THE Chiltern Football Club announced its Team of the Ovens & King years in front of a large crowd of invited guests recently and former Essendon rover Greg Tate was installed as coach of the team.
Greg coached the Swans to premierships in 1957 and 1958 and is obviously still held in high esteem by everyone associated with the club. "Greg's exploits are the stuff of legends around here and he was an extremely popular choice for the role," said president Bill Peake, himself a member of the team. "Spudda has been a favourite of this club for as long as anyone can remember and it was good to be able to show him just how much he is appreciated still.".
With 10 premierships as a member of the Ovens and King Football League between 1954 and 2003 the challenge of selecting one team was always going to be a daunting task..
"The community voted for positions in the team and more than 50 nominations were received," Peake said. "The weekend was a huge success with former players travelling from Queensland, Sydney, Geelong and other parts of the state to be here.".
Former Wangaratta great, the late Len Richards, who coached the Swans to a flag in 1968, was the first player named in the team - in the back pocket. There were seven Lappins in the side and three Peakes..
"The team is sure to spark some debate around the place for years to come," Peake said. "But it was part of a fun reunion exercise and everyone who participated certainly enjoyed themselves.".
Chiltern FC - Team of the O&K Years.
BACKS
Len Richards (Wangaratta premiership player and Chiltern FC premiershipcoach 1968).
Peter Rosenbrock (Collingwood grand final player and Chiltern FC premiership coach 1972).
Robert Lappin (Noble Park player and Chiltern FC premiership player in 1982).
HALF BACKS.
Des Lappin (Games record holder at Chiltern (411) and premiership player 1971-72-83-83).
John O'Neill (Chiltern FC premiership player 1971-72-82-83).
Alan Peake (Chiltern FC premiership player 1957-58)premiershipplayer CENTRES
Bill Cassidy (Chiltern FC premiership player 1968-71-72)
John "Rowdy" Lappin (League B&F, Club Champion, premiership player 1968-71-72-82-83)
Bill Peake (Chiltern FC premiership player 1957-58-68-71-72)
HALF FORWARDS
Gerald O'Neill (Footscray player, member of Swans inaugural O&K years)
Kevin Lappin (Chiltern FC premiership player 1968-71)
Nigel Lappin (Brisbane Lion)
FORWARDS
Ron Howes (Chiltern FC premiership player 1957)
Ron "Jock" Lappin (O&K Life Member, premiership player 1968-71-72-82)
John Clancy (Corowa, Albury, Chiltern FC premiership (and champions) coach 1982)
RUCK
Ken Dixon (O&K B&F, Chiltern premiership player 1957-58)
Peter Lappin (O&K B&F, Chiltern premiership player 1982-83-94)
ROVER
Ralph Aalbers (Lavington, Dual Chiltern FC premiershipcoach 1994-96)
INTERCHANGE
Keith Harvey (premiership player 1957-58)
Don Matson (Essendon, Richmond, Sydney Swans, Chiltern premiership player 1971-72)
Johnna Peake (premiership player 1957-58)
Adrian Gray (third member not to play in a Chiltern FC Premiership)
Gary Howes (Geelong, Chiltern premiership player 1968-72)
COACH
Greg Tate (Essendon, Chiltern premiershipcoach 1957-58)
On a lighter note local legend Keith "Chow" Harvey said that he wasn't good enough to be in the side - he wasn't playing. Coach Tate upon hearing this relegated Keith to the reserves for one week. |
