Doug Wade
Encyclopedia
Douglas Graeme Wade is a former Australian rules football
er who played for the Geelong Football Club
and North Melbourne Football Club
.
Having trained as a hairdresser (as had Rene Kink
), and after trying out with the Melbourne Football Club
in a number of practice games in 1960, he returned home to Horsham before being lured back by the Geelong Football Club. He made his VFL debut in 1961 with Geelong, recruited from Horsham. He was the League's leading goal scorer (winning the Coleman Medal
) on four occasions from 1962 until 1974. He was only the second player (after Collingwood's Gordon Coventry), and the first post-WW2 to kick over 1,000 goals in his career. Only three other players - Gary Ablett Snr (Hawthorn/Geelong), Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn) and Tony Lockett (St.Kilda/Sydney) have emulated the effort. Only Ablett completed the feat playing fewer games than Wade.
Doug Wade was a member of the Geelong side which won the VFL Premiership in 1963, and a Grand Final player in 1967. Later in his career, he moved to North Melbourne, and was a key member of their side which contested the Grand Final against Richmond in 1974. Wade kicked 103 goals in that season, becoming the third former Geelong player to head the VFL goal-kicking table after transferring to another club.
Wade was involved in one of the most memorable umpiring decisions in VFL history.In 1962 Geelong were trailing Carlton by 5 points in the preliminary final when the ball came down to Doug Wade and Carlton full-back Peter Barry
. Wade had kicked six goals and when he outmaneuvered Barry to mark 25 metres out in front, he looked certain to make it seven. More than 90,000 supporters waited for Wade to take his kick- but suddenly they noticed something was wrong. Wade was standing there stunned, shaking his head in frustration and Barry was going back to take a free kick. Down went Barry's kick-and with it Geelong's Grand Final chance. After the game Carlton players said umpire Irving had penalized Wade, who was in front, for holding on to Barry's shorts! Wade said: "All I did was to keep my eyes on the ball and maneuvered for position. The only possible way he could have penalized me was for sticking out my posterior as I went to mark." Percy Beames
wrote in The Age: "Wade was extremely unlucky. Nine times out of ten these incidents are overlooked." Former umpire Allen Nash said at the time:"It was the most courageous decision I've ever seen by an umpire."
Wade holds a record for one of the biggest (VFL) scoring quarters by an individual, when he kicked 7 goals in the last quarter against Collingwood at Arden Street in 1974. Up until the last quarter Wade had been kept virtually quiet, by Doug Gott
of Collingwood, despite North Melbourne's high goal scoring record against the Magpies at the 3rd quarter. The interesting crowd scenes at Arden street that day, was the movement of the North supporters, who moved to the social club end of the ground for the last quarter, in anticipation of a goal onslaught by North Melbourne and Wade kicking his 100th goal for the season. This proved to be more prophetic, as Wade kick seven goals and North Melbourne's total of 25 goals broke a club record against Collingwood at the time.Wade earlier in season made another late rush, to goal on the siren against Collingwood at VFL park in 1974, and his ability to win matches late proved to be why Wade was a champion footballer; and that he could not be underestimated.
In the final minutes of a match against South Melbourne late in 1970, Wade had a shot at goal to put Geelong in front. A spectator threw an apple on the field, which collided with the football in mid-air as it dropped between Wade's hand and foot, and knocked the football clear of his boot which failed to even connect with the ball. The umpire, faced with an unprecedented circumstance, signalled 'play on'. South Melbourne's key defender, John Rantall (later to be a teammate of Wade's when they both crossed to North Melbourne in 1973/4) picked up the ball and cleared it down field. South Melbourne scored a goal on the rebound and won the game by 7 points making it into the finals for the first time since 1945. Geelong fell to fifth place and missed the finals (then played off between the top four teams) for the first time since 1961. (In Round 22, they lost to North Melbourne, who were last on the ladder, and had Geelong won against South Melbourne they could have also made it into the finals). The umpire's 'play on' decision was considered valid, since there was no rule at the time, to account for this kind of 'spectator interference' situation. South Melbourne went on to lose to St. Kilda in the Semi Final. This had an interesting parallel in cricket when Ashley Mallett bowled a player with a ball which ricocheted of a swallow which swooped across the Adelaide Cricket Ground pitch. Neither swallow nor batsman survived. The batsman was given 'out' and the swallow was dispatched to a taxidemist.
The following year (1975) Wade struggled to find form largely due to fitness and weight. Near the end of the home and away season, Wade was becoming a liability because of his dwindling goal scores. However,on the Thursday before the Grand Final Wade pleaded with coach Ron Barassi and the selection committee to be selected into the side. Based on Wade's finals experience and the Wade's offer or tactic to stay behind the pack to crumb goals, Wade convinced selectors to name him in the side instead of Robert Smith, who was a top reserves full-forward: who was fit and ready to take his place. However, in the 1975 Grand Final
, Wade's experience proved to be essential part of North's huge win over Hawthorn. The tactic of staying behind the pack worked and Wade scored a few goals doing this. He even missed an easy shot as the pack of players missed the ball and an open goal was for the taking. Wade's miss was a shock to the crowd and himself. However, his inspirational gestures to the North Melbourne forwards can be seen in the 1975 Grand final,especially the last quarter, when he hurriedly and unselfishly passes the ball to team mates. Wade finished his career on a high note, (another Premiership) where many experts could not have predicted, proving that Wade was true champion player for both Geelong and North Melbourne.
In 1996 Wade was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
and North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
.
Having trained as a hairdresser (as had Rene Kink
Rene Kink
Rene Kink is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood, St Kilda and Essendon in the VFL.Kink played in a variety of positions during his career but was mainly used as a half forward flanker or full forward...
), and after trying out with the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in a number of practice games in 1960, he returned home to Horsham before being lured back by the Geelong Football Club. He made his VFL debut in 1961 with Geelong, recruited from Horsham. He was the League's leading goal scorer (winning the Coleman Medal
Coleman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
) on four occasions from 1962 until 1974. He was only the second player (after Collingwood's Gordon Coventry), and the first post-WW2 to kick over 1,000 goals in his career. Only three other players - Gary Ablett Snr (Hawthorn/Geelong), Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn) and Tony Lockett (St.Kilda/Sydney) have emulated the effort. Only Ablett completed the feat playing fewer games than Wade.
Doug Wade was a member of the Geelong side which won the VFL Premiership in 1963, and a Grand Final player in 1967. Later in his career, he moved to North Melbourne, and was a key member of their side which contested the Grand Final against Richmond in 1974. Wade kicked 103 goals in that season, becoming the third former Geelong player to head the VFL goal-kicking table after transferring to another club.
Wade was involved in one of the most memorable umpiring decisions in VFL history.In 1962 Geelong were trailing Carlton by 5 points in the preliminary final when the ball came down to Doug Wade and Carlton full-back Peter Barry
Peter Barry (footballer)
Peter Barry was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League ....
. Wade had kicked six goals and when he outmaneuvered Barry to mark 25 metres out in front, he looked certain to make it seven. More than 90,000 supporters waited for Wade to take his kick- but suddenly they noticed something was wrong. Wade was standing there stunned, shaking his head in frustration and Barry was going back to take a free kick. Down went Barry's kick-and with it Geelong's Grand Final chance. After the game Carlton players said umpire Irving had penalized Wade, who was in front, for holding on to Barry's shorts! Wade said: "All I did was to keep my eyes on the ball and maneuvered for position. The only possible way he could have penalized me was for sticking out my posterior as I went to mark." Percy Beames
Percy Beames
Percy James Beames was an Australian rules footballer with Melbourne and first-class cricketer at state level for Victoria. He later became a distinguished journalist, covering both sports for Melbourne's The Age until 1976....
wrote in The Age: "Wade was extremely unlucky. Nine times out of ten these incidents are overlooked." Former umpire Allen Nash said at the time:"It was the most courageous decision I've ever seen by an umpire."
Wade holds a record for one of the biggest (VFL) scoring quarters by an individual, when he kicked 7 goals in the last quarter against Collingwood at Arden Street in 1974. Up until the last quarter Wade had been kept virtually quiet, by Doug Gott
Doug Gott
Douglas Lawrence Gott is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the VFL during the 1970s....
of Collingwood, despite North Melbourne's high goal scoring record against the Magpies at the 3rd quarter. The interesting crowd scenes at Arden street that day, was the movement of the North supporters, who moved to the social club end of the ground for the last quarter, in anticipation of a goal onslaught by North Melbourne and Wade kicking his 100th goal for the season. This proved to be more prophetic, as Wade kick seven goals and North Melbourne's total of 25 goals broke a club record against Collingwood at the time.Wade earlier in season made another late rush, to goal on the siren against Collingwood at VFL park in 1974, and his ability to win matches late proved to be why Wade was a champion footballer; and that he could not be underestimated.
In the final minutes of a match against South Melbourne late in 1970, Wade had a shot at goal to put Geelong in front. A spectator threw an apple on the field, which collided with the football in mid-air as it dropped between Wade's hand and foot, and knocked the football clear of his boot which failed to even connect with the ball. The umpire, faced with an unprecedented circumstance, signalled 'play on'. South Melbourne's key defender, John Rantall (later to be a teammate of Wade's when they both crossed to North Melbourne in 1973/4) picked up the ball and cleared it down field. South Melbourne scored a goal on the rebound and won the game by 7 points making it into the finals for the first time since 1945. Geelong fell to fifth place and missed the finals (then played off between the top four teams) for the first time since 1961. (In Round 22, they lost to North Melbourne, who were last on the ladder, and had Geelong won against South Melbourne they could have also made it into the finals). The umpire's 'play on' decision was considered valid, since there was no rule at the time, to account for this kind of 'spectator interference' situation. South Melbourne went on to lose to St. Kilda in the Semi Final. This had an interesting parallel in cricket when Ashley Mallett bowled a player with a ball which ricocheted of a swallow which swooped across the Adelaide Cricket Ground pitch. Neither swallow nor batsman survived. The batsman was given 'out' and the swallow was dispatched to a taxidemist.
The following year (1975) Wade struggled to find form largely due to fitness and weight. Near the end of the home and away season, Wade was becoming a liability because of his dwindling goal scores. However,on the Thursday before the Grand Final Wade pleaded with coach Ron Barassi and the selection committee to be selected into the side. Based on Wade's finals experience and the Wade's offer or tactic to stay behind the pack to crumb goals, Wade convinced selectors to name him in the side instead of Robert Smith, who was a top reserves full-forward: who was fit and ready to take his place. However, in the 1975 Grand Final
1975 VFL Grand Final
The 1975 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the North Melbourne Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 27 September 1975. It was the 79th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
, Wade's experience proved to be essential part of North's huge win over Hawthorn. The tactic of staying behind the pack worked and Wade scored a few goals doing this. He even missed an easy shot as the pack of players missed the ball and an open goal was for the taking. Wade's miss was a shock to the crowd and himself. However, his inspirational gestures to the North Melbourne forwards can be seen in the 1975 Grand final,especially the last quarter, when he hurriedly and unselfishly passes the ball to team mates. Wade finished his career on a high note, (another Premiership) where many experts could not have predicted, proving that Wade was true champion player for both Geelong and North Melbourne.
In 1996 Wade was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
.