The tribute night was held to promote the Murray Weideman Foundation, the welfare fund for The Heart of Collingwood Past Players’ Association.
The list of attendees represented pillars of the club’s rich history with names including Daicos, Shaw, Brown, Carman, Picken, McGuane, Buckley and Clement.
The event commenced with a tribute to former club doctor, Kevin Henrichsen, who was awarded life membership at this year’s season launch. The 91-year-old was inducted as the first member of the Murray Weideman foundation; membership can be purchased through the foundation’s website.
The highlight of the night was the Q & A session fittingly conducted by club president Eddie McGuire. The president’s inner child surfaced through his showman exterior as he came face-to-face with his childhood heroes.
McGuire’s first interviewee was Des Tuddenham, the classy ruck-rover played 182 games for the club and won the Copeland Trophy in just his second year playing for the Magpies (1963).
“I can’t believe I only won one Copeland Trophy...I was a superstar,” Tuddenham told McGuire on stage.
“I am sure I was robbed on more than one occasion. Finishing runner-up on three occasions is just bad luck!”
It was quotes similar to the one by “Tuddy” that created a strong sense of nostalgia throughout the night.1965 Copeland Trophy medallist, Trevor Steer (1961-66, 88 games) recalled his fond memories of what it was like to train in the 1960s under coaches Phonse Kyne and Bob Rose.
“The good thing about playing footy in those days was you only had to train twice a week. We had one Sunday morning training session in the six years I was there. Terry Waters (1963-72, 163 games) was asked once if he would do some extra training and he replied, “Will I have to give up smoking?””
The players were introduced on stage by the decade in which they won the Copeland Trophy and it was 1975 winner Phil Carman (1975-78, 66 games) who received one of the loudest cheers on the night.
“I played at four VFL clubs but Collingwood was obviously the best. Only played four years and 66 games but I feel like a Collingwood person. It’s great to see so many old friends aligned for the black and white cause.”
Peter McKenna’s (1965-75, 180 games) turn to front the microphone drew the loudest laughs on the night. The 1970 Copeland Trophy winner paid tribute to Henrichsen (honoured earlier) for sitting with him in the ambulance, after he injured his kidney in a match in 1975, from Waverley to the Alfred Hospital.
“Kevin Henrichsen I congratulate you on your award. I thank you for your support you showed me in ‘75 which I have never thanked you until now. Thanks Kevin.”
“Had we known you would have played for the Blues, we probably would have let you die.” McGuire retorted.
Once Nathan Buckley and James Clement stepped off the stage, the night descended into further exaggeration of players’ heydays and re-establishment of old connections which had worn thin.
The pulse of the Collingwood Football Club continued to beat loudly in the early hours of the following morning and it was clear that SIDE BY SIDE these Collingwood greats have continued and will forever stick together.
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Photos
(Phil Carman and Peter Moore)
(Colleen and Peter Daicos, Tony Shaw)
(The honoured players in attendance)
This match was covered live on Collingwood’s twitter account “Collingwood_FC”. To follow twitter and create your own free account click HERE.
