PAFC Newsletter round 1, 2022
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LEADERSHIP GROUP FOR 2022
PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION will tackle season 2022 with co captains, James Musster and Beau Adams to head an expanded seven man leadership group.
Musster has been club captain since 2016 and will be joined by stalwart Adams who has played 134 senior games as a wingman and on baller. Reserves co captains will be Tom Bowes and Blake Graham.
The co captains will be joined by Tim Maya, Zac Podmore and Jake Stent-Powell rounding out a new look seven man leadership group supporting new coach Brett Dickinson.
Enthusiasm is high for the season opener at Toorak Park this Saturday v Glen Eira with three senior debutants Joe Connelly, son of former State Bank player Tony Connelly, Pat Ribbands son of past Prahran Juniors president and Prahran Football Club Board member John Ribbands and Marcus Grogan, another of the club's recruits from the Mildura area from Irymple. |
WITH THANKS TO MATCH DAY PLAYER AWARD SPONSORS
STATE BANK-SOUTHBANK PAST PLAYERS
GEORGE HAWKINS TRIBUTE
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HERE, under this carefully manicured unmarked lawn plot in the Chiltern cemetery in north-east Victoria, lies perhaps Prahran Football Club’s greatest player, George Hawkins.
It is a sad epitaph to a storied career, but there will be a positive postscript.
The Prahran Football Club will right a much too neglected wrong by installing a headstone to honour George who is interred with his wife Monica.
The Cameo Memorials headstone pictured below will be on display at Toorak Park on Saturday for the season opener v Glen Eira.
A formal installation ceremony of the headstone will be held later this year.
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Hawkins moved to Chiltern late in life and lived in a caravan before he died aged 71 in1979.
It was an anonymous end to a glittering career.
It wasn’t until a local John Lappin, from a famous football family and uncle of Brisbane Lions triple premiership player Nigel Lappin, who had met Hawkins briefly before his death noticed a dilapidated wooden cross to mark Hawkins’ grave when visiting the cemetery.
“I met him a few times, he came to watch us (Chiltern) train and play and handed out a few tips. I had no idea he was such a great player until his wife Monica showed me a book on the greats of the VFA just after he had passed away, he never mentioned it,’’ he said.
“In recent years when visiting my parents grave I found a rotted cross lying on an unmarked grave, it read George Hawkins. I thought something should be done, apparently they had no children.’’
Hawkins kicked 657 goals in 151 games for the Two Blues booting a then Australian record 164 in 1939 including a club record 16 v Sandringham, later equalled by Brian Taylor v Oakleigh in 1991.
Aptly he was named the club’s Team Of The Century full-forward in 2002.
It was Hawkins who was instrumental in Prahran’s first premiership in 1937.
He was moved from his customary full-forward post where he had kicked six goals to the centre as the Two Blues trailed in a tense last quarter before 9000 fans at Toorak Park.
According to Mark Fiddian’s excellent book ‘The Blue Boys’ Hawkins passed the ball to Ian Fleming who goaled in the dying minutes to give the Two Blues a three point lead, which was reduced to two points at the final siren with Prahran 12-13 to Brunswick 11-17.
Former club president Alf Blamey, who turns 91 in April, who as a young boy saw Hawkins play, said he was revered by supporters.
“He wasn’t a big man but he could jump and take high marks. I used to go with my mother and I remember one day one of our supporters called out ‘’superb’’ to describe Hawkins’ play, it was a word you didn’t hear in those days.’’
Born in Brunswick, Hawkins was recruited locally from South Yarra mid-way in 1931. He kicked 41 goals in just 10 matches, a portent of even better times to come.
Fiddian’s book “The Blue Boys” says Hawkins answered to the nickname ‘melon’ so called because he worked at the Australian Jam Factory in Chapel Street.
Hawkins, who wore the number 17 jumper, retired at the end of 1940, but made a belated comeback in 1946 when the club was short of players and kicked six goals v Northcote.
A gifted sportsman, he also excelled at cricket played 59 games with Prahran in premier cricket including one match for Victoria v Tasmania in 1933-34.
The Cameo Memorials headstone will be on display at Toorak Park on Saturday for the season opener v Glen Eira.
FIRST HOME GAME LUNCHEON APRIL 30
SAVE THE DATE- TEAM OF THE DECADE/
2011&2017 PREMIERSHIP RE-UNIONS
RENEW/BECOME A VALUED MEMBER OR SPONSOR
Our Club relies heavily on our Memberships & Sponsorships - we will greatly appreciate whatever support you can provide - simply click on the following link & select how you wish to support :
- Club Member - $60
- SkyBlue Member - $100
- Jack Morgans/Prahrantonians Member - $200
- Player Sponsor - $400
- Sponsors - Bronze, Silver & Gold all available
Sincere Thanks to all our members and sponsors who have already renewed for 2022 - your support is greatly appreciated.
For the latest club news and to sign up as a member just click on
www.prahranfootballclub.com.au
