The legend that is Syd Coventry

[South of the Yarra]

The next in my threads on Collingwod Greats is the legendary Syd Coventry. I have never understood why this man doesn't rate in the discussions of the greatest players to ever play the game. He did it all and epitomised all that was great about 'The Machine' Team.
Born in Greensborough and raised in Diamond Creek he almost ended up a Saints player but thank God Gordon persuaded him to our beloved Black and White. An immense and powerful leader he Captained our 4 Premierships in a row with determination, skill and aggression. Standing only 180cm ( Collingwood 6 footer) he rucked most of his life and led from the front on every occasion. A born leader in every sense. Tough and rugged he led the greatest team of all through the depression era. He was a fearless leader and 'a fearless protector of smaller teammates'. When asked about his extreme vigour and physical play he responded 'it was necessary to revitalise the side'.
He was known for his ability to lift us when in trouble. One teammate said 'whenever we were in trouble we would just kick it to Syd and he would do the rest.'
After fracturing a skull in a match in a brutal incident he responded 'it was worth it, we beat Carlton'.
227 games, 27 times Victorian representative, Victorian Captain, Brownlow medalist, 4 times Premiership Player and Captain, Captain in the Collingwood Team of the Century, Dual Copeland Trophy winner and the list goes on. He went on to be President of Collingwood from 50-62 and his reign where he was regarded as 'warm and genial' included two Premierships.
Such was his love of Collingwood he coached Footscray from 35-37 with the blessing of the Collingwood Committee. His one condition was 'I will coach them as long as I don't have to pull on their jumper and play a game. I only wear my beloved Black and White and could never ever play a game against the jumper I bled for'
Coventry was a great of our club and of our game. This quote best sums it up. 'Australians struggling through the depression famously gained succour from two legends of Australian Spot, Bradman and Phar Lap. But for working class supporters of the country's most rabidly followed football team, there was a third leg of the trifecta: Syd Coventry'

 

[Rusty22]

Hows his resume wow!
What a Champion and its a shame none of us could see what he was like.

 

[South of the Yarra]

Hows his resume wow!
What a Champion and its a shame none of us could see what he was like.

An incredible resume. One of the greats of all time.

 

[Countrypie]

It amazes me hat he wasn't named in the AFL team of the century....

 

[South of the Yarra]

It amazes me hat he wasn't named in the AFL team of the century....

So true. Can't believe he missed the team. Another glaring AFL error.

 

[spartan-magpie]

It amazes me hat he wasn't named in the AFL team of the century....

He played for Collingwood. We get automatically overlooked. Team of. Century was for all non Collingwood teams.

 

[3rd Monkey]

He played for Collingwood. We get automatically overlooked. Team of. Century was for all non Collingwood teams.

You would back the Collingwood Team of the Century to beat that AFL team any day

Great post on Syd Coventry by the way, I must admit I didn't know enough about him. Definitely a Collingwood great!

 

[South of the Yarra]

He played for Collingwood. We get automatically overlooked. Team of. Century was for all non Collingwood teams.

So true. Regan, Coventry, Coventry, McHale and Albert Collier all have cases to feel extremely unlucky. Regan and McHale not in the team is nothing short of a rort.

 

[spartan-magpie]

So true. Regan, Coventry, Coventry, McHale and Albert Collier all have cases to feel extremely unlucky. Regan and McHale not in the team is nothing short of a rort.

Id argue daicos could have a spot there too....

 

[South of the Yarra]

Id argue daicos could have a spot there too....

Agree entirely

 

[South of the Yarra]

Id argue daicos could have a spot there too....

The greatest of his type of player in the history of the game.

 

[Countrypie]

The greatest of his type of player in the history of the game.

He was the ONE AND ONLY type

 

[South of the Yarra]

He was the ONE AND ONLY type

The great one was indeed.

 

[South of the Yarra]

You would back the Collingwood Team of the Century to beat that AFL team any day

Great post on Syd Coventry by the way, I must admit I didn't know enough about him. Definitely a Collingwood great!

Cheers mate. Really appreciate it.

 

[Obese Arachnid]

Don't know if you take requests South of the Yarra but wouldn't mind a write up on Marcus Whelan.

Old man said he was very good, I think Bobby was the only one he liked better till Greening came along.

 

[Prestigerrycomo]

It amazes me hat he wasn't named in the AFL team of the century....

Just remember who was on the judging panel. Wall to wall Carlton suckholes

 

[South of the Yarra]

Don't know if you take requests South of the Yarra but wouldn't mind a write up on Marcus Whelan.

Old man said he was very good, I think Bobby was the only one he liked better till Greening came along.

OA would love to do Marcus Whelan for you. A legend who I know a fair bit about. Will do it over the weekend sometime. Appreciate you asking. Cheers

 

[South of the Yarra]

Just remember who was on the judging panel. Wall to wall Carlton suckholes

Exactly. We never stood a chance.

 

[Saintly Viewed]

So true. Regan, Coventry, Coventry, McHale and Albert Collier all have cases to feel extremely unlucky. Regan and McHale not in the team is nothing short of a rort.

South o t Y
Another sensational post.
Love reading them.
He was some player.
For those that perhaps dont realise that generally people a century ago, were not as tall as the timber these days.
Funny how height has evloved in our game.

I think one thing that killed off many Collingwood greats of yesteryear re Team of the Century, was not just the bias against us.
Just the time frames, eg player Albert Thurgood of Essendon was regarded as the super star of his time. The Wayne Carey of his time.
The so called afl team of century was by and large the team of that period of thiry to fifty years.
But how can anyone take anything seriously when that inadequate dim witted bill jacobs was a selector.
Zero credibility

 

[South of the Yarra]

South o t Y
Another sensational post.
Love reading them.
He was some player.
For those that perhaps dont realise that generally people a century ago, were not as tall as the timber these days.
Funny how height has evloved in our game.

I think one thing that killed off many Collingwood greats of yesteryear re Team of the Century, was not just the bias against us.
Just the time frames, eg player Albert Thurgood of Essendon was regarded as the super star of his time. The Wayne Carey of his time.
The so called afl team of century was by and large the team of that period of thiry to fifty years.
But how can anyone take anything seriously when that inadequate dim witted bill jacobs was a selector.
Zero credibility

SV thank you so much. Really appreciate your kind words. Great post. You are so right.

 

[Boris the Contradiction]

So true. Can't believe he missed the team. Another glaring AFL error.

It was mostly picked by Blues men. You surprised. I don't think he was even nominated?

 

[South of the Yarra]

It was mostly picked by Blues men. You surprised. I don't think he was even nominated?

You are so right. Not surprised at all. Carlton jealousy.

 

[35Daicos]

Carlton certainly did very well with 6 of their ex-players named in the Team of the Century, and we Collingwood supporters have every right to be annoyed that none of our players were selected. While I have no idea about where the allegiance of Bill Jacobs or Greg Hobbs lay, looking at the rest of the selection panel it's hard to see why any of them would be biased towards Carlton.

Edit: I see elsewhere that David Parkin was also on the selection panel, he most certainly did have a Carlton connection. Unfortunately his name was omitted from the article I've linked to.

http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/TOTC.html

The VFL-AFL Team of the Century was announced on Monday September 2nd 1996 during the Centenary Year celebrations of the VFL-AFL.
Footystats Diary of the time recorded: The Princess Theatre in Melbourne was the scene on Monday September 2nd when the appointed selection panel consisting of – former VFL president ALLEN AYLETT, former chief football writer of The Age and ex-Melbourne player PERCY BEAMES, Geelong coach and player BOB DAVIS, Brownlow Medal winner GERARD HEALY, umpire JACK IRVING, veteran broadcaster BILL JACOBS and chief writer of the AFL Football Record GREG HOBBS announced "The Team of the Century" —

THE VFL-AFL TEAM OF THE CENTURY
B: Bernie Smith (Gee), Stephen Silvagni (Car), John Nicholls (Car)
HB: Bruce Doull (Car), Ted Whitten (Fsc), Kevin Murray (Fit)
C: Francis Bourke (Rch), Ian Stewart (Rch, StK), Keith Greig (NM)
HF: Alex Jesaulenko (Car, StK), Royce Hart (Rch), Dick Reynolds (Ess)
F: Leigh Matthews (Haw), John Coleman (Ess), Haydn Bunton (Fit)
Ruck: Graham Farmer (Gee), Ron Barassi (Mel, Car)
Rover: Bob Skilton (SM)
Inter: Gary Ablett (Haw, Gee), Jack Dyer (Rch), Greg Williams (Gee, Syd, Car)
Coach: Norm Smith (Mel)
Umpire: Jack Elder.

 

[Sea Bird]

What a great idea for a series of threads in the off season!

One story I always liked about Syd (and Gordon) was about controversial game against Carlton in 1934 (the following comes from 'Collingwood at Victoria park' by Glenn McFarlane)

"The trouble started almost from the opening bounce, but flared in the second term when Syd Coventry punched Gordon Mackie on the neck. Mackie then knocked Coventry unconscious, prompting Syd's brother, Gordon, to run the length of the field and clobber Mackie".

Don't mean to promote that sort of thing, but it's a bit different when it's family. #sidebyside

 

[Saintly Viewed]

Carlton certainly did very well with 6 of their ex-players named in the Team of the Century, and we Collingwood supporters have every right to be annoyed that none of our players were selected. While I have no idea about where the allegiance of Bill Jacobs or Greg Hobbs lay, looking at the rest of the selection panel it's hard to see why any of them would be biased towards Carlton.

Edit: I see elsewhere that David Parkin was also on the selection panel, he most certainly did have a Carlton connection. Unfortunately his name was omitted from the article I've linked to.

http://footystats.freeservers.com/Footystats/TOTC.html

The VFL-AFL Team of the Century was announced on Monday September 2nd 1996 during the Centenary Year celebrations of the VFL-AFL.
Footystats Diary of the time recorded: The Princess Theatre in Melbourne was the scene on Monday September 2nd when the appointed selection panel consisting of – former VFL president ALLEN AYLETT, former chief football writer of The Age and ex-Melbourne player PERCY BEAMES, Geelong coach and player BOB DAVIS, Brownlow Medal winner GERARD HEALY, umpire JACK IRVING, veteran broadcaster BILL JACOBS and chief writer of the AFL Football Record GREG HOBBS announced "The Team of the Century" —

THE VFL-AFL TEAM OF THE CENTURY
B: Bernie Smith (Gee), Stephen Silvagni (Car), John Nicholls (Car)
HB: Bruce Doull (Car), Ted Whitten (Fsc), Kevin Murray (Fit)
C: Francis Bourke (Rch), Ian Stewart (Rch, StK), Keith Greig (NM)
HF: Alex Jesaulenko (Car, StK), Royce Hart (Rch), Dick Reynolds (Ess)
F: Leigh Matthews (Haw), John Coleman (Ess), Haydn Bunton (Fit)
Ruck: Graham Farmer (Gee), Ron Barassi (Mel, Car)
Rover: Bob Skilton (SM)
Inter: Gary Ablett (Haw, Gee), Jack Dyer (Rch), Greg Williams (Gee, Syd, Car)
Coach: Norm Smith (Mel)
Umpire: Jack Elder.

Even the coach wasnt a lazy 8 time premiershop coach, but norm smith who was also agrat but 6 is not 8