Wang vets soldier on

by PAUL DAFFEY

TOWARDS the end of any season at any club, talk turns towards the question of who will leave and who will play on next year. The question had special resonance for Wangaratta Rovers defender Shane Flynn as the Ovens and Murray league finals approached last season.

Flynn was recovering from successive reconstructions of his left knee, a plight to make any footballer lament his fortunes. But the rangy half-back was not feeling sorry for himself over his shaky joint; his concern was whether he would play with the prized Wang Rovers veterans before they retired.

Flynn wanted a last chance to play with teammates such as Robbie Walker and the Wilson brothers. In all, seven players comprised arguably the most esteemed group of footballers in country Australia.

Flynn had grown up watching these players win premierships. He followed the Rovers with more fervour than he followed the AFL. "I grew up with these blokes being my idols,"he said.

The 23-year-old won a place in the Rovers line-up for the opening match this season. It was due reward after three frustrating years. The greater reward, however, was lining up alongside the famous veterans.

All of them, even 40-year-old rover Mick Caruso, had agreed to play on. Six of them were teammates in the 1988 grand final. Fourteen years after the seeds of legend had been sown, one last quest for a flag - and the sheer enjoyment of playing together - inspired them to continue.

The season began in ominous style, with the Rovers demolishing arch rival Wangaratta and Walker, who in 2001 earned a record fourth Ovens and Murray best player award, yet again being named best on ground. But as the season gathered steam, the Rovers faltered.

Walker, for so long indestructible, missed games through injury and Mick Wilson, the oldest of the three brothers, lost form. At 33 years of age, Wilson was dropped to the reserves. Such a demotion might dent the legend of some players but, in Wilson's case, it served to enhance it.

Every week, a few teenagers finish playing with the Rover's thirds and then start the reserves' match on the bench. In the week that Wilson was named in the reserves, every teenager in the Rovers' camp clambered for a spot in the reserves because he wanted to play with the great Mick Wilson.

"I was overwhelmed by that,"Wilson said.

The tough half-back fought his way back into the senior team and Walker managed his injuries. Under threat of a wasted season when there was no time to waste, the Rovers marshalled forces.

In four consecutive games, they defeated their four fellow premiership challengers, culminating with a 50-point dismantling of Corowa-Rutherglen last week. The Rovers entered the final round on top of the ladder, looking strong and confident of winning their first premiership in eight years.

Winning a flag with so many players deep in the twilight of their careers would be a remarkable achievement. The veterans would be entitled to hang up their boots, satisfied with distinguished careers, though most of them are undecided about retirement.

Their teammates, meanwhile, would relish hoisting the cup with such undisputed legends. Shane Flynn spent a childhood dreaming of such an outcome. In adulthood, injury woes have served to sharpen the dream. "It would mean a lot to me,"Flynn said.

The seven veterans are far from the only reason the Rovers are poised for success. Young players such as soaring defender Karl Norman, the son of former champion forward Steve Norman, also drive the Rovers resurgence, but it is the veterans who drive the main interest of country football fans.

All footy fans would be advised to witness the super seven before they bow out and take a slice of history with them.

Allen returned from an overseas trip in 1991 with a couple of things sorted out. He would go on to the family farm and he would return to the Rovers and play in the forward line. He kicked a swag of goals in 1992 but it is safe to say that his name has been forged as a defender. Allen rolls up to games smiling and relaxed. "He's a farmer,"explained coach Tony Pasquali. His easy smile belies his determination. Just last week, in typically unflappable style, he held former North Melbourne utility Jason Daniltchenko to one goal a week after the Corowa-Rutherglen forward had kicked 11. The Rovers' minds rest easy with Allen in defence. Confidence spreads down the field.

As much as Allen looks like he spends the morning in a hammock, Caruso is busy and intense. His chiselled features suggest hours working on fitness that enables him to run flat out every week, even at this advanced stage of his career. "I've never seen him play a bad game,"Pasquali said. Caruso joined the Rovers after moving from Maryborough to Wangaratta to take up a teaching post. Last weekend, after being chaired off the ground following his 250th senior match with the Rovers, he returned to Maryborough, where he was named in the Royal Park team of the century. Last night, he returned to his home town for the naming of Bendigo league club Maryborough's team of the century. If Wang Rovers held such a function, it's a fair bet that Caruso would be named in the side. He's considered among the best small men to play in the Ovens and Murray.

Pasquali grew up on his parents' tobacco farm in King Valley listening to radio broadcasts of Wang Rovers' games. The Rovers were the glamour club of the district and the ambitious teenager from the hills wanted to be part of it. Pasquali walked into the Wangaratta sports shop of Rovers legends John Walsh and Eric Cornelius and asked how he could join their club. He spent a couple of seasons in the reserves before, in the manner of Michael Tuck or Bruce Doull, becoming an indelible feature of the Rovers' line-up. His marking power enables him to play above his height. His attention to fitness enables him to pick up possessions for four quarters. In for the past four years, at Benalla and the Rovers, he's combined playing with coaching. "He just loves his footy,"said fellow veteran Mick Wilson.

After winning 10 of the past 11 best-and-fairest awards at a club as strong as the Rovers, and distinguishing himself at representative football for much of that decade, it can be argued that Walker is the best country footballer in Australia. Only Sunraysia midfielder Tony Hickey, who has won 12 club best-and-fairest awards, including 10 at Mildura Imperials, has a record that compares. Both players, not surprisingly, work hard on fitness. Walker applied himself to running and gymwork after following his disappointing exit from North Melbourne with an indifferent season at the Rovers. He decided that, if he were to keep playing footy, he would give it his best shot or give it away. His achievements are exacerbated when it is considered he has played much of his career at centre half-forward, running hard to mark on the lead before doubling back. In recent years, he's dominated the midfield. His relative bulk for an onballer suggests he would struggle to keep up with younger opponents. This bulk, however, enables him to work the ball from packs, and his work rate leaves opponents gasping. Last week, Corowa-Rutherglen players assured themselves at three-quarter time that their ageing opponents would wither. "They've got old legs, they've got old legs," the Roos said. Walker maintained momentum to be clearly best afield in the last quarter, with Pasquali his main accomplice. It's a tale as familiar as it is remarkable.

The Wilson brothers are nephews of Mick Nolan, who played 100 games with the Rovers before rucking in a premiership at North Melbourne. Mick Wilson arrived at the Findlay Oval from Tarrawingee as a mid-teenager and played his first senior game at 17. The next year he lined up on Lavington gun Jeff Cassidy, the former Geelong and East Fremantle player, in the grand final. Wilson was raw and skinny. "He looked like a splinter standing next to Cassidy," said Pasquali. His uncompromising performance was pivotal to the premiership that heralded another golden era for the Rovers, with four premierships in seven years. Mick Wilson played an integral part in all of them. He also became an integral part of successful Ovens and Murray interleague sides. This year, Wilson confirmed his place in the pantheon of greats when he played his 300th senior match for the Rovers. He also played in the reserves for the first time since he was 16. Typically, he didn't sulk, but he did reinforce his standing as a club man. "I enjoyed it," he said. His greatest enjoyment has come through playing with his brothers, with the name Wilson failing to feature in only a handful of Rovers' teams in the past 15 years. The brothers' parents, Chas and Toni, are never far from the action either; both serve on the club board.

The centreman with the name that is famous as a Henry Lawson character made his debut with the Rovers at 16. He left for Brisbane, where he was unlucky not to play senior football, and Vermont, where he played in a premiership in his only year with the powerful suburban club. At Rovers, he's proved as tough as his brothers, with precise skill thrown in. His running goal on the left foot last week was a gem. President Pat Flynn, who is Shane's father, said Joe Wilson's most noted skill is his ability to negotiate heavy traffic. "A lot of his work goes unnoticed," Flynn said. His most noted achievement is being the only player to interrupt Walker's run of best-and-fairest awards. He made up for several runner-up finishes by winning in 1996. Both his brothers have also finished second to Walker, as have Pasquali and another legend, Peter Tossol, now the coach of Corowa-Rutherglen.

The youngest Wilson is the only player among the super veterans to miss out on the 1988 premiership. He made his debut in 1989 and his hardness and versatility have underpinned the team ever since. Andrew Wilson plays at half-back, on the wing, and has been known to provide a strong target at full-forward. "He's tough,"Pasquali said. "You can't beat him." This renowned ruggedness has been evident since he lost the little finger on his right hand in a woodchipper accident a month ago. The tree surgeon missed a fortnight of football before returning in the reserves last week. His mumbled admission that the finger was sore failed to stop him picking up a swag of possessions. Wilson is nicknamed Waldo, after a 1970s wrestler. He picked up the name because he and his brothers used to wrestle their way through Saturday afternoons while their father was playing football. These bouts around the boundary line must have been tough affairs. All these years later, any battle with the Wilson brothers remains a tough affair.

Wangaratta Rovers recently inducted three servants of the club into its hall of fame: John Maroney, Steve Norman and Mark Booth.

The trio joined Bob Rose, Neville Hogan, Merv Holmes and Robbie Walker, who last year were the inaugural inductees in the club's hall of fame.

A testimonial dinner was also held to celebrate the contribution of club legends Laurie Burt, who coached the Rovers from 1987 to 1997, and Mick Wilson, who this year played his 300th senior game for the club.

Club legend Peter Tossol, who played more than 200 games with the Rovers before becoming coach of Corowa-Rutherlgen, spoke at the dinner.

Jack Maroney...

The straight-talking administrator joined the club committee in 1947 and served for 31 years. He was president from 1959 to 1967 and again from 1970 to 1976. Besides presiding over seven premierships, a huge big achievement under his leadership was converting the City Oval from a cow paddock to a ground to make the club proud, and building clubrooms. The Jack Maroney Pavilion is named in his honour.

Steve Norman...

The full-forward made his debut in 1970 and, the next year, equalled the club record of 65 goals, held by legendary coach and rover Bob Rose, the former Collingwood champion. Norman went on to kick a club record 1016 goals, including three hundreds. His highest tally, 118 in 1975, remains the club record. He played in seven premierships. His son Karl is considered an AFL draft prospect after starring at centre half-back in his first season in the Rovers line-up.

Mark Booth...

Booth played in 319 senior games with the Rovers from 1973 to 1992. His one season away, at Yarrawonga in 1981, resulted in a best and fairest award with the Pigeons. The dynamic midfielder won three best and fairest awards with the Rovers and played in five premierships. He missed out on the 1979 flag because he was overseas and the 1988 flag because he was suspended in the final home-and-away game. He is now on the Ovens and Murray league board of management.

Wangaratta Rovers were in the Ovens and Kings league until 1948, when they stepped up to the Ovens and Murray. The club battled in the stronger competition until 1956, when Bob Rose took over as playing coach at 28 years of age. Rose had won five Copeland Trophies at Collingwood.

The Rovers won premierships in 1958 and 1960 before rugged South Melbourne ruckman Ken Boyd was appointed to succeed Rose for the 1962 season. Boyd, however, had received a 12-week suspension after belting Carlton champion John Nicholls in 1961. The final eight weeks of his penalty spilled into the Ovens and Murray season and the Rovers failed to have the penalty annulled.

The Rovers wanted a playing coach and Rose agreed to continue. He led the club to the grand final, in which he collected 26 kicks before half-time. The club lost to Benalla and Rose retired.

Boyd took over in the 1963 season and led club to a flag the next season. The Rovers have won 15 Ovens and Murray premierships, the most in the competition.

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