Mallee Park Football Club: An amazing breeding ground for the AFLIT's invigorating to see Indigenous players displaying their unique brand of football.
Melbourne's Aaron Davey pin-pointing a pass 45 metres down the ground to a team-mate; North Melbourne's Daniel Wells dashing out of defence after taking a strong one-grab mark; or Carlton's Eddie Betts snapping a brilliant goal from an acute angle make the football purists salivate.
These AFL players have a strong connection to an Indigenous club from the South Australian fishing village of Port Lincoln -- the Mallee Park Peckers, on the Eyre Peninsula, eight hours drive by car from Adelaide.
The club was formed in 1981 and can claim a link to no fewer than 12 current AFL players.
Mallee Park quickly became the most dominant force in the Port Lincoln Football League, winning its inaugural flag in just its fifth season, with names including Johncock, Betts, Wells, Pickett, Burgoyne, Thomas and Davey.
The 1985 grand Final between the Mallee Park and Waybacks highlighted the special attributes associated with Indigenous football. In a fast, free-flowing game both teams kicked seven goals in the first term, with 46 majors booted in the match, which the Peckers won 24.21 (165) to 22.9 (141).
Eddie Betts' father Eddie senior played on the wing while Adelaide defender Graham Johncock's dad Barry, or 'Jack', as he's known in the football community there, was stationed at centre half-back.
North Melbourne goal-sneak Lindsay Thomas' uncle Max kicked five goals from centre half-forward. Wells' father Leonard played in defence, alongside Byron Pickett snr, father of 2004 AFL Norm Smith medallist Byron jnr, and Norm Pickett, Byron jnr's uncle. Fabian Davey, the uncle of Alwyn and Aaron Davey, played as a forward pocket, rotating on the ball. He kicked 74 goals that year.
Also featuring in Mallee Park's premiership team were Michael and Tony Burgoyne, the uncle of Port Adelaide's Peter and Shaun Burgoyne (pictured), and Harry Miller snr, father of former Hawk, Harry jnr.
"All the players who are currently on an AFL list from Mallee Park had a father or uncle play in the game," said club president, Joe Burgoyne, a past champion player and premiership coach. "The club played vibrant, attacking football with a lot of ball movement, with the players backing each other. Most of the Mallee Park footballers descend from the Koonibba mission, and we still have a very strong affiliation with them."
From 1985 to 2001, the Peckers dominated the competition, winning 11 A grade premierships, along with a number of others in the lower grades.
Adelaide's Graham Johncock, then just a slightly built 16-year-old, was among the best in the club's 10th senior flag in 1999 when it beat the Waybacks by 44 points.
"The players of my dad's era played a totally different brand of than other local teams -- a highly skilful, fast, running style of game," Johncock said. "People from all over the coast would come and watch Mallee Park play this exciting form of football.
"As a kid, we'd look forward to Saturday. I loved watching Fabian Davey, my dad and uncle Harry Miller play and we'd be on the boundary trying to recreate their feats, taking marks and kicking to each other. When we get a chance to get back to Port Lincoln between our busy program, we always try and get out to the club -- whether it's to run some water or just to have a chat to the lads."
With immense pride, many of the 1985 premiership players will be looking forward to the current generation displaying their skills in the AFL. They will be watching as their extraordinary feats and sublime skills are replicated by their own at the highest level.
PETER ARGENT
PLA.Wordsmith@bigpond.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2008
* This article first appeared in the May 22-24 edition of the AFL Record.
Last Modified on 03/06/2009 13:33