Coghlan Family
The Coghlan family has produced many talented footballers, but the record breaking achievements of Brian Coghlan are a highlight of the Avoca Football Club and Lexton Football League.
Brian, whose remarkable history is detailed more thoroughly in chapter seven, was an outstanding all-round sportsman. (Brian Coghlan)
Although he was naturally left handed, he would often swap hands in the middle of a game of tennis, or golf, just to bamboozle and frustrate his opponents. It was a similar story on the football field.
Brian`s grandfather, Jack Coghlan senior, played for Avoca in 1922. That year, Avoca
Lost the Grand Final to Amphitheatre by 13 points, but Jack was amongst Avoca`s best players.
Mid way through the 1922 season, Avoca players walked off the field during a match against Elmhurst. The Avoca boys were losing by 37 points at the time and accused the umpire, D. Sweeney of Ararat, of favouring Elmhurst.
Anticipating a grudge match, a big crowd turned up when the sides met again one month later. Avoca won by seven points, but in the last game of the season Elmhurst scraped home by five points.
On both occasions Jack Coghlan was one of Avoca`s best players.
Jack Coghlan Junior, father of John, Bob and Brian, started playing in 1928.
Recalling the lost years in 1993, former Avoca champion Allan Kaye said Jack Coghlan always wore short pants, and worked at Bevans Bee Hive store, opposite the Avoca Hotel. He added, `Mr Bevan was also a Methodist lay preacher and head of the choir, but he was so wrapped up in football, he would end up in a fight about every fourth match`.
Jack Coghlan developed into a giant of a man, and was one of Avoca’s best players.
In 1936 Jack was caught up in the Lamplough Miners Football Club clearance row.
Whilst he never played for Avoca again, he later served the club as a committeeman and trainer, gaining enormous pleasure from watching his sons.
John Junior became a prominent footballer and was part of the 1953 Premiership team.
His sons, Gary and Peter Coghlan, played during the late 1970`s and 1980`s.
Peter won the club Under 15`s Best and Fairest award in 1975. During a game at Avoca he sustained a ruptured spleen.
Michael, the youngest brother to Gary and Peter, developed into one of the club`s best and toughest players.
In 1982 he won the Reserves Best & Fairest award, and the Seniors Best & Fairest award in 1985.
Brian Coghlan
