 1955-56-57.....lose in 58....then win again in 59-60-64 is unbelievable....could have had 6 on the trot.

This final Harmes installment includes a good interview conducted by former Essendon* star Alec Epis,
who must have been writing for "TRUTH" Newspaper at the time.

It was held immediately after the 1979 Grand Final in the rooms.

Is there any truth to the rumour that these days Wayne prefers to go and watch the team he used to barrack for in his youth (ie. Richmond) rather than the team he played for and won 3 Premierships with?

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

That is the way it sounds. I have always wondered what was going on with this.

* The move of Harmes to the centre midway through the 2nd qtr in the 1979 GF didn't turn the game.................it was Keoghs punch on Ohlsen that swung the game

* How Harmes never made our team of the century has got me baffled!

As a cue....I'll put up our Team of the Century; named in 2000....I know we've got Jamie Cooper's Painting of the team in the Blueseum; so this is a different version..

..P.S. Where's Brent Crosswell?

Omitted from Robert Walls resume above is that he coached our side to a Premiership in 1987.....pretty important !

For a full colour version of this fantastic painting; go to the Blueseum.

Geez, How good is that half forward line?

I'm with you Warbs Croswell was a magnificent big game player. Right up there in the Wayne Johnston league.

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If you'd given me the choice of going out and beating four men and smashing a goal in from thirty yards against Liverpool
or going to bed with Miss World, it would have been a difficult choice. Luckily, I had both. - George Best

That half forward line would trouble even the best half back line.

Flair, hardness, magic...it's got everything.

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Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

I have this argument all the time - I reckon Croswell was one of our greatest FINALS players and big time performer - but I reckon he went missing all to often in the home and away season - which is probably the reason he did not make this team.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Doesn't get any bigger than BOG in the 1970 Grand Final Aggers

We should have a thread about Big Game Players.

David Parkin reckons Mike Fitzpatrick was another one who wouldn't get a kick against Sydney up in Sydney but who would dominate in big finals. Big Nick, Walls, Harmes, Buckley etc. etc. etc.

I'd rather have that reputation than the other way round.

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If you'd given me the choice of going out and beating four men and smashing a goal in from thirty yards against Liverpool
or going to bed with Miss World, it would have been a difficult choice. Luckily, I had both. - George Best

For sure - but I reckon its the main reason why Crosswell missed out on our Team of the Century.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Would Kouta at his prime squeeze into this side?

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

I've got vague memories as a kid of us playing South Melbourne at the Lakeside Oval.

In his early days; Tiger played in the centre....6'1", fast, and a great mark.

We were getting done; and Tiger told Barassi at 3/4 time that if he could play at Full Forward and they kicked the ball down there to him.....they could win the game.

Barassi loved Tigers confidence and did that.....it was unbelievable.....Tiger started taking screamers and kicking goals; and the game was all over...
..South were demoralised after leading all day.

Tiger was capable of anything once he turned his mind to it.

I remember too that he had a polio type condition at one stage..
..he used to come into training on crutches for quite a long time.

Of course, tragically, he now suffers from Menieres Disease,
and lives once again in Tasmania.....AFAIK; he still plays
internet chess with Ronald Dale Barassi.