The Sun, Wednesday, July 19, 1989

NICKED!

Alf Brown

Richmond’s Neville Crowe was disqualified for four matches, including the grand final, after a ‘slight slap’ flattened Carlton’s John Nicholls in 1967 second semi-final.  Crowe had to watch in agony as his teammates tackled Geelong in the grand final.  He never played football again and has always maintained his innocence.  This week he spoke to ALF BROWN …

A SLIGHT slap flattened Carlton’s big John Nicholls in the 1967 VFL second semi-final and a few nights later, Richmond’s Neville Crowe was flattened much more heavily.  

The tribunal disqualified Crowe for four matches, including the grand final, for that slap.  They did not have video evidence – that was first used in 1975.  

Crowe was shocked.  He had not been disqualified in 150 games.  He reckoned his hand missed Nicholls by two inches.

“I was all steamed up to play against either Nicholls or ‘Polly’ Farmer in the grand final,” he said.  “I loved playing against them.  Not for a moment did I anticipate being disqualified.”

Geelong beat Carlton in the preliminary final and fronted Richmond in the grand final. 

The Cats lost by nine points.  Farmer, with his little mate Bill Goggin, were Geelong’s best.

Miserable and unconsolable, Crowe sat in the grandstand.  He did not play football again.

“It was an emotional and business decision,” he said this week.  “I was greatly disappointed at missing the premiership – I had not been in one – and I was starting a new business.

“I knew I was innocent.  Television showed the blow being delivered and apparently landing.  Few believed my innocence.

“My bad luck continued.  I had been invited to go to Ireland and America with the Galahs but a few days before the party my leg blew up with massive internal bleeding.

“I waved goodbye from Box Hill Hospital.

“As technology has improved I have been able to prove my innocence – to myself, at any rate.  But it is years too late.  I have been through that incident many times, stopping the film every split second.  I must love torturing myself.

“Of course, the tribunal did not have the advantage of that technique then.  And the point you raise ‘attempting to strike’ may have been difficult to overcome.

“Big John was no help, although players and the two clubs conferred beforehand.  John was so stumbling at times, the chairman asked him if he was still affected by the blow.  Once again, John did not know.

“John’s memory came good last year when he said he played for the free which he did not get.  I was held by Nicholls and Serg Silvagni and field umpire Peter Shields was pacing off the 15-yard penalty.

“He had his back turned.  It was the boundary umpire who reported me.  I still got the free kick.”

Crowe was a top player and won the club championship three times.  But early in his career he did not have talent scouts raving.

When he had his first run with the Ormond Amateurs under-19s, only his size and gear attracted attention.

“I wore baggy shorts and desert boots.  Next year I played with State Savings Bank in the A Grade.  George Coates of Fitzroy was the coach,” Crowe said.

“He taught me a lot and I improved rapidly.  I was invited to train with Richmond.  George advised me to go.  ‘It will help you when you return to us’, he said.

“I never did.  I was with Richmond in the first game of the 1957 season.  I was big for those days, 6’4” (193cm), and faster than Bob Johnson of Melbourne or Geoff Leek of Essendon, who were the top ruckmen of the period.

“We weren’t much good.  It was before the days of president Ray Dunne or top secretary Graeme Richmond.

“I always will remember my first game against Melbourne.  Near the finish, Melbourne was about 20 goals ahead.  A Demon was too casual, made a mistake and let us in for a rare goal.

“Then he laughed.

“Ron Barassi, who was captain, went berserk.  He tore strips off the offender, shouting and swearing.  I learned what dedication was all about.

“Then a message arrived from coach Norm Smith.  It was delivered loudly and uncensored, I shuddered, especially at the part how they would both share the ‘joke’ after the game.”

Crowe said Len Smith had a great influence on all Richmond players.  He was inspirational.  He taught tactics and loyalty.  “Sadly, he died before we became a top side,” he said.

“Graeme Richmond did a lot of running around with a bag of money.  He recruited big, fast players for the MCG.  Dick Clay was a centre half-forward well over six feet when he arrived at Richmond.  He starred on the wing.

“Fast, burly ruck-rover ‘Bull’ Richardson was a handball wizard.  He gave our runners an armchair ride.

“By the time our premiership arrived in 1967 anyone could have been coach, so well did G.R. do his job,” Crowe said.

”Bull” Richardson once caused me to have a lost weekend.  There is no sentiment in League football.  When Richmond felt he was no longer of use he was sold to South Melbourne, for $800 

In those days it was a serious breach of league rules.  But it should have been easy to circumnavigate.  A South official would hand a Richmond official $800 and a signed clearance would be lodged at the VFL.

But neither official trusted the other.  If Richmond did not lodge the clearance, South did $800 cold.  There was no appeal to the league, naturally.

So, I was asked to hold the money.  It was a huge sum to an underpaid journalist.  At night I put it under the mattress; during the day it was tucked down a sock.

I was greatly relieved when the call came early Tuesday – “pay Richmond the money, the clearance has been lodged”.

Years after shuddering at the Smith-Barassi discipline, Crowe was on the receiving end of some of the same.  It was in a state game and Norm was coach.  

“We had Nicholls, Farmer, Ditterich and myself on the ground at the one time.  We were unbalanced, so I was dragged off,” Crowe said.

“I wasn’t playing well but I had never been replaced before.  I was Richmond captain and it was a blow to my pride.  My self-esteem went down a few notches.

“Norm was right, of course.  I was replaced by a smaller player who could run and Victoria caught up and won.”  

But, in spite of his glowing memories of Smith, Crowe’s best coach is football’s hot gospeller Allan Killigrew.  It was in the 1966 carnival in Hobart and “Killer” lifted Crowe from a top player to one of the best in Australia.

“I was susceptible.  ‘Killer’ got me in,” Crowe recalled fondly.  “I would have run through the dressing room door and crashed out the other side for him.  He inspired me to the best football I have played.  I won an All-Australian blazer and I reckon both sleeves belong to him.

“Little ‘Killer’ was the fiercest I have ever met.  He played for St Kilda before the war.  I would loved to have seen him in action.

“I asked around.  He did not have the same effect on all players.  But he did on Brownlow Medal winner Noel Teasdale.

“Teaser” confessed to me:  “The little bloke gets me every time!”.