PHOTOS FROM 2009

 

Gary Ayres at work in the thriller against Box Hill in 2009

Baird - the injury that hurt Port.

Willi grabs the lead on 27 June 09 vs Scorpions

Moments earlier

Xavier Gotch looks on

Tigers and Magpies go at it on 14 June 2009

Tigers and Magpies continue go at it on 14 June 2009

Tigers and Magpies, still at it on 14 June 2009

Magpies head to the race on 14 June 2009

A good and vocal crowd - 2000 plus - at Werribee

Casey - Field of Dreams

David Pitt Goals

Werribee under lights

Frankston boys at the last change vs Port

 

I played my first game at Port in 1976 when be defeated the Borough by 96 points. I played on George Allen, kicked three, missed a handful and copped a whack on the jaw from Sam Holt. With minutes remaining the runner was on the ground telling us to head for the change rooms as soon as the siren sounded. We feared a riot.

 

Wayne Schultz grabs at a mark

 

The best game I played at Port was under Harold Martin in 1982. I was moved on to champion centreman Bill Swan – father of Collingwood’s Dane – just before half time. We were about 27 points down and in trouble. I managed to stop him and was among our best in a memorable win.

 

Wayne Schultz makes sure of it

One of the funniest things I saw at Port was Harold Martin walking the umpires, including Frank Vergona to the race in front of the Goss Stand – possibly in the 1982 match – to the outrage of the Port supporters. Harold was scared of no one!

John Baird is all ears

The scariest thing I saw at Port was of the late John Scholes being hit - forearmed or elbowed - by Bob Profitt in the 1976 game. The club doctor, Lyn Madden, who was at that time Fred Cook’s girlfriend, stitched him up at half time.

Another memorable game was the match in 1985. At 32 years of age I was past my best but I still managed to treat a bloke named Collins to a football lesson. He managed to nick me under the eye with an elbow but it made no difference. We won a hard fought match.

Would the blood rule - that nick to the left eye - have sent me from the ground?

Action at Sandy

In the 70s and early 80s the size of crowds at Port was unbelievable. This photo, taken at Port in 1982 shows how popular VFA football was. Crowds of between 5 000 and 10 000 were common.