WHEN John Beckwith took the tour of AAMI Park recently with family members including his young grandson, Austin, and daughter, Karen, he couldn’t help but remark on the differences between today’s facilities and the arrangements of yesteryear.
The premiership captain of 1957 and 1959, coach between 1968 and 1970, member of the Club’s Team of the Century and Hall of Fame, and named as a ‘Hero’ in 2008, amongst a variety of roles and honours, Beckwith is integral to the Club story, and a favourite of many.
Having such a diversity of experience in the Melbourne family, Beckwith was well qualified to comment.
‘It was really impressive - things like the medical room, where the players can get treatment immediately. Also, seeing examples like Brad Gotch going through the videos with the Casey players - we never had that. It’s fantastic to see that sort of thing. Seeing the pool and realising what superb athletes the players are - we were part time when I played. The mind boggles!’
Beckwith was invited to tour the new facilities by GM Football, Chris Connolly, and was fulsome in his praise of Connolly’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Club.
‘Chris has always impressed me. He’s so friendly, and always wants to bring you in. It’s really nice to feel as if you belong.’
Beckwith is indeed one of a very special group, playing as he did in five premierships - 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1960 - and the ties of those times continue to this day, particularly through the group ‘Barassi Lunch’ which is held every month at The Bentleigh Club.
‘We still keep in touch, and we still talk about what happened when we played.’ Of course, having followed the legendary Norm Smith (‘somebody had to!’) as Melbourne coach, Beckwith has a unique perspective to offer, and Smith still looms large in the collective memory.
‘I was very close to Norm, in that I was part of the inner sanctum in my role of captain. He was not as hard as he put across - really, he was more considerate - and a bit like a racehorse trainer. He knew when players had to be pushed, and he looked after me at training. He also had one of the best football memories ever. At the end of a game, he would recall every mistake made by a player.’
It was an environment in which Beckwith prospered, part of one of the VFL’s youngest leadership combination with Barassi, both taking their turn at captaincy and vice captaincy across the late 1950s and into the 1960s.
As Beckwith reflects, the game has completely changed, and he’s been there and experienced many of the changes.
‘When I was coaching, you’d get one A4 stats sheet, and there would be twenty to thirty handballs in a match. I knew then that handball would be a dangerous weapon, eventually. It’s completely changed. You can’t kick to the boundary line now, with the rule changes. I would hate to be a defender today!’
While he rues the loss of the capacity to head for the white line - something which remains a personal trademark and is mentioned by commentators to this very day - Beckwith still enthuses about the modern competition.
‘I love the game. I really admire the players as athletes, and I think their ball handling skills are just amazing.’
Beckwith doesn’t get to so many games these days, but watches regularly on television, and is impressed with what he sees evolving at Melbourne.
Asked his opinion on the current crop, he names Jack Trengove at the top of his list - ‘he’s a great thinker as a young kid.’
Another mentioned is Brent Moloney, who ‘is in and under - and he’s breaking much better these days. He gets out much better.’
Beckwith knows his game, and knows it from all angles. As well as coaching Melbourne, he also took the reins at Colac, where, in the way of the football community, he knew a much younger Brad Gotch and his family.
While he may not be as intensely involved as he once was, Beckwith still has the Melbourne Football Club at heart.
‘We’re seventh now. I’m really enjoying it!’
Living in Mentone, and regularly playing golf, John Beckwith is - and always will be - a true Melbourne Football Club treasure.
