DA's Australian Sports History

1966 Rugby League St George

We look back at Rugby League in Australia as at 1966. At that time the premier competition was the New South Wales Rugby Football League comprising ten teams - all from New South Wales. The mighty St George team were on a 10 consecutive premiership run - but how would they fare in 1966 with the retirement of Captain-Coach Norm Provan. It is a brief look at the league, the Grand Final and the four "immortals" who all played for St George in the 1960's. Norm Provan, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper & Graeme Langlands. Trust you enjoy the episode. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1966 Australian Rules Football St Kilda

In 1966, the game of Australian rules football was very different. The premier competition was the Victorian Football League. Twelve teams based in Victoria all playing on a Saturday afternoon on suburban grounds. Grounds that were often muddy & wet. The game controlled by one umpires was a stop / start affair.. Players playing in set positions on the field. Drop kicks, flat punts and the coaches message .......... "do not handball on the backline" This episode is simply a snap shot of the game at a point in time. Who were the clubs & their supporter base. How had they fared to date. Who were favoured in 1966. It turns out the best teams of the year were Collingwood, St Kilda, Geelong & Essendon. Who would prevail and how was the game broadcast to the fans. Brings bad fond memories of childhood. Trust you enjoy the episode Thank you balls boys, thank you Hawk Eye. DA

1965 Golf Peter Thomson

Peter Thomson is remembered for his five British Open and three Australian Open titles. His legacy to the game of golf is however far greater. than just as a player. He took the game to all parts of the world where he excelled. He was an administrator, a journalist, commentator and course designer. Born in suburban Melbourne and raised in the post war era, he was a self taught player who first played on the local municipal course access the road from his home. He remained grounded and humble in assessing his outstanding career which extended beyond three decades. His great love was the links styled golf of Britain and Australia. That is where he played his best golf. Never a long hitter of the ball, he was strategic in his play and sought to avoid trouble. This enabled his great success in Europe where the courses and conditions could be less than perfect. Peter's finest win came in 1965, in a British Open field that included Jack Nicklaus & Arnold Palmer. It demonstrated to any doubters that he could beat the best in the world. Trust you enjoy a short tour of Peter Thomson's career. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1964 Swimming Dawn Fraser

Dawn Fraser is considered Australian greatest Olympic champion and greatest female athlete. Dawn won gold medals in the 100m freestyle event at three successive Olympics. She made history as the first female to swim the event under one minute and held the world record for the event for 15 years. Famously, Dawn has also courted controversy. She was banned at age 12yrs through no fault of her own then after the Rome Olympics and finally after the Tokyo Olympics which ended her career. Dawn has also experienced grief and challenging times. Subjects that she deals with openly. Dawn.s background and down to earth, knockabout approach to life has endeared her to the Australian public. She has used that profile to champion causes such as the Olympics and charities, particularly those assisting people with disabilities or disadvantage. There are champions and champions. Of all of those, Dawn stands at the front of the queue. Her life is remarkable. In this episode we look at some aspects of Dawns life with a focus on 1964. Trust you enjoy the episode. That's stumps. DA.

1964 Australian Rules Ron Barassi

Ron Barassi is a legend in Australian Rules football. No player / coach has a greater profile. No one has done more to change the game. No person has done more to promote the game. Ron Barassi played 254 games kicking 330 goals. He coached 515 matches. In that time he was part of six premierships as a player and four more as a coach. The father /son rule was created to enable Ron Barassi to play for the Melbourne FC. He as the first player to play the position of ruck rover. He pioneered the modern game with pace and handball, famously winning the 1970 grand final as a consequence. But it is the personal story that is fascinating. Losing his father in the war. Mentored by the great Norm Smith, Establishing himself as a footballer in a great Melbourne side and his career as a coach. He was hard and a tough task master, but those who could survive under his style of leadership thrived and loved the man. Post his career he was much loved for his passion for the game and knowledge. Ron passed away in 2023 aged 87 years. He has a bronze statue at the MCG. That says it all. To know more of Ron, there is his book Barassi ; The biography. But in today's episode, this is a summary only of some aspects of Ron's football life. Until next time. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye. DA