WHEN Dick Fenton-Smith was transferred to Adelaide for work, it was the end of a relatively short, but magnificent time in the VFL.
Fenton-Smith - originally from Ormond Amateurs - had played in exactly fifty games with Melbourne, wearing the No. 1 guernsey, and had been part of two premierships, in 1957 and 1959.
Having known since he was a youngster and living in Melbourne’s recruiting zone that he was predestined to be a Demon, from the very beginning, ‘Melbourne was my team!’
It was also testament to his tenacity that Fenton-Smith made the grade, saying in later years, ‘I gained selection on the M.F.C. final training list in 1957 at the age of 25, after several years of trying.’
It was worth the endeavour, and Fenton-Smith went on to become that invaluable commodity - a mobile ruckman, hailed during his playing career for his ‘speed and mobility…with his great height….’
After his time at the top - literally, for Fenton-Smith was one of the big men of the competition, measuring in at 196 cm, and still cutting an imposing figure today, ‘I played with Sturt for four years, and I also played with South Australia - we beat the Vics.’
It was a very pleasant sign off to his footballing career, and a timely one, too. ‘At the end of my career, I was over thirty years old. I was starting to get sore, and I started to struggle in South Australia.’
One of the primary differences for Fenton-Smith between his South Australian playing career and his time in the VFL was, quite naturally, the financial aspect.
He was not paid to play in South Australia, whereas back in Melbourne, ‘the money was acceptable - eight pounds per week, and with the Grand Finals, we received a twenty-five pound bonus.’
More than the money, though, the people were - and are - what counted. ‘We had a terrific team, and about fifteen of us still meet each month for lunch.’
Fenton-Smith - originally from Ormond Amateurs - had played in exactly fifty games with Melbourne, wearing the No. 1 guernsey, and had been part of two premierships, in 1957 and 1959.
Having known since he was a youngster and living in Melbourne’s recruiting zone that he was predestined to be a Demon, from the very beginning, ‘Melbourne was my team!’
It was also testament to his tenacity that Fenton-Smith made the grade, saying in later years, ‘I gained selection on the M.F.C. final training list in 1957 at the age of 25, after several years of trying.’
It was worth the endeavour, and Fenton-Smith went on to become that invaluable commodity - a mobile ruckman, hailed during his playing career for his ‘speed and mobility…with his great height….’
After his time at the top - literally, for Fenton-Smith was one of the big men of the competition, measuring in at 196 cm, and still cutting an imposing figure today, ‘I played with Sturt for four years, and I also played with South Australia - we beat the Vics.’
It was a very pleasant sign off to his footballing career, and a timely one, too. ‘At the end of my career, I was over thirty years old. I was starting to get sore, and I started to struggle in South Australia.’
One of the primary differences for Fenton-Smith between his South Australian playing career and his time in the VFL was, quite naturally, the financial aspect.
He was not paid to play in South Australia, whereas back in Melbourne, ‘the money was acceptable - eight pounds per week, and with the Grand Finals, we received a twenty-five pound bonus.’
More than the money, though, the people were - and are - what counted. ‘We had a terrific team, and about fifteen of us still meet each month for lunch.’
Fenton-Smith also served on the Melbourne Football Club Committee, and rose to the standing of Deputy Chairman.
This experience gave him an extra appreciation of the administrative side of the game, and he is in awe of Club President, Jim Stynes, and all that he has done in such a short time, particularly on the Debt Demolition front.
‘I think that what Jim did was truly inspiring. Without Jim, it wouldn’t have happened. We’re debt free, and on the field the future looks bright, too.’
This experience gave him an extra appreciation of the administrative side of the game, and he is in awe of Club President, Jim Stynes, and all that he has done in such a short time, particularly on the Debt Demolition front.
‘I think that what Jim did was truly inspiring. Without Jim, it wouldn’t have happened. We’re debt free, and on the field the future looks bright, too.’
On that front, Fenton-Smith is once again all about the team as it is today, and holds great hopes for the current crop once they ‘thicken up and get some more experience. They’re all young players, so we don’t know they’ll do, but it is exciting.’
One thing is for sure - as the team of 2011 takes to the MCG, Fenton-Smith will be watching with support and enthusiasm from the stands, remembering back half a century to the Demons of the 1950s, and wishing the same experience for those now in red and blue.
One thing is for sure - as the team of 2011 takes to the MCG, Fenton-Smith will be watching with support and enthusiasm from the stands, remembering back half a century to the Demons of the 1950s, and wishing the same experience for those now in red and blue.
