WHEN he looks at the current side, Club legend, Best and Fairest and dual premiership captain (1955 and 1956) Noel McMahen is happy with what he sees.
‘They’re progressing very well. I’m quietly confident with what’s happening’, he says.
After all, when it comes to playing the game, McMahen has seen it all, through seven decades.
As a relative newcomer, he was there for the 1948 Grand Final draw and premiership victory, and again a few years later, when nineteen first year players were introduced to the side in first two to three years of Norm Smith’s coaching tenure.
‘We only won one game in 1951 - it was a three year learning curve.’
‘They’re progressing very well. I’m quietly confident with what’s happening’, he says.
After all, when it comes to playing the game, McMahen has seen it all, through seven decades.
As a relative newcomer, he was there for the 1948 Grand Final draw and premiership victory, and again a few years later, when nineteen first year players were introduced to the side in first two to three years of Norm Smith’s coaching tenure.
‘We only won one game in 1951 - it was a three year learning curve.’
Bridging the gap between the wartime generation and the bright young things of the 1950s, McMahen’s toughness on the half-back flank forged a steel spine for the team.
Now, looking on from the sidelines, McMahen is steadfastly of the belief that coach Dean Bailey is on the right track with his coaching, and looks forward to a similar stage of experience for the same sort of success that he and his contemporaries enjoyed for a decade from the mid-1950s.
‘The players need to get about 75 to 150 games into themselves to be successful, so it’s going to be another couple of years.’
He is happy to wait and watch.
Still in ongoing contact with a wide cross-section of the Club, McMahen’s longevity at Melbourne and in the game as a whole stands him in good stead.
He is still connected to the Club’s Coterie, and laughingly states, ‘people consult me about things!'
After all, McMahen has been at the Club through good times and bad alike.
As well as on the playing front, he’s also been in the thick of the action as a board member when the Club was struggling financially, back in the early 1990s.
‘Those were tough times. We got ourselves all right financially, and then went backwards.’
He is proud of what Club President Jim Stynes has been able to achieve, and ascribes many of his achievements to the specific abilities of the board members, chosen for what they are able to contribute.
Heading back to the team, McMahen considers thoughtfully who has had an impact, and who he sees as a player of the future.
‘I’m very impressed with Rohan Bail’, he says. ‘He’s got courage, and thickness in the hips. He gets over the ball, and uses it well.’
As well as Bail, he names Jack Watts as an impressive contributor.
‘He’s got wonderful attributes, and he will grow into it. He’s going to be fantastic.’
Apart from these two, another youngster has received a McMahen warning with a difference.
Young Luke Tapscott - ‘a solid customer’ - has been warned to stay in No. 35, worn with such conviction by McMahen.
‘I look forward to seeing him play.’
Seeing the youngsters mature is a great joy to McMahen, hoping - along with every other Melbourne supporter - that the current group can continue developing into a force to be reckoned with in near seasons.
While McMahen is retired, the Club is one of the centres of his life. Indeed, it has been much of his life. Apart from this, ‘I’m on the board of the Box Hill RSL. It’s time consuming - I was the chairman of the bowls section for ten years. Between that and the football club, I’m pretty busy.’
And, without a doubt, McMahen wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now, looking on from the sidelines, McMahen is steadfastly of the belief that coach Dean Bailey is on the right track with his coaching, and looks forward to a similar stage of experience for the same sort of success that he and his contemporaries enjoyed for a decade from the mid-1950s.
‘The players need to get about 75 to 150 games into themselves to be successful, so it’s going to be another couple of years.’
He is happy to wait and watch.
Still in ongoing contact with a wide cross-section of the Club, McMahen’s longevity at Melbourne and in the game as a whole stands him in good stead.
He is still connected to the Club’s Coterie, and laughingly states, ‘people consult me about things!'
After all, McMahen has been at the Club through good times and bad alike.
As well as on the playing front, he’s also been in the thick of the action as a board member when the Club was struggling financially, back in the early 1990s.
‘Those were tough times. We got ourselves all right financially, and then went backwards.’
He is proud of what Club President Jim Stynes has been able to achieve, and ascribes many of his achievements to the specific abilities of the board members, chosen for what they are able to contribute.
Heading back to the team, McMahen considers thoughtfully who has had an impact, and who he sees as a player of the future.
‘I’m very impressed with Rohan Bail’, he says. ‘He’s got courage, and thickness in the hips. He gets over the ball, and uses it well.’
As well as Bail, he names Jack Watts as an impressive contributor.
‘He’s got wonderful attributes, and he will grow into it. He’s going to be fantastic.’
Apart from these two, another youngster has received a McMahen warning with a difference.
Young Luke Tapscott - ‘a solid customer’ - has been warned to stay in No. 35, worn with such conviction by McMahen.
‘I look forward to seeing him play.’
Seeing the youngsters mature is a great joy to McMahen, hoping - along with every other Melbourne supporter - that the current group can continue developing into a force to be reckoned with in near seasons.
While McMahen is retired, the Club is one of the centres of his life. Indeed, it has been much of his life. Apart from this, ‘I’m on the board of the Box Hill RSL. It’s time consuming - I was the chairman of the bowls section for ten years. Between that and the football club, I’m pretty busy.’
And, without a doubt, McMahen wouldn’t have it any other way.
