WHEN John Lord - premiership ruckman and Club personality - reflects on his time involved with the red and blue, there’s the realisation of the huge amount of time this takes in.
‘My first experience with the MFC was in 1954, when I was invited to train on the MCG. I was signed up and played two games with the Thirds before heading back home. That committed me to Melbourne, but I know that was based on Melbourne letting Dad go in the 1920s after playing 20-plus games, when he went to St Kilda and played for Victoria for a couple of years,’ he told melbournefc.com.au.
This means that Lord’s connection to the Club effectively stretches back as far as the 1920s, and there’s a laugh to accompany that when he states, ‘If my career had finished after those two weeks, I’d still be talking about it!’
Needless to say, his career did not finish after these two weeks, but extended through the premiership seasons of 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964.
Throughout that tenure, the effusive ruckman found not only a club that he loves to this day, but a home that still occupies a huge place in his affections. The MCG is at the centre of his life.
‘In those early days, the MCG was very much home for us the whole year, not only the footy but the likes of Hassa and Len Mann, Barrie Vagg and Barry Bourke, Tiger Ridley and others played with the MCC club cricket teams,’ he said.
Lord, in fact, treasures the MCC, and his role as an MCC tour guide enables him to share that enthusiasm, particularly since retiring to Melbourne after working as far afield as ‘Perth, Canberra, Alice Springs - then I returned to Melbourne in 2000.’
Since that time, he has been closely involved with the Club’s past player population, as well as his guiding role.
With a strong interest in the fate of the team, Lord is impressed with the coaching efforts of Dean Bailey, and even further, with the administration of the Club that has fostered the coach’s career.
‘Good administration makes a good team’, says Lord, particularly impressed by the efforts of Vice President Don McLardy.
Now, he looks to the ongoing improvement and development of the side, deferring to the wisdom of Norm Smith.
‘Bring the youth on’, is a belief shared and passed down many generations of VFL and AFL, and alive and well in today’s Melbourne Football Club.
Holding that policy firmly in place, Lord is looking forward to steady progress in upcoming seasons, and believes that Melbourne will be seen ‘in the top six or seven next year!’
He does not attend every match, but describes himself as being ‘emotionally attached to the team.’ Lord also understands the rollercoaster that is the game, and believes that it is important to support through good and bad times alike.
Lord is also extremely pleased to see the development of the current No. 4 - Jack Watts.
‘He’s coming along nicely’, Lord says with a certain element of pride.
‘There’s no doubt he’ll be better next year, and I think that eventually, he could be a really dominant player.’
Given the background, achievements and longevity of Lord, that is fair praise indeed.
‘My first experience with the MFC was in 1954, when I was invited to train on the MCG. I was signed up and played two games with the Thirds before heading back home. That committed me to Melbourne, but I know that was based on Melbourne letting Dad go in the 1920s after playing 20-plus games, when he went to St Kilda and played for Victoria for a couple of years,’ he told melbournefc.com.au.
This means that Lord’s connection to the Club effectively stretches back as far as the 1920s, and there’s a laugh to accompany that when he states, ‘If my career had finished after those two weeks, I’d still be talking about it!’
Needless to say, his career did not finish after these two weeks, but extended through the premiership seasons of 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964.
Throughout that tenure, the effusive ruckman found not only a club that he loves to this day, but a home that still occupies a huge place in his affections. The MCG is at the centre of his life.
‘In those early days, the MCG was very much home for us the whole year, not only the footy but the likes of Hassa and Len Mann, Barrie Vagg and Barry Bourke, Tiger Ridley and others played with the MCC club cricket teams,’ he said.
Lord, in fact, treasures the MCC, and his role as an MCC tour guide enables him to share that enthusiasm, particularly since retiring to Melbourne after working as far afield as ‘Perth, Canberra, Alice Springs - then I returned to Melbourne in 2000.’
Since that time, he has been closely involved with the Club’s past player population, as well as his guiding role.
With a strong interest in the fate of the team, Lord is impressed with the coaching efforts of Dean Bailey, and even further, with the administration of the Club that has fostered the coach’s career.
‘Good administration makes a good team’, says Lord, particularly impressed by the efforts of Vice President Don McLardy.
Now, he looks to the ongoing improvement and development of the side, deferring to the wisdom of Norm Smith.
‘Bring the youth on’, is a belief shared and passed down many generations of VFL and AFL, and alive and well in today’s Melbourne Football Club.
Holding that policy firmly in place, Lord is looking forward to steady progress in upcoming seasons, and believes that Melbourne will be seen ‘in the top six or seven next year!’
He does not attend every match, but describes himself as being ‘emotionally attached to the team.’ Lord also understands the rollercoaster that is the game, and believes that it is important to support through good and bad times alike.
Lord is also extremely pleased to see the development of the current No. 4 - Jack Watts.
‘He’s coming along nicely’, Lord says with a certain element of pride.
‘There’s no doubt he’ll be better next year, and I think that eventually, he could be a really dominant player.’
Given the background, achievements and longevity of Lord, that is fair praise indeed.
