have heard from an old friend, Tom Hanna years ago that the depression years were his favourite years of footy.
At the time i thought nothing of it "just another ole guy living off the memories' type thing, but when you think of it, so many of the greatest players to play sprung from that period in the game.
Pratt, Bunton, Skilton, Coventry, Collier, Valence and not to mention our own Jack Titus, the original 'terminator' Basil McCormack, Percy Bently, Gordon Strang and one other bloke, whats his name? ;D
He said the game at the time was very skillfull and fast. As a spectator on the wing it was like watching a game of tennis. Now remember, Pratt kicked 150 in '33 and that record still stands today.
No quarter was ever given between players, sharpened studs were prevelent too
which later lead to pregame stud inspections
.
He undoubtably said that Laurie Nash was THE most skillful footy player to lace a boot. I retorted "Better than Ablett" he poked me in the chest and said "NO COMPARISION SON!" :clap
Gotta love listening to the old guys talk footy. Recently on Grumpy Old Men, I cant remember who said it was but an old legend was asked something like "gee you wouldnt last long out there on the field today would you?" to which a reply something like " thats very true but i tell ya what... these punces now wouldnt last one minute on the field back in my day!" :clap :clap :clap
I too thought the 70's were the best until that day. God something like 75-80 thousand rocked up to GF's and finals :clap and unlike todays, live in Toorak but follow Tiges sect, games back then would of been very territorial and added to the sense of battle on gameday.
As generation after generation passes this earth, each thinking they're gods gift till history proves otherwise, its great to listen to previous generations and share their experiences.
