1960 Tasmania v Victoria

NEW STATE Captain Darrel Baldock did not hear of his appointment until he went to Latrobe clubrooms yesterday morning – 12 hours after the decision.

He is the first State Captain not from the T.F.L.

Baldock who conducts a milk bar in Latrobe, told me by phone yesterday: “I returned from Burnie about eight o’clock last night, worked in the milk bar until intermission at the theatre then took my wife to the talkies.”

“I heard nothing about the State team until I went to the ground this morning, where my Latrobe clubmates broke the great news.”

Baldock explained that the Coastal Diehards trained yesterday morning because they did not play on Saturday.

Baldock is in his second season as captain and coach of Latrobe Football Club.

“I got a terrific shock,” Baldock said when I asked him what it felt like to be Tasmania’s Captain.
He added “I never dreamed when this season started that I would be Union Captain, let alone skipper of the State side.”

“It’s a great honour and I’m deeply grateful to the selectors for the confidence they have placed in me. I only hope we can do well against the Victorians in Launceston.”

The State football selectors on Saturday night named N.W.F.U. captain Darrel Baldock to lead the Tasmanian team against the V.F.L. in Launceston today week.

The selectors met at Burnie after the Intra-State match.

A number of firsts are connected with the selection –

• It is the first time the State captain has not been a T.F.L. player.
• It is the first time the N.W.F.U. has gained a greater selection than either of the other two associations – a total of nine, compared with seven for both the T.F.L. and N.T.F.ABaldock who is 21, will be the youngest Tasmanian captain ever.

The selectors committee comprises Messers, M.A.S McNeair (T.F.L. Chairman), K Austin (T.F.L), J Hawks (Q.F.A), G Luttrell (N.T.F.A) and G.G. Moline (N.W.F.U).

Mr Moline said last night it was pleasing to see the N.W.F.U. gain such a good representation in the side. He praised the selection of Baldock as captain, saying that his contributions to State football already, and his decision to remain in Tasmania had contributed to his selection.

Mr Moline said the Union’s share of players indicated that the other associations were aware that the Union was worthy of equal consideration.

The Coast has seven players in the actual team, compared with six Southerners and five Northerners.

Feature of the selection was the placing of Ken Sheehan (Devonport) at the important centre post, after only one representative game for the Union.

A surprise was the placing of Barry Strange (Penguin) at full back. He has always played on the half-back line in previous appearances with the Union and State teams.

It is an all-Union backline Strange being flanked by Don Gale (Wynyard) and Garth Smith (Ulverstone).

Col Moore, originally picked in the Union team only as a reserve was selected on a wing in preference to highly rated Northerners Moir and O’Brien.
Baldock (Latrobe) naturally takes the centre half-forward post and Terry Shadbolt (Burnie) will start in the first ruck.

Two North-West players, Neil Conlan (Devonport) and George Mason (Cooee) are among the reserves.

A surprise was the selection of Northerner John Fitzallen on a wing. He got few kicks in the centre against Ken Sheehan on Saturday.

Brilliant N.W.F.U centre half-forward Darrel Baldock, who was to have led a Tasmanian side against the V.F.L in Launceston today has withdrawn from the team following his mother’s death.
The Latrobe champion is one of the seven players who have pulled out of the original squad, boosting Victoria’s hopes of amassing a big winning score.

Clarence coach Stuart Spencer has been elected captain of the side and his deputy will be North Launceston’s vice-captain Jack Hawksley.

All other Tasmanians to withdraw from the side have been hit by injuries.

They are full-forward Stan Morcom, centre half-back Ivan Hayes, opening rover Trevor Leo, half-back flanker Derek Parremor and relief follower Mal Pascoe.

Cooee full-back Brian Loring was chosen for the unenviable task of minding Collingwood’s dynamic Murray Weideman when Barry Strange was moved from full-back to centre half to replace Hayes.

As a replacement for Morcom the selectors brought in New Norfolk full-forward Athol Webb.
Devonport captain-coach Neil Conlan has been promoted from the reserves and will take his place on a half-forward flank.

At an official welcome to the V.F.L team yesterday the manager (Mr T.W. Sherrin) extended to Darrel Baldock the party’s deepest sympathy at the death of his mother.

“I regret we will not see Darrel in action” he said. “I consider him one of the best players I have seen.”
The Victorian selectors have omitted Footscray back pocket Ray Walker, Geelong follower John O’Connell and Melbourne half-forward Hassa Mann in placing the side.

Walker and O’Connell will sit on the reserves’ bench and Mann is emergency.

Fitzroy rover Graham Campbell, brought into the side in place of Collingwood star Rhorold Merrett, will play at half-forward. Essendon’s John Birt is first rover and Geelong’s Bill Goggin will open in a forward pocket.

The most this patched-up Tasmanian side can expect against Victoria will be a thick ear and experience. In fact, I’m taking my own togs up because I reckon I could beat half of the team.
It’s bad luck that the Tassies have lost so many stars, but they wouldn’t have beaten the Victorians with a couple of teams on the field.

The losses have really knocked the stuffing out of the apple eaters. But no one who was going to Launceston anyway would have expected more than an exhibition even with the strongest Tassie side in. And these Victorians are really worth looking at.

The only hope Tassie has of putting up a show is that I’ve gone for Victoria and laid $8 to $1 on – and I haven’t exactly been on the ball so far this year.

Judging on the Union-North game, the selectors woul dhave done better to put the whole Union side in. I’m pleased to see we’ve got nine in – looks like the T.F.L has woken up at last that we play football in these parts.

With Jack Metherell as coach, even this Tasmanian side will do pretty well. He’s played the game in top company himself and he’s one of the best judges in the business.

We’ll forget about the Victorians – I haven’t seen them, and the last time I stuck my neck out about players I hadn’t seen before I got into strife.

Now let’s look at the Tassie players.

Watch out for Garth Smith – it’s his turn to bomb. He went badly on Saturday but he’ll even make some of these mighty Victorians sit up if he’s in the mood.

And after Terry Shadbolt’s game on Saturday, I wouldn’t care who the Victorians front up – he’ll get on top. He’s got the strength to dish out what the Victorians love dishing out and he’ll play that game if that’s what they want.

The same goes for Don Gale, Neil Conlan and Mak Kelleher – but I couldn’t say it for one or two others.

Athol Webb should do even better than Stan Morcom would have done so Tassie will lose nothing at full-forward and Brian Loring should have been in the side from the start.

If Ken Sheehan takes it into his head to have a go he could do some damage. He “killed” them against North when he tried – can he do it today?

If you look at this Tassie side from the bottom up, it looks O.K.

They’ve got Bob Withers sitting on the reserve bench and if the other 18 are better than him I wouldn’t mind having a few bob on the locals to win.

It’s nearly as silly as Gavin Luttrell having him sitting on a half-forward flank against the Union.

What a mighty thrill the re-organised Tasmanian side gave 15,000 supporters at York Park yesterday.

They played the powerful Victorians at their own game and gave them a lesson in pace and co-operation.

Tasmanian determination to succeed was shown by the manner in which every player fought to get the ball from his opponent.

The early dominance of Frank Johnson in the ruck looked like being a problem but the inspired play of Geard lifted his fellow ruckmen, and Smith showed his tremendous aerial ability throughout.

Conlan doing well on the flank moved to the centre when Sheehan went off injured.

Immediately, he took control and his well-directed kicks gave Hawksley and Withers the break on the forward line.

Victoria throughout the match did not show the pace needed to be a topline side.

Lester and Fitzallen controlled the wings for most of the game, with Dwyer becoming more prominent in the last half.

The surprise of the match was the great game of Loring at full-back.

Giving inches away in height and three stone in weight he outmaneuvered the Collingwood star Weideman and had the honour of having this class player moved off him at three-quarter time.

Victoria lacked strength in the packs.

They had no Teasdale or Mantello to open up the crushes for their little men to break away, and roving of Birt, Goggin and Campbell was like that of novices compared with the great Stuart Spencer.

What a lesson this quietly spoken champion gave.

His excellent baulk turns and damaging left-foot kicks had the Victorian defenders helpless.

What a tribute he had paid to him when captain Comben left his back pocket and came on to the ball in an endeavour to lift his team and to curb Spencer.

Mitchell was the danger all day. His marking and loose man game often gave our defenders a torrid time.

Tasmania always gave that little extra when the lead looked like being taken away from them.

The last quarter was a thriller.

When Victoria hit the front with only 15 minutes gone I thought their power football of long kicking and high marking would take over.

But it was a tenacious Tasmanian team that fought back.

The strong play of Withers on the forward flank lifted the forwards to greater things.

Webb, held by Howell all day came into his own and the elusive Moore was in everything.

His brilliant marking in front of packs and his accurate shooting for goal made him a match winner.