Off season reminiscences for history heads

[Nico]

I worked in management in Western Victoria in the 80's. I went to a community meeting in the Rupanyup area and John sat next to me. I did a double take and said "hello John, nice to meet you". We had a chat about his Swans days and he was very humble. A very nice chap.

[Bloods05]

There's a great story about him leaving the Swans because he needed to support his dad on the family farm and South weren't paying him much. He accepted an offer to pay for Rupanyup's deadly rival, Murtoa, but Rupanyup weren't having any of it and matched their offer before he ever got near Murtoa.

Swan Songs - with John Sudholz

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Swan Songs - with John Sudholz

Sad that both the Swan Songs series, and their author are both gone now.

[Bloods05]

Sad that both the Swan Songs series, and their author are both gone now.

Yes, very sad. But Sudsy is still with us, and still very much a Swan.

[KSAS]

I worked with a friend of Silvio and he was genuinely homesick and hence returned to Victoria. On training nights: there was an old bloke who went to every training night and was a dead ringer for Dave out of the Sullivans. Also a bloke stood near us in the outer, just right of the scoreboard, and we swear it was "Lucky" Grills the aussie actor. We called him Lucky and he just smiled.

The game mentioned earlier at VFL Park I think was Silvio's first, and I think he kicked 4 or 5 goals. Super quick and imagine how good he would be in today's environment where players are much fitter, football educated and better coached.

At that Collingwood game the atmosphere was indeed electric and it was very difficult just getting to the dunny that was just behind us.

If I may allow to expand on Foschini as I had the great pleasure of meeting him about 10 years ago, through an Italian friend who have a family connection with him.

First up, I was taken aback by his down to earth humbleness & quiet/shy nature. He was geninuely overwhelmed with the passionate fan adoration I greeted him with (Hi Ho Silvio!!! which he loved & thanked Lou Richards for coining it). I gave him humorous stick in how disappointed & shocked I was at the time when he defected to St.Kilda without a clearance (1983). That's when he began to honestly open up with me, as he genuinely admires the passion of AFL fans.

Foxchini explained how like most VFL/AFL players at the time, he also worked full time at Philip Morris and just married his high school sweetheart, when the club began playing home games in Sydney (1982). He detailed how they trained at the Lakeside Oval during the week, catch same flight with the opposition to Sydney on the Sunday, then fly back to Melbourme that same night after the game and then get up early next day to go to work!

The following year (1983), came the call for the entire playing group/club to relocate to Sydney, as half the players were still living/ training in Melbourne up to that point. Having just recently married with strong family bonds and job security at Philip Morris, he just couldn't do the move to Sydney despite loving the playing group (especially Barry Round). Keeping in mind he was still just a kid fresh out of school.

My Italian mate vouched just how tight Silvio's family bonds were, as his family used to baby sit Silvio as a young schoolboy when both his parents worked full time doing shift work.

After our initial catchup, Silvio cordially invited myself and my mate to an AFL game that week at the MCG (Richmond v Melbourne), which he generously drove us to the game and shouted us the entire afternoon! We hit it off and expressed desire to check out my Swans memorabilia as he was really into the VFL history, often visiting club museums in his spare time.

Silvio had no idea he kicked 4 goals in the 1982 night grand final at VFL Park v North. He had little recollection of the game and I played him bits of the game (his goals) on the DVD that I had that marked the club's 25th anniversary in Sydney, including the first ever home game. He was very interested in getting a copy for himself, which he took the details of and rejected my offer the DVD to him. He instead signed it for me as well as the "In The Blood" history book which he also took deep interest in.

Silvio really appreciated how hard the players today train & sacrifice themselves. He truly believed (then) that they don't get paid enough, stressing they put their bodies on the line for our entertainment to enjoy. That's when i posed him how much he would be earning if he was playing today (10 years ago).

I got the feeling Silvio saw himself more of a Saint than a Swan, but kept that to himself so as to not deflate me. At that time he was more closely following his son in the A League, who was playing for Melbourne Victory.

Sadly his brother died in tragic circumstances shortly after which impacted him deeply, which unfortunately put stop to any further catchups, however I still greatly treasure meeting up with the first Swans player to light up the Sydney crowd even before Capper!

[Blood Fever]

Great story!

[Sandridge]

Love your post about Silvio, KSAS! Thanks! He was a very talented footballer and obviously a lovely guy, too.

I was there at the night Grand Final and went back to the Lake Oval to celebrate our win. I remember our President, Bill Collins, saying that a night Premiership wasn't what the club was aiming for but it was a good start! Hard to believe that win was over 40 years ago!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Thanks KSAS for the reminiscence.
I have a copy of the 82 GF - including the 4 minute break in video transmission.

The lineup was

David Ackerly Rod Carter John Reid
Mark Browning Max Kruse Paul Morwood
David Rhys-Jones Brett Scott Colin Hounsell
Tony Morwood Stephen Allender Dennis Carroll
Bernie Evans Stephen Taubert Silvio Foschini

Barry Round Greg Smith Steven Wright

Res: Anthony Daniher Shane Morwood
Coach: Ricky Quade

[KSAS]

That is a quality team lineup. The only possible name missing is Francis Jackson, who never got to play in Sydney as he carried a long term injury when moved up there, which he didn't recover from.

Edit: Ian Roberts is another who i now also recall.

Noticed this is 1 of the 13 times the 3 Morwoods played together as Goswannies posted earlier.

I was working an evening shift that day & didn't get to watch the full game till I bought the DVD. Amazing scenes with crowd lined up on the boundary line before the final siren, after they had prematurely ran on thinking it had sounded. Imagine if that happened today! (Similar happened in the 1980 night GF North v Collingwood).

Envy Sandridge's post being at the game & celebration afterwards at Lakeside, as that was the closest feeling to winning a GF for the long suffering South supporters at the time (previous finals win was in 1945!).

I did attend the 1984 night GF which we lost to Essendon by 3 goals or so. The late Bob Hammond was our coach as temp fill in for Ricky Quade. Club could not convince Bob to coach on permanent basis for the following year (1985). That's when we appointed John Northey?

[Blood Fever]

Yes. Northey coached in 1985 before Hafey in 1986. Team above is a solid side. One player who came with huge wraps from Pt Melbourne was Allender. Didn't really have a big impact or live up to the hype.

[Sandridge]

That is a quality team lineup. The only possible name missing is Francis Jackson, who never got to play in Sydney as he carried a long term injury when moved up there, which he didn't recover from.

Edit: Ian Roberts is another who i now also recall.

Noticed this is 1 of the 13 times the 3 Morwoods played together as Goswannies posted earlier.

I was working an evening shift that day & didn't get to watch the full game till I bought the DVD. Amazing scenes with crowd lined up on the boundary line before the final siren, after they had prematurely ran on thinking it had sounded. Imagine if that happened today! (Similar happened in the 1980 night GF North v Collingwood).

Envy Sandridge's post being at the game & celebration afterwards at Lakeside, as that was the closest feeling to winning a GF for the long suffering South supporters at the time (previous finals win was in 1945!).

I did attend the 1984 night GF which we lost to Essendon by 3 goals or so. The late Bob Hammond was our coach as temp fill in for Ricky Quade. Club could not convince Bob to coach on permanent basis for the following year (1985). That's when we appointed John Northey?

Anniversary Countdown - 1985

I had to look it up, KSAS, but you're spot on! John Northey took over in 1985. I was surprised when reading the above article to realise that Northey only coached us for one season. Thought he was with us a little longer than that. I vividly remember his first game as coach which was a HUGE Bloods win over St.Kilda at Moorabbin. He was replaced by Tom Hafey.

[Sandridge]

Yes. Northey coached in 1985 before Hafey in 1986. Team above is a solid side. One player who came with huge wraps from Pt Melbourne was Allender. Didn't really have a big impact or live up to the hype.

Yes, Stephen Allender didn't live up to expectations unfortunately and played a couple of games with Hawthorn after leaving us.

I went to the 2017 VFL/VFA Grand Final between Port Melbourne and Richmond. Stephen Allender was sitting behind me and, like me, was extremely excited when Port just got over the line!

[KSAS]

Anniversary Countdown - 1985

I had to look it up, KSAS, but you're spot on! John Northey took over in 1985. I was surprised when reading the above article to realise that Northey only coached us for one season. Thought he was with us a little longer than that. I vividly remember his first game as coach which was a HUGE Bloods win over St.Kilda at Moorabbin. He was replaced by Tom Hafey.

1986 was the year Geoffrey Edelesten bought the club under private ownership & went on that famous player buying spree. He thought Northey didn't have high enough profile for his liking & got Hafey to replace him. Northey was livid as you'd expect, but proved his wares at both Melbourne and Richmond.

[Blood Fever]

Yes, Stephen Allender didn't live up to expectations unfortunately and played a couple of games with Hawthorn after leaving us.

I went to the 2017 VFL/VFA Grand Final between Port Melbourne and Richmond. Stephen Allender was sitting behind me and, like me, was extremely excited when Port just got over the line!

I think we even gave him the iconic number 14 jumper.

[Sandridge]

I think we even gave him the iconic number 14 jumper.

Absolutely right, BF. He was given Skilts' number.

Allender won the VFA's version of the Brownlow - the J.J. Liston Trophy - in 1980 playing for Port Melbourne.