OUR HISTORY - YEAR BY YEAR
1970 - 1979
1971
C Section
President: Norm Latchford
Secretary: Ian Curtis
Treasurer: Tony Dart
Firsts coach: Garry Butler
Reserves coach: Terry Hense
Team Leaders
Firsts captain: Phil Cohen
Firsts vice-captain: George Fellows
Firsts deputy vice-captain: Russell Jones
Reserves captain: Terry Hense
Reserves vice-captain: Jim Charge
Reserves deputy vice-captain: Tony Dart
1971 saw a number of changes in the Club, not the least of which was the appointment of Garry Butler as coach. Garry, an old boy, had previously played football at Melbourne under Norm Smith and captained Prahran during its rise to power. Garry also won the VFA Best and Fairest Award in the process. Terry Hense who had coached the Firsts to the 1970 premiership resumed as Reserves coach. The Club also changed grounds and moved to Greythorn Park, which was considered to be a great improvement over Leigh Park. At least it didn’t have an ancient gum tree growing just inside the northern boundary!
1971 was an exceptional year for the Firsts. Of the first 6 games they lost only one and the winning margin ranged from a low of 81 points to a high of 114 points. They lost only two games for the year, finishing on top of the ladder with a percentage of 186.9. The Reserves also had a good year finishing second with fourteen wins and four losses.
The year was marked by a huge influx of recruits such as John Day, Bryan Dennis, Garry Fletcher, Alan Just, Rowan Kennedy, Richard Leppitt and Russell Synnott from school. In addition, Ian Johnston, Ken Carnie, Ross Macaw, Russell Jones, Geoff Peers and Col Piggin came from university teams whilst Andrew Kennedy and Trevor Weir returned from Hawthorn. Charlie Fellows joined his brother George from Box Hill.
A highlight of the year was Garry Fletcher’s selection in the Victorian amateur state side, only to be followed by Phillip Cohen winning the VAFA C Section best and fairest award.
The Firsts secured promotion to B Section with a decisive win in the second semi-final over Tooronga Malvern.
Firsts second semi-final:
Old Trinity: 6.1 8.1 15.3 21.6.132
Tooronga Malvern: 1.0 7.6 8.6 12.11.83
Goals: Phil Cohen 5, D. Stephens 4, A. Just 3, I. Johnston 3, T. Weir 2, G. Fletcher 2, A. Kennedy, P. Quarterman
Best: A. Just, K. Carnie, Phil Cohen, G. Fletcher, C. Piggin, M. Pruden
The Reserves, despite losing the second semi-final to St Kilda CBOC won their preliminary final against Alphington by eight points to advance to their fifth consecutive grand final.
Reserves second semi-final:
St Kilda CBOC: 4.3 8.5 12.9 14.10.94
Old trinity: 0.0 3.3 5.3 6.9.45
Goals: P. Watson 2, S. Stockdale 2, D. Galbraith, R. Moore
Best: Rod Jones, Peter Cohen, J. Major
Reserves preliminary final:
Old trinity: 0.2 4.5 7.7 10.11.71
Alphington: 3.2 5.5 8.6 9.9.63
Goals: D. Cox 3, S. Stockdale 2, J. Duke 2, J. Charge, R. Moore, R. DeBoos
Best: J. Charge, T. Hense, J. Daly, R. Moore, Peter Cohen, N Anderson
However, the two big disappointments for the year were the defeats of both teams in their respective grand finals. The Firsts were defeated by Tooronga - Malvern by 5 points and the Reserves by St. Kilda CBCOB by 21 points. But, despite these losses, the appearance of the Firsts in the grand final meant that the club was promoted from C Section in its first year and would play in B Section in 1972.
Firsts grand final:
Tooronga-Malvern: 3.2 6.2 7.6 9.9.63
Old Trinity: 1.4 4.7 4.8 8.10.58
Goals: D. Stephens 2, T. Weir 2, I. Johnston 2, A. Just, M. Pruden
Best: C. Piggin, M. Pruden, G. Fletcher, R. Macaw, A. Kennedy, W. Peers.
Reserves grand final:
St. Kilda CBOC 0.1 5.2 6.3 9.7.61
Old Trinity 2.1 3.1 5.2 6.4.40
Goal: R. Moore 2, S. Stockdale, D. Galbraith, R. Leppitt, J. Duke
Best: J. Daly, R. DeBoos, Peter Cohen, J. Major, T. Hense, D. Galbraith
The advantages of a multi-disciplinary team were also exemplified during the season when Dr Barry Lansdell (eye doctor) insisted that Charlie Fellows attend the Eye and Ear Hospital rather than Vlado’s Steakhouse after the game. Charlie’s visit proved worthwhile as he spent 5 days in hospital and had been at risk of losing the sight in one eye due to “enemy fire”.
Award winners 1971
Firsts best & fairest (E.J. Weatherson Trophy): Garry Fletcher
Firsts most consistent: Ross Macaw
Reserves best & fairest: Peter Cohen
Reserves most consistent: Jim Charge
Best first year player (school): Garry Fletcher
Best first year player (outside school): Colin Piggin
Most improved player: Nigel Anderson
Encouragement award: John Day
Service award: John Quarterman
Best club person: Robert Dick
150 games: Peter Leaper
100 games: Jamie Cox
100 games: Rod Jones
100 games: Brian Tickell
