Approaching mid-winter, the attention of many local residents is usually focused on North-Central football, netball or hockey, golf and the occasional horse racing meeting.

This year is different to any we have experienced pre­viously, however, and it is those previous experiences, established over a lifetime, that the “Times” hopes to tap into over coming weeks.

A series listing of some of the best players to have played North-Central football recently concluded, and we thank those who made greatly appreciated contributions.

Now we throw our columns open to our readers, giving you the opportunity to record your fondest memory or memories of events on local sporting fields.

This invitation is not confined to traditional winter and summer sports, and includes the not-so-well known.

If you have an interesting and possibly previously untold story to tell about a personal, family group or team achievement, we want to hear about it.

To provide an example, “Times” sports writer and photographer, Shane O’Shea, gets the ball rolling, with his recollections of two significant events in his life.

During my 40 years of covering North-Central football, there have been many very memorable moments and events, including every grand final I have covered, especially the very special 5 to 10 minutes immediately after the final siren has sounded, when supporters of the vic­torious team are awash with raw emotion.

On a personal level, one of my favourite sporting moments was A.N.A. Cricket Club’s 1980-’81 premiership win.

After batting well down the order during the season, I found myself thrust into an opening batsman’s role in the semi-final against cross town rival, Services, after regular opener, Mark Letts, left Donald for a cricketing tour of New Zealand, on the eve of the finals.

A.N.A. won the semi-final and played Charlton in the season decider, at the Jeffcott Oval.

Charlton batted first and compiled a significant total of 333, on the back of a century from John Giblett.

After a shaky start, A.N.A.  finished day two of the grand final, 3/203, Wayne Burton 61 not out and Brian Bayles 38 not out.

My contribution as an opener was a very satisfying 46, sharing a second wicket partnership of 73 with 16-year-old Shaun Warhurst (son of high school principal Eddie and Nancy Warhurst and brother of Myff).

On the final day, A.N.A. passed Charlton’s score, eight wickets down, Wayne Burton carrying his bat, 128 not out, and the irrepressible Kevin “Jumbo” Anderson belting the winning runs to finish 12 not out.

The untold story of the grand final success, however, sheds some light on the high tension that others were feeling as the game drew to its climax.

A.N.A. lost its eighth wicket still needing 24 runs, with only Colin Whiting and Kevin Anderson standing between Charlton and premiership success.

Colin was due to bat ahead of Kevin, but a disasterous spell in the nets saw him being repeatedly bowled by the contingent of young bowlers supposedly warming him up for his date with destiny. 

It completely shattered the big red head’s confidence, resulting in 16-year-old Anderson having to hurriedly don the pads and go out to face the wily bowling of Allan McGurk.

The “Donald-Birchip Times” report of the day takes up the commentary:

“Twenty-four runs were required when young Kevin Anderson walked to the wicket to face a very keen attack.

“The bowling was ‘giving’ Burton singles early in the overs, and concentrating its efforts on dislodging his inexperienced partner.

“A couple of well placed drives, and an ‘agricultural’ swipe or two (from Anderson) saw the score creep to 332, before Anderson, who showed absolutely no respect for the tenseness of the situation, crashed a good length, straight delivery through the close-in field, into the mid-wicket fence, to give his side a hard-fought victory.”

Almost 40 years later, Kevin can still remember the advice he received from his skipper and not out batsman, Wayne Burton, as he strode to the crease: “Just hang in there and I’ll get the runs.”

But Kevin knew only one way back then, and still attacks every  challenge with the same mind set: “If the ball is there to be hit, then hit it.”

March 2021 will mark the fortieth anniversary of that memorable win, and for the record the match details were as follows:

Charlton First innings

J. Giblett, c. W. Burton, b. S. O’Shea 113

A. McGurk, l.b.w., C. Whiting 12

B. Bird, run out 0

J. Gawne, c. G. Burke, b. G. O’Callaghan 15

M. Johns, c. W. Burton, b. S. Bayles 85

W. Baird, c. W. Burton, b. G. O’Callaghan 17

G. McGurk, c. W. Burton, b. B. Bayles 18

J. Thompson, run out 7

B. Bish, run out 5

E. Bish, not out 19

TOTAL 333

Bowling: G. O’Callaghan 3/87 (35 overs), S. Bayles 1/23 (23), B. Bayles 1/64 (28.1), L. Burton 0/29 (19), S. Warhurst 1/41 (20), S. O’Shea 1/29 (15), D. Barber 0/7 (1), K. Anderson 0/7 (2).

A.N.A. First innings

L.Burton, c. E. Bish, b. A. McGurk 7

S. O’Shea, lbw, A. McGurk 46

S. Warhurst, c. B. Bird, b. A. McGurk 36

W. Burton, not out 128

B. Bayles, c. A. McGurk, b. B. Bish 56

S. Bayles, b. J. Thompson 13

G. O’Callaghan, c. & b. A. McGurk 18

G. Burke, b. E. Bish 0

D. Barber, c. B. Bird, b. A. McGurk 0

K. Anderson, not out 12

TOTAL (for 8 wkts) 336

Bowling: B. Bish 1/53 (13), A. McGurk 5/98 (41.1), J. Thompson 1/63 (19), G. McGurk 0/30 (14), E. Bish 1/39 (14), B. Bird 0/22 (6), B. Bennett 0/2 (1).

First VFL Game

Another very memorable moment that, at a stretch, can be related to North-Central sport, involved Donald Football Club’s under-16 team’s trip away at the end of the 1967 season.

My father, Frank, was coach of the team, and the club somehow managed to secure grand final tickets for the game between Richmond and Geelong, as part of their own premiership celebrations, after defeating St. Arnaud in the grand final.

At 12 years of age, I was lucky enough to score a spot on the bus and a seat next to David Doueal (the team’s time-keeper) at the MCG, 15 rows from the fence, directly behind the Punt Road end goal.

It was my first ever VFL game, and to this day I can confirm that, from my vantage point, Fred Swift marked the ball well inside the field of play, something that Geelong diehards may not agree with.

The following, taken from Wikipedia, provides a perfect description of that play, in the absence of a photographic record:

“The tenacious Swift — already greatly tired from having to captain his team, counteract the stronger, heavier, and taller Wade, and kick the ball back into play after the eight behinds that Geelong had scored up to that moment in the last quarter — single-mindedly concentrating on his task, he took one of the finest marks of his career at the Punt Road end of the M.C.G.

“With the strong September afternoon sun shining directly into his eyes, without any opposition (with the goal umpire crouching in a perfect position to determine its legality), he first caught the ball perhaps ten feet above the ground (3m), right on the goal line, to turn Geelong away, and retain Richmond’s lead of ten points. He played on, and his clearing drop-kick almost hit the centre.

“It’s the biggest thrill in my life. It really makes it worth while playing football after today’s win. It was close, and at times I thought we might not win. But every player pulled his weight and I have never felt so happy. I’ll never forget the thrill of running around the ground holding the premiership cup. It’s a thing you dream about – but today it came true.” – Fred Swift after his team’s win.

Now it’s over to you, our readers, to share your favourite local sporting moments.

Contributions can be emailed to buloket@iinet.net.au

If attaching a photograph, please provide identification details.

Please note: No correspondence or complaint from disgruntled Geelong supporters (re-1967) will be entered into.

More from "moments" from ANA cricket: ANA Cricket 2