Tom Papley

[Blood Fever]

Max Papley should be a legend of the club. He was a magnificent footballer but sadly his career was cut short by a shortsighted and inflexible coach. As a result only us old codgers have heard of him. Bobby Skilton said he was the best player he ever played with. Tom has a lot of Max about him. He's not as gifted but he has speed, aggression, strength and the ability to beat much bigger opponents one on one. He will only get better.

He left to captain/coach Williamstown in VFA for more money I believe.You could leave without a clearance at the time. Not sure about clash with coach who was Alan Miller, former coach of the Under 19s. You may know more, I was only young at the time but my dad was a mate of Miller.

[Nico]

Max Papley should be a legend of the club. He was a magnificent footballer but sadly his career was cut short by a shortsighted and inflexible coach. As a result only us old codgers have heard of him. Bobby Skilton said he was the best player he ever played with. Tom has a lot of Max about him. He's not as gifted but he has speed, aggression, strength and the ability to beat much bigger opponents one on one. He will only get better.

He found out later in life that he had a faulty heart valve, which explained his inconsistency. Told my brother that inexplicably he struggled at training at times. I think only played about 66 games. Max was a very gifted footballer with silky skills and tons of courage. A beautiful drop kick, Skilton reckoned Max was a better player than himself.

[i'm-uninformed2]

All of the above plus his ability to spend time on the ball like the best small forwards (think Cyril, Betts, Bruest, etc) gives us an extra speed and slickness round the ball. It's been an important part of our resurgence from the plodding effort in early rounds

[Aprilbr]

Papley always gives 110% when on the ground or near a contest. That is what I really like about him.


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[bloodspirit]

Papley immediately vaulted into my son and my favourites list, early last year (say top 6 favourites at the club). It's his attitude, energy, enthusiasm, effort that I love and his electric desperation to do what needs to be done.

[Gary]

Nothing like his grandfather who was a classical / silky skilled centreman of that era. Tom is completely different and has pleasantly surprised me with his progress

[Bloods05]

He left to captain/coach Williamstown in VFA for more money I believe.You could leave without a clearance at the time. Not sure about clash with coach who was Alan Miller, former coach of the Under 19s. You may know more, I was only young at the time but my dad was a mate of Miller.

Miller would not allow him to play cricket in the off-season. A couple of years later, a certain Peter Bedford did just that, at Sheffield Shield level, and still managed to win a Brownlow. Alan Miller also managed to piss off Austin Robertson so badly that he returned to WA after just one stellar season. I believe Alan was a really nice guy, but he was a disaster as senior coach.

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Nothing like his grandfather who was a classical / silky skilled centreman of that era. Tom is completely different and has pleasantly surprised me with his progress

Not completely different. The same stocky build, the same balance, the same intense competitiveness.

[bloodspirit]

Great posts Bloods05 and Blood Fever. Super to hear from supporters with long memories - and good insight!

[RogueSwan]

Benny McWho?

Amon who?

[aardvark]

Not completely different. The same stocky build, the same balance, the same intense competitiveness.

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[ROK Lobster]

He's good, but he's no Nick Davis

[Doctor J.]

Miller would not allow him to play cricket in the off-season. A couple of years later, a certain Peter Bedford did just that, at Sheffield Shield level, and still managed to win a Brownlow. Alan Miller also managed to piss off Austin Robertson so badly that he returned to WA after just one stellar season. I believe Alan was a really nice guy, but he was a disaster as senior coach.

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Not completely different. The same stocky build, the same balance, the same intense competitiveness.

I didn't know the man, but on a purely results basis a disaster of a coach.

Alan is no longer with us, but did feature in a McDonalds commercial many years ago.

McDonalds Australia 1997 TV ad - soft serve 30c cones - YouTube

But back on topic, if young Tom ends up half as good as both his grandfathers we have genuinely got ourselves an absolute bargain.

[ernie koala]

He's good, but he's no Nick Davis

Well well well....It's been a while.

[ugg]

Well well well....It's been a while.

True. Davo's last game was in 2008

[Gary]

"He's good, but he's no Nick Davis" ... a bizarre comparison with a very different player ... Tom has probably already played more good / consistent games than Nick did in any 20/25 game span. One game rightly made Nick a hero forever but assuming fitness holds I see Tom as a greater contributor over the journey. Also I stand by "completely" different in comparing Tom and Max. Would be interested in the relative body size but Tom certainly seems shorter / stockier than I remember Max. Then again, memory can be a tricky thing over 50 years!