Dual Rochester Football Club premiership coach Noel McMahen holds a special place in VFL/AFL history.
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When landing the South Melbourne Football Club in 1962 after his days at Rochester, he became the first ever full-time coach of a VFL (now AFL) club. He coached the Swans for three years.
McMahen passed away on July 10 at the grand old age of 95 and tributes have been flowing in since for the former distinguished player, coach and administrator.
Originally from Mordialloc, McMahen captained Melbourne’s premierships years in 1955 and 1956 in its halcyon years and was also a member of the Demons’ 1948 flag-winning side.
He won State honours in 1952 and 1954 and received life membership of Melbourne Football Club in 1955.
He also won the club best and fairest award in 1951 and is a member of Melbourne’s Team of the Century and Hall of Fame.
McMahen’s contribution was immense both on and off the field.
In 1957 he made the move to the country to coach Rochester, then competed in the Bendigo Football League, recognised as the strongest in country Victoria.
In the club’s golden era – they made eight successive grand finals between 1958 and 1965 and won four flags – he led Rochester to premierships in 1958 and 1959 and to runners-up in 1960 and 1961.
Rochester stalwart Bruce Major remembers playing in the 1961 runners-up side as a teenager and just starting his senior career with the club.
‘‘When he came to Rochester it created a lot of interest, having such a high-profile player coaching a small country town,’’ recalled Bruce.
Bruce said McMahen ran a small cafe near the Rochester schools when he first came to the town, providing lunches for the students.
‘‘The following year he set up a grocery store and I worked for him. When he left Rochester I bought the store off him, which is still in my family today.’’
Bruce said as a player and coach McMahen was very physical, fearless but fair.
‘‘He played centre half back most of his time in Rochy but in the 1961 grand final he played in the ruck and forward pocket,’’ Bruce reflected.
After Rochester McMahon coached South Melbourne for three years before stepping down.
During the late 1960s, McMahen continued his involvement in the club as a board member, chairman of selectors and director of football.
He also went on to serve as vice president/director of business and chairman of coterie.
NOEL McMAHEN
Date of birth: October 30, 1926
Playing career: 1946-1956
Guernsey: No.35
Games: 175, Goals: 28
Premierships: 1948, 1955 and 1956
Captain: 1955 and 1956
Vice-captain: 1953 and 1954
Best and fairest: 1951
Interstate representative: 1952, 1954
Life Member: 1955
MFC Director: 1971-72, 1975, 1977-78
MFC Vice President: 1992-94
MFC Team of the Century: 2000
MFC Hall of Fame Inductee: 2001
– Goulburn Murray Cricket is losing its best player with Taylor Beard making a return to Bendigo District Cricket Association ranks for the 2022-23 season.
Beard skippered Echuca Cricket Club to its first John McMahon shield in 17 years last season and has won the competition’s Graham Turner Medal for the past two years in which he amassed 1098 runs and took 76 wickets.
Beard is returning to play with Sandhurst Dragons in Bendigo District Cricket Association with work commitments having a big influence in his decision.
Before returning to Echuca he was assistant coach of the Dragons for three seasons and helped it win a flag in the 2017-18 season.
While Beard is departing the GM competition, Moama Cricket Club is welcoming back star all-rounder Anthony McMahon and some star recruits for the coming season.
McMahon, who has spent the past two seasons with Sandhurst Dragons, is being joined at Moama by former sub district opener Matt Sanders and Eaglehawk leg spinner Russell Stockdale so will be one of the early season flag favourites.
– You have to admire Tatura footballer, Linc Wellington.
He became the club’s second longest serving player – only the legendary Freddo McMahen has played more with games at the top level of GVL competition – when he lined-up for his 300th game with the Bulldogs against Echuca last Saturday.
The result wasn’t one to remember for Linc or the battling Bulldogs but his commitment and loyalty to the club and the league should never be forgotten.
Linc was never an ordinary footballer and always a star but what is most remarkable is that he is 43 years of age.
I stand to be corrected but if there has been a player who has ever played the game at the top level in the GVL for longer or at an older age than Linc I would be gobsmacked.
A great achievement, Linc.
– GVL club Shepparton Swans have named its new coach for the 2023 season.
Current Katamatite Football Club coach Jedd Wright has got the gig to replace present Swans coach Andrew Riordan, who will stay on as a player with the club.
Wright has Katamatite finals bound in the Picola District Football League this season. It will be his swansong as a player as he intends to be a sidelines coach with the Shepparton-based GVL team.
Wright is well known in district cricket circles as a class allrounder with Cricket Shepparton Club Katandra and is the current captain of Kyabram Hurleys Hotel team in the GV Bush Bash League.
– Whether it was a mistake by the TAB price assessor or a mistype, punters who supported Kyabram-trained pacer No Neigh Philtra at the Shepparton trots meeting on July 17 were on good terms with themselves after the race.
No doubt the early punters who fancied the three-year-old’s chances couldn’t believe their eyes when his opening price was posted at 25/1.
Those who helped themselves to that price were even more contented before the race when No Neigh Philtra firmed into a $1.40 chance at one stage before easing slightly to start a $1.45 chance.
And their grins grew larger when reinsman James Herbertson zoomed No Neigh Philtra across the face of the field from an outsider front row draw to lead.
Those grins grew even wider when Herbertson released the brakes on No Neigh Philta 300m from the judge, with the pacer quickly gapping his rivals and going onto win by nearly 20m.
The pacer’s trainer Mick Blackmore suspected the generous early odds about No Neigh Philtra chances had to be a typing error.
‘‘I think it was more likely he was intended to be a $2.60 chance and not a $26 chance but good luck to those who got the good price,’’ said Blackmore.
‘‘He’s no star but he’s an improving type and he is very honest,.’
Bred and owned by Mt Scobie breeder Phil Wade his wife Tracey and their daughter Paige, it was just Neigh Philtra’s second win in his 19 career starts to date. But he has also been runner-up eight times and third three times so he has been a consistent money maker.
Kyabram Free Press