FROM Digby in south-western Victoria to Portland is an hour’s drive along the Henty Highway. From Portland to the MCG is a life and a world away. It is here that the navy blue and red of Melbourne has graced the game for well over a century, names engraving themselves on our collective consciousness.
Across Bass Strait lies the footballing stronghold of Tasmania, proud in its achievements and its characters, many of whom have made their mark in the shuttle to and from the mainland.
One of those legendary names is Stuart Spencer, linking Digby-Portland-Melbourne-Tasmania together in a story of great achievement over sixty years. His is a tale of perseverance and amazing camaraderie that took him to the top in many levels and varying areas of the game.
Starting out with Melbourne in 1950, Spencer won a Special Award trophy and played sixteen games. He followed that up in 1951 with the Most Improved Player award, and in 1952, earned extensive praise, as ‘His tenacity, anticipation and clearing dashes were fearless and delightful and frequently earned the sustained applause of all. To cap a splendid year of football, Stuart was awarded the coveted trophy of Best Clubman.’
With his game thriving under Norm Smith’s coaching, Spencer followed up on this in 1953 with an award for consistent play, regarding which it was reported in the Club’s Annual Report that, ‘Stuart Spencer, both at back pocket and roving, again delighted with his spectacular and determined football.’
By the time he won an Outstanding Service award in 1954, Spencer’s match statistics were a topic of admiration from many - ‘Stuart has developed into one of the best rovers in the V.F.L.’ summing up his standing in the game. He had found his place on the ground, and in the competition.
One of Spencer’s best matches was the second semi-final of 1955, when Melbourne defeated Collingwood. Best on ground, Spencer was hailed for his roving, which in following seasons was described as ‘outstanding and devastating. In addition to his fine work all over the field, he kicked five of his side’s eight goals, and he well earned the title of “best man afield.”
Even greater honours were to follow for Spencer, with his amazing achievement of Best and Fairest wins in the premiership years of 1955 and 1956.
In 1955, he was acclaimed by the Club for his first Best and Fairest victory, and for other honours that spoke of the No. 12’s tenacity and standing - ‘This year Stuart was honoured by selection as a Victorian player and appeared as No. 1 rover for that team.
There seems to be no limit that this player might reach, and we are very appreciative of a wonderful year’s football.’
Receiving a huge number of compliments for his efforts in 1956, Spencer was named winner of the Best and Fairest for the second year in a row. He won it by half a point from John Beckwith.
Spencer and Ian Ridley formed the best roving combination in the VFL, and were important goal kickers for the side in this season.
Ridley kicked 40 goals for the season, and Spencer kicked 42. Spencer was hailed as ‘the outstanding rover of the Victorian Football League and one of the best to have worn the guernsey of the M.F.C. ... he is regarded as the No. 1 rover in Australian football today.’
This reputation would follow Spencer with his departure from Melbourne to Tasmania, where he would forge another layer of greatness onto his reputation at the Clarence Football Club.
As he would later say, ‘I had wanted to go at the end of 1955. But I was asked to play on for another year, and then I would be allowed to leave.’
So it was that the likes of Norm Smith, Ivor Warne-Smith and Jim Cardwell upheld their promise at the end of 1956, and let Spencer go. Past incentives had included mentions of captaincy, but while his career was ‘blossoming’, the 1956 Grand Final was Spencer’s last game with Melbourne.
Best on ground in the 1956 Grand Final, Spencer readily claimed it in later years as being ‘the highlight of my playing time with the Melbourne Football Club. And it was to be my last game.’
Despite the dismay at his leaving, there were only good wishes for Stuart Spencer, who had worn the No. 12 with such distinction for seven seasons.
He took them with him to Clarence, where he played another 236 games and confirmed his legendary status, being named as All Australian in 1961, and captaining the first Tasmanian side to beat Victoria.
It was fitting that, in seasons to come, his honours would include induction into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, the AFL Hall of Fame, and Melbourne’s own Hall of Fame, as well as inclusion in the Club’s Team of the Century and as one of the Club’s ‘Heroes’ in 2008.
After his playing days were over, Spencer eventually made his way back to Melbourne - and, of course, the Melbourne Football Club. He served as Club President between 1986 and 1991, and as well as overseeing an amazing regeneration of onfield form, made his mark early on. At the end of 1986, and looking to reignite enthusiasm across the Club, Spencer wrote:
‘Melbourne will re-introduce the red and navy blue guernsey…which was part of the tradition that made Melbourne a great Club to play for, administrators to serve and a sense of great pride to support.’
There could be no better legacy for the boy from Digby, who went on to become such an important part of the Melbourne Football Club, along with his wife, Fay, and his daughters Shelley and Loretta.
Stuart Spencer will forever be remembered for his great love of the Club and its people, and for the friendships he forged through a wonderful lifetime in football.
His passing this Tuesday leaves us all the poorer for his loss, and we share the sorrow of Fay, Shelley, Loretta and their families.
Across Bass Strait lies the footballing stronghold of Tasmania, proud in its achievements and its characters, many of whom have made their mark in the shuttle to and from the mainland.
One of those legendary names is Stuart Spencer, linking Digby-Portland-Melbourne-Tasmania together in a story of great achievement over sixty years. His is a tale of perseverance and amazing camaraderie that took him to the top in many levels and varying areas of the game.
Starting out with Melbourne in 1950, Spencer won a Special Award trophy and played sixteen games. He followed that up in 1951 with the Most Improved Player award, and in 1952, earned extensive praise, as ‘His tenacity, anticipation and clearing dashes were fearless and delightful and frequently earned the sustained applause of all. To cap a splendid year of football, Stuart was awarded the coveted trophy of Best Clubman.’
With his game thriving under Norm Smith’s coaching, Spencer followed up on this in 1953 with an award for consistent play, regarding which it was reported in the Club’s Annual Report that, ‘Stuart Spencer, both at back pocket and roving, again delighted with his spectacular and determined football.’
By the time he won an Outstanding Service award in 1954, Spencer’s match statistics were a topic of admiration from many - ‘Stuart has developed into one of the best rovers in the V.F.L.’ summing up his standing in the game. He had found his place on the ground, and in the competition.
One of Spencer’s best matches was the second semi-final of 1955, when Melbourne defeated Collingwood. Best on ground, Spencer was hailed for his roving, which in following seasons was described as ‘outstanding and devastating. In addition to his fine work all over the field, he kicked five of his side’s eight goals, and he well earned the title of “best man afield.”
Even greater honours were to follow for Spencer, with his amazing achievement of Best and Fairest wins in the premiership years of 1955 and 1956.
In 1955, he was acclaimed by the Club for his first Best and Fairest victory, and for other honours that spoke of the No. 12’s tenacity and standing - ‘This year Stuart was honoured by selection as a Victorian player and appeared as No. 1 rover for that team.
There seems to be no limit that this player might reach, and we are very appreciative of a wonderful year’s football.’
Receiving a huge number of compliments for his efforts in 1956, Spencer was named winner of the Best and Fairest for the second year in a row. He won it by half a point from John Beckwith.
Spencer and Ian Ridley formed the best roving combination in the VFL, and were important goal kickers for the side in this season.
Ridley kicked 40 goals for the season, and Spencer kicked 42. Spencer was hailed as ‘the outstanding rover of the Victorian Football League and one of the best to have worn the guernsey of the M.F.C. ... he is regarded as the No. 1 rover in Australian football today.’
This reputation would follow Spencer with his departure from Melbourne to Tasmania, where he would forge another layer of greatness onto his reputation at the Clarence Football Club.
As he would later say, ‘I had wanted to go at the end of 1955. But I was asked to play on for another year, and then I would be allowed to leave.’
So it was that the likes of Norm Smith, Ivor Warne-Smith and Jim Cardwell upheld their promise at the end of 1956, and let Spencer go. Past incentives had included mentions of captaincy, but while his career was ‘blossoming’, the 1956 Grand Final was Spencer’s last game with Melbourne.
Best on ground in the 1956 Grand Final, Spencer readily claimed it in later years as being ‘the highlight of my playing time with the Melbourne Football Club. And it was to be my last game.’
Despite the dismay at his leaving, there were only good wishes for Stuart Spencer, who had worn the No. 12 with such distinction for seven seasons.
He took them with him to Clarence, where he played another 236 games and confirmed his legendary status, being named as All Australian in 1961, and captaining the first Tasmanian side to beat Victoria.
It was fitting that, in seasons to come, his honours would include induction into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame, the AFL Hall of Fame, and Melbourne’s own Hall of Fame, as well as inclusion in the Club’s Team of the Century and as one of the Club’s ‘Heroes’ in 2008.
After his playing days were over, Spencer eventually made his way back to Melbourne - and, of course, the Melbourne Football Club. He served as Club President between 1986 and 1991, and as well as overseeing an amazing regeneration of onfield form, made his mark early on. At the end of 1986, and looking to reignite enthusiasm across the Club, Spencer wrote:
‘Melbourne will re-introduce the red and navy blue guernsey…which was part of the tradition that made Melbourne a great Club to play for, administrators to serve and a sense of great pride to support.’
There could be no better legacy for the boy from Digby, who went on to become such an important part of the Melbourne Football Club, along with his wife, Fay, and his daughters Shelley and Loretta.
Stuart Spencer will forever be remembered for his great love of the Club and its people, and for the friendships he forged through a wonderful lifetime in football.
His passing this Tuesday leaves us all the poorer for his loss, and we share the sorrow of Fay, Shelley, Loretta and their families.
