Avoca struggled through the 1947 season, and it must have been heartbreaking for Coach Les “Pop” Williams to watch his side savaged by the opposition for most of the year.
The players list was:
Danny Blair, Charlie Turner, Kevin Lindsay, Laurie French, Bill Lindsay, Ivan Redpath, Bob Lindsay, Bruce Harrison, Chris Harling, Arthur Stuart, Laurie Barker, Alan Wright, Les Beavis, Ern Davies, Roy and Ron French, Leo Wright, Bill Gollop, Les Jolly, Vic Heenan, Reg Harrison, Peter King, Jack Hardy, Arthur Ford, John Bowen, Bernard Brereton, Kevin Harrison, Harry Holland, Neil Youren, Ken Bowen, Ken Gidley, Bill Bruggy, Vic Stewart, Jim Pryse, Don Templeton, E Morrow, Bill Hutchison, Bill Bentley, C Jardine, Col Walkley, Duncan Fraser, J Taylor, Eddie Garrett and Jack Beissert.
Avoca lost several top players during the season including Gordon Beavis, Ron Driscoll, Robert Wright and champion Full Forward Ron French.
The side also missed its star ruckman, Bill Gollop, who played with Maryborough on permit.
Danny Blair had developed into one of the best backmen in the league, and was the only Avoca player selected in the strong Lexton Football League side that easily won the Beaurepaire Shield.
Arguably, this team is regarded as the best ever to represent the Lexton League:
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B:
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V Wright (Moon)
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K Stuchberry (Elm)
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D Blair (Av)
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HB:
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L Dunn (Lan)
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M Morley (Amp)
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R Egan (Amp)
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C:
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A Briody (Lex)
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W Meagher (Waub)
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M Gorman (Waub)
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HF:
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L Hannett (Nav)
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J Briody (C) (Lex)
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L Johnson (Amph)
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F:
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W Rattray (Nav)
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A Grossman (Nav)
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F Allen (Beauf)
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R/R:
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E O’Brien (Beauf)
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C Cullinan (Lex)
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K Morvell (Raglan)
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19th:
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M Bibby (Nav)
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20th: J Briody (Lex)
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Avoca finished in ninth spot, just avoiding the wooden spoon.
Ern Davies won the Best & Fairest and Ron French the Goalkicking with 22 goals.
As far as team success is concerned, 1947 was a season best forgotten, although it was the year George Walkley started selling hot dogs at football matches!
Go to 1948
