By Geoff Van Wyngaarden, Williamstown Life Member
John was born in 1933 and attended primary school at St. Mary’s in Williamstown before completing his secondary education at the prestigious St. Kevin’s College. His local football achievements included being a major contributor in the 1951 Spotswood Football Club Under 18 undefeated premiership side. Joining the Williamstown Football Club in 1952, John went straight into the seconds training with Bert McTaggart (uncle of John McTaggart). The following year in 1953, John made his senior debut under the coaching of “Little” Billy Williams. Unfortunately, the team went out in “straight sets” – losing both finals matches – which was also the final year of Billy Williams coaching the senior team.
The legendary Wally Carter was the senior coach for the 4 years between 1954 and 1957. John fondly remembers the hat-trick of premierships in 1954, 1955, and 1956. Season 1956 was a very special year for John, winning the VFA Best and Fairest Award – the J.J. Liston Trophy. John fondly recalls how he came to know of his win:
“Club delegate Eddie Marr came around to the family home around 9pm, I was in bed at the time. I finished up receiving 47 votes to the nearest player on 26 votes. In those days both the central and goal umpires awarded votes. I also won the Sporting Globe and Herald newspapers awards.”
John has many personal memories of club identities. “Wally Carter was a very good and astute coach, he didn’t roar or rant. The previous coach Billy Williams had the team well moulded.” John described some of the better players: “Ray Smith was very elusive on the forward line, Jack Evans was a very good utility player who could play anywhere forward or back, Sid Wookey in the ruck was great, and Frank Sims was a good little wingman.”
John started his successful career on the wing and eventually moved to the centre, where he dominated play even more. John fondly remembers the Annual Balls at the Williamstown Town Hall and pleasant Sunday mornings at the club at a time when all matches were played on a Saturday. In 1957 John remembers going to the Hot Sea Baths at St Kilda on the Thursday night before the finals and not being able to raise a gallop. Defeat in the 1957 Grand Final was very hard to take, and the Monday night ball after the game was very quiet. John describes the legendary Gerry Callahan as “a very good captain-coach, who always had all the players behind him.”
John’s funniest moment in a game occurred against Port Melbourne at the North Port Oval. “Frankie Johnson was the captain-coach of Port Melbourne. At a quarter time break, Port wouldn’t come out of their huddle. The umpire Billy Merrington blew his whistle and bounced the ball with Port still in the huddle. We got the ball and goaled!” The trainers are also fondly remembered, Bob Major was No.1, with the other trainers being Billy Taylor, Bob Cairncross, Bob Hyde and Eddie Deller. John’s last year at the club was in 1958.
After leaving Williamstown, John coached Wentworth (just over the Murray River on the N.S.W. side of the border) in the Sunraysia League for 4 years. The Sunraysia League Best and Fairest Award – the McLeod Medal – was won twice by John and he was runner-up on one occasion. He also won clothes from the Bowrings Department Store Award three years in succession. Off the ground, he did office work in the post office at nearby Dareton.
Returning to Melbourne, he coached Metro Farm in the Werribee League for one year and played one season for Parkdale. He then coached West Newport in the Western Suburban Football League for 7 years, winning the flag in 1968. He coached future Williamstown players Ian “Hucky” Johnson, full-forward Eddie Syszka and John “Cashews” Allard while at West Newport. A most successful playing and coaching football career coming to an end.
John later returned to the Williamstown Football Club in 1978 when he became Chairman of Selectors under captain-coach John “Sticks” Fanning. John gives a lot of credit to Tony Hannebery and John Grieve for getting the club back on track.
