News Vale George Goninon

[jim boy]

Second last survivor of 51/52 premiership. Power forward kicking 278 goals over 78 matches for the cats and was pivotal in our premiership sides. Holds the VFL/AFL record for the most number of goals kicked in a final (11). But also controversial. Was dropped in the 53 finals series for marriage infidelity, who knows what difference he would have made in that two goal loss in the grand final that year.

You see his name regularly in goal kicking records, under-appreciated IMHO.

Rest in peace

 

[Hamingja]

Obviously well before my time as a player but I do know the name. Was he a broadcaster at some stage?

 

[Hamingja]

Australian Football - George Goninon - Player Bio

australianfootball.com

Full forward George Goninon began his senior career with Essendon Stars before joining Burnie in the NWFU, where his 67 goals in 1947 was good enough to top the competition's goal kicking list. Recruited by Essendon the following year he found it hard to establish himself because of the presence of John Coleman, and he managed just nine senior VFL games (for 11 goals) in three seasons before crossing to Geelong.

Given the responsibility of spearheading the Cats' attack, Goninon came into his own, and in four and a half seasons he accumulated 278 goals from 78 games. Favouring the then somewhat unfashionable drop punt when kicking for goal, he was renowned as one of the most accurate kicks in the league. He topped the VFL goal kicking list with 86 goals in 1951 and was a member of Geelong premiership teams both that year and the next.

Cross over with John Coleman to today is an impressive historical reference

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Second last survivor of 51/52 premiership. Power forward kicking 278 goals over 78 matches for the cats and was pivotal in our premiership sides. Holds the VFL/AFL record for the most number of goals kicked in a final (11). But also controversial. Was dropped in the 53 finals series for marriage infidelity, who knows what difference he would have made in that two goal loss in the grand final that year.

You see his name regularly in goal kicking records, under-appreciated IMHO.

Rest in peace

Dropped for marital infidelity? What a different time.

Vale mate.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Second last survivor of 51/52 premiership. Power forward kicking 278 goals over 78 matches for the cats and was pivotal in our premiership sides. Holds the VFL/AFL record for the most number of goals kicked in a final (11). But also controversial. Was dropped in the 53 finals series for marriage infidelity, who knows what difference he would have made in that two goal loss in the grand final that year.

You see his name regularly in goal kicking records, under-appreciated IMHO.

Rest in peace

RIP George Goninon.

who is the last survivor of that legendary 51/52 side JB? Bill McMaster?

 

[jim boy]

RIP George Goninon.

who is the last survivor of that legendary 51/52 side JB? Bill McMaster?

Yep - Bill

 

[rapidfire7]

Damn I never knew that. May very well have been the difference in the '53 Premiership as you say.

Also, wondering what happened in 1954? Top of the ladder again, and then out in straight sets.

Across history, Geelong really have blown a lot of opportunites in finals compared to many others.

For example, Geelong and Essendon have both played in 132 finals matches, but Geelong has 6 less Premierships: AFL Tables - Team Win-Loss Records

Also Melbourne, Hawthorn and Richmond have all played a lot less finals than Geelong, but have more Premierships.

 

[Turkey Tom]

Damn I never knew that. May very well have been the difference in the '53 Premiership as you say.

Also, wondering what happened in 1954? Top of the ladder again, and then out in straight sets.

Across history, Geelong really have blown a lot of opportunites in finals compared to many others.

For example, Geelong and Essendon have both played in 132 finals matches, but Geelong has 6 less Premierships: AFL Tables - Team Win-Loss Records

Also Melbourne, Hawthorn and Richmond have all played a lot less finals than Geelong, but have more Premierships.

I am purely having a guess, without any research. But the 'travel' factor. Early days of cars/buses; made roads, etc. would have taken a few hours to travel Geelong to Melbourne I would assume. Players had to work, so they leave early Saturday morning (few drinks the night before?).

Would be interesting to find out what the travel arrangements were the first half of the 20th century. Did they use boats????

Therefore, Geelong wins a lot of home games because of the opposition travel from Melbourne to Geelong, thus finish high on ladder, but then they have to travel to Melbourne to play finals.