Cable made AFL Legend

Updated June 13, 2012 23:05:37

Superstar rover Barry Cable, who has long enjoyed legendary sporting status in two states, had that made official on Wednesday night when he was named by the AFL as the 24th Legend of the Game.

Success followed the brilliant Cable wherever he went in football.

He won three Sandover Medals as the best player in the WAFL in 1964, 1968 and 1973 - interspersed by a year with North Melbourne - before moving to the Kangaroos in 1974 or a longer four-year stint, where he played a key role in the club's first two VFL premiership sides in 1975 and 1977.

Cable also won three successive premierships as a player with Perth from 1966-68 and another one as captain-coach of East Perth in 1978, the year after he returned home following 115 matches for the Kangaroos.

He always prided himself on his fitness and was one of the best exponents of handball in the sport's history.

"I'd always like to think that I gave it my best shot," said Cable.

"If that meant I was in the top group then that's how it would be."

Cable is also a legend in the WA Football Hall of Fame, the starting rover in the Indigenous and the North Melbourne teams of the century and a three-time All-Australian, the last occasion coming as a coach in 1979.

Dual St Kilda Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey headlined a group of six former players inducted into the Hall of Fame at the annual function on Wednesday night.

Harvey retired at the end of the 2008 season after a 21-year career which included 383 matches, four club best and fairest awards and back-to-back Brownlows in 1997-98.

Three other modern-day stars - Hawthorn captain and 1999 Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford, Western Bulldogs' key position player Chris Grant and North Melbourne's Glenn Archer - were also among the inductees.

Crawford retired after playing in the Hawks' 2008 premiership team, nine years after he won the Brownlow Medal.

He won the Hawks' best and fairest award four times.

Due to a controversial one-match suspension, Grant was famously denied the Brownlow in 1997 despite polling the highest number of votes.

He played 341 games for the Bulldogs from 1990-2007, kicking 554 goals.

Two-time premiership star Archer's many other honours in the game include being voted North Melbourne's Shinboner of the Century as the player who best embodied the club's spirit.

South Australian Graham Cornes was inducted for a career that included 359 SANFL matches - the vast majority of them for Glenelg - two All-Australians selection as a player and another two as coach.

He also spent four years as the inaugural coach of Adelaide Crows.

The other inductee was five-time Melbourne premiership player Bob Johnson.

The intimidating ruckman played in the Demons' golden era, winning flags in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1960.

He then headed west and spent five years as captain-coach of WAFL side East Fremantle.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, north-melbourne-3051, perth-6000

First posted June 13, 2012 23:05:37

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AFL coaching legend Jeans dies

Updated July 13, 2011 17:04:55

Legendary AFL coach Allan Jeans has died at the age of 77.

Jeans, known as one of the league's toughest coaches and greatest motivators, died in a nursing home after a long illness.

After a 77-game playing career with St Kilda, Jeans became coach of the club in 1961 at the age of 28 before leading the Saints to their only flag in 1966.

Following 16 years with the Saints he was appointed coach of Hawthorn in 1981, going on to win premierships in 1983, 1986 and 1989.

Under Jeans, the Hawks dominated the VFL, appearing in seven successive grand finals from 1983 to 1989 - excluding 1988 when Jeans suffered a brain haemorrhage and Alan Joyce took over and won the flag.

Jeans later had a short stint at Richmond in 1992, winning only five out of 22 games.

He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 1996.

"Hawthorn Football Club has lost a very humble and extraordinary individual, who not only nurtured many of our players, but also led the club to premierships in 1983, 1986 and 1989," Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said.

"We will all miss him."

St Kilda chief executive Michael Nettlefold said the Saints will wear black arm bands in round 17 to honour the contribution Jeans made to the St Kilda club.

"Allan's contribution to the game went well beyond the statistics as his coaching changed the way the game was played," he said.

"Allan generously continued his contribution to the game well after his active coaching career finished, sharing his extensive knowledge of coaching and our great game."

"Allan was a person of great strength, honesty and integrity and will forever be remembered as the man who helped deliver our first premiership cup."

"Our sincere thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends at this difficult time."

Saints premiership hero and close friend Kevin 'Cowboy' Neale said Jeans was a father figure to many he coached.

"Whilst his football and coaching exploits were well known, the way he offered his support and advice to me away from the game is something that I will cherish the most," Neale said.

"From the coaches box he was ferocious and fearless and took our young side to the pinnacle of our game. He pioneered the modern coaching style and many of his contemporaries followed suit with great success. He will be sorely missed."

- AAP/ABC

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, hawthorn-3122, australia, st-kilda-3182

First posted July 13, 2011 09:14:12

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Geelong footy legend Bob Davis dies at 82

MARK COLVIN: The world of Australian Rules football has today been commemorating one of the code's most beloved figures. Former Geelong captain and coach and AFL Hall of Famer Bob Davis died suddenly last night at the age of 82. The club's CEO said today that after some months of illness, Davis' heart just gave way.

Mary Gearin reports.

MARY GEARIN: For younger folk, Bob Davis may best spring to mind as one of the first larrikin footballers on TV. Back in the dawn of television he starred on the pioneering footy variety shows, World of Sports and League Teams, along with fellow legends Jack Dyer and Lou Richards.

(Excerpt from archival footy show)

Lifelong Geelong fan, Ian Cover, is one of the many successors of Davis' media legacy. He's a founding member of radio's Coodabeen Champions.

IAN COVER: Lots of people that are in the media today, footy media, can thank Bob for where they are and perhaps they could also reflect the same amount of enjoyment that Bob did out of the game.

MARY GEARIN: But well before Bob Davis' TV stardom came the footy. His legendary career began in 1948. He was the Geelong Flyer, named after the train that ran between the town and Melbourne. As a speedy half forward flanker he played 189 games over a decade.

COMMENTATOR (archival audio): Davis goes back looking for Aylett.

MARY GEARIN: He won two flags along the way and was club captain from 1955 to '58, captain-coach for one of those years. And he brought to the ground an entertaining style of play that he would champion his whole life.

Ian Cover.

IAN COVER: Skilful play, flamboyant play, bit of flair, kick goals, run with the ball, all those sort of things. And the game today we talk about, you know, flooding and pressing and defensive approaches and stuff but hopefully that people still remember you can still play with a little bit of Bob Davis in you as well.

MARY GEARIN: John Harms is writer for The Footy Almanac website, and also an entrenched Cats fan.

JOHN HARMS: He always encouraged teams to play hard but fair and that certainly was reflected in comments that he made right throughout his life.

MARY GEARIN: After hanging up the boots, Bob Davis went on to coach the Cats for a further six years and took them to a flag in 1963. That's a feat no other Cats coach could match for 44 years.

On grand final morning in 2007, as Geelong lined up against Port Adelaide for what would become its drought-breaking flag, John Harms shared a radio segment with Davis. And he remembers that even at that point Bob Davis had rare perspective.

JOHN HARMS: It was one of the best 10 minutes I've ever spent and Bobbie was just beautiful and at the end he said, look I hope that both teams play to the best of their ability and may the better side win. And I just thought, Bob you know you are just a star.

MARY GEARIN: Ian Cover got to know the Geelong legend, even hosted his 70th birthday party, and says despite his status as club legend he was always approachable.

IAN COVER: It was oh hello Bobby and he'd call out back to them and always would stop and say g'day and that. So he was just very personable, friendly and you felt like you wanted to go and give him a big bear hug as well because he was like, you know, cuddly fatherly type figure.

It's extraordinary, one of the things I've observed over the years that Bob coached Geelong to a premiership in 1963 and all those fellows that played under him, including great games like "Polly" Farmer and Doug Wade, John Sharrock, Billy Goggin, Alistair Lord, Bob was like a father figure to them.

And even later, when I'd be hosting a function and now they're men in their sixties and seventies and not much younger than Bob, they would always still defer to him as the coach or the father of them all.

MARY GEARIN: John Harms agrees.

JOHN HARMS: The thing about Bob he's just, it was never about him. From the first time I met him, I knew that he was more interested in you and talking about you. For all the things that he'd done in his life, it was, and that was completely genuine and you know that was just such a warmth and such a tremendous thing.

MARY GEARIN: As one of few people in any sport who could be said to have made a 60 year contribution, both on and off the field, as both player and personality, Bob Davis will be long remembered, according to John Harms.

JOHN HARMS: Such a fantastic solid citizen who's given so much to the club and to the town and just much love. I think we'll be talking about Bob Davis for a long time.

MARK COLVIN: John Harms, author and footy writer, talking to Mary Gearin.

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Cats legend Davis dies

Updated May 17, 2011 14:44:00

Geelong Football Club legend Bob Davis has passed away due to illness aged 82.

Known as "Woofa" and the "Geelong Flier", due to his on-ground speed, Davis kicked 149 goals in 189 games for the Cats between 1948 and 1958.

The half-forward won two premierships with the club (1951, 1952) as a player and coached the Cats to the VFL flag in 1963 over Hawthorn.

Davis was the club's best and fairest in 1957, named as captain of the All-Australian team in 1958 and is a member of Geelong's team of the century.

He was an inaugural inductee into the Australian football Hall of Fame in 1996 and represented Victoria 13 times.

Although he was seen less often in public in recent years, Davis was on hand at the MCG to present the 2009 premiership cup to the Geelong team coached by Mark Thompson.

"The elation that Bob shared with the players that day on the MCG is something that will live long in the memory," the club said in a statement.

"Bob will be deeply missed by all those who loved him, and indeed by all those that have been fortunate enough to know him or meet him.

"We pass on our sympathy to Bob's wife Margaret and his family and friends."

'Great contributor'

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Davis was one of the key foundation stones on which the game had built its current position.

"Bob Davis was a wonderful player in his time, whose skills and speed saw him star in two Cat premiership sides, won him a place in the club's team of the century and earned him a place in the Hall of Fame as one of our on-field greats," he said in a statement.

"He coached his beloved club to a premiership in 1963, but perhaps his greatest contribution of all was to take our game into lounge rooms every weekend, as television developed in this country, and forged a powerful bond between our players and our fans.

"With his great mates Lou Richards and Jack Dyer, under the stewardship of Ron Casey, League Teams and World of Sport were a staple diet for generations of football supporters for nearly 30 years and brought our game up close to everyone who wished to be part of it.

"Every person who is now able to forge a career out of discussing and reflecting on our game has the likes of Bob, Lou, Jack and Ron to thank for their trail they have blazed, and Bob's sense of fun and great love for the game will be sadly missed.

"On behalf of the AFL and our clubs, I wish to pass on our deepest sympathy to Bob's wife Margaret and his family, and the Geelong Football Club, and to thank them for Bob's wonderful service to our game.

"Bob's sense of fun and great love for the game will be sadly missed."

'Friend to the club'

Current Geelong coach Chris Scott says Davis' death has hit the players hard and they will carry the memory of him into coming AFL matches.

"It's a horribly difficult situation for everyone at the club, Bob Davis was a legend of the club and it's all the more disappointing for me that I never got the chance to spend much time with him," he said.

"Everyone speaks very highly of not only his involvement and contribution to the club as a player and coach, but the time he spent at the club when his official duties had ended. It's just a really sad day."

Scott said Davis had become a good friend to many of the current players.

"It actually hit the players really hard. Bob spent a lot of time at the club I'm led to believe and got to know the players quite well on a personal level," he said.

"I'm loath to say it will change the way the players play this week, but it will be in all Geelong people's minds for this week and weeks to come."

Scott said the name Bob Davis had become synonymous with the Geelong Football Club.

- ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, geelong-3220

First posted May 17, 2011 11:37:00

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