Specky
Encyclopedia
A spectacular mark is a term for a type of mark
in Australian rules football
. The typical spectacular mark involves a player jumping up on the back of another player in order to take the mark, or catch.
The spectacular mark has become a much celebrated aspect of the sport. Many of the winners of the annual Mark of the Year
competition could be considered 'speckies', and commentators will often call an individual specky "a contender" in reference to this competition and the mark's likeliness to win it.
The movement of other players beneath a marking can cause the flyer to lose balance in mid air and land or fall awkwardly, enhancing the spectacular nature of the mark. In the 1980s it became common for exponents of the spectacular mark to achieve extra elevation by levering or propping the hands or arms off the shoulders of opponents. According to the strict interpretation of the rules, this is in fact illegal interference. Sometimes umpires, however, may interpret in favour of spectacular play if the interference is minor and deemed to be part of the jumping action. The AFL Rules Committee in 2007 effectively disallowed this type of spectacular mark altogether with the advent of the controversial "hands on the back
" rule.
was one of the first high flyers. Albert Thurgood
was a later exponent at the turn of the century. Dick Lee
pulled down consistent high marks in the early 1900s.
It wasn't until the 1897 with the push in the back
rule that high flyers were protected from being pushed in mid air. This prevented potential serious injury. In 1904, "unintentional interference" paved the way for forwards to climb up opposition players backs to take spectacular marks.
The phrase "The Big Men Fly" to describe the game of Australian Rules is about the specky and has spawned a play. Alex Jesaulenko's specky spawned the catch phrase "Jesaulenko You Beauty!". Songs like "Up There Cazaly
" also celebrate the popular spectator phenomenon.
There are also a series of football-related children's novels by ex-player Garry Lyon
and children's author, Felice Arena
named after their protagonist, "Specky Magee
". This character is named after the slang term.
s to take a specky. In the past, fullbacks have been renowned for regularly acting as stepladders.
The stepladders of famous marks are very rarely remembered or recorded in the history books. The only notable exception to this was Graeme "Jerker" Jenkins who was the stepladder for Alex Jesaulenko's mark; Melbourne band TISM
even wrote the song "the Back upon Which Jezza Jumped" about him.
Strong fullback
s Gary Pert
, Mick Martyn, Chris Langford
and Matthew Scarlett
have been stepladders for speckies on multiple occasions.
Warren Tredrea
was the stepladder of a rare Grand Final spectacular mark taken by Paul Chapman in the 2007 AFL Grand Final
.
Mark (Australian football)
A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground....
in Australian rules football
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...
. The typical spectacular mark involves a player jumping up on the back of another player in order to take the mark, or catch.
The spectacular mark has become a much celebrated aspect of the sport. Many of the winners of the annual Mark of the Year
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
competition could be considered 'speckies', and commentators will often call an individual specky "a contender" in reference to this competition and the mark's likeliness to win it.
The movement of other players beneath a marking can cause the flyer to lose balance in mid air and land or fall awkwardly, enhancing the spectacular nature of the mark. In the 1980s it became common for exponents of the spectacular mark to achieve extra elevation by levering or propping the hands or arms off the shoulders of opponents. According to the strict interpretation of the rules, this is in fact illegal interference. Sometimes umpires, however, may interpret in favour of spectacular play if the interference is minor and deemed to be part of the jumping action. The AFL Rules Committee in 2007 effectively disallowed this type of spectacular mark altogether with the advent of the controversial "hands on the back
Push in the back
A push in the back is a free kick awarded in Australian rules football against a player who illegally tackles or interferes with a player from behind. The rule is applied in two different circumstances: tackles and marking contests.-Push in the Back: Tackle:...
" rule.
History
The first speckies in the game of Australian rules football began to appear in the 1880s, a time in which the popularity of the sport was heightened. Charlie PearsonCharlie Pearson
Charlie Pearson was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon during the 1880s. He is credited as being one of the first people to attempt high flying marks where a player jumps on the back of another in order to take a mark....
was one of the first high flyers. Albert Thurgood
Albert Thurgood
Albert John "The Great" Thurgood was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football Association , Victorian Football League and the Western Australian Football Association ....
was a later exponent at the turn of the century. Dick Lee
Dick Lee (footballer)
Walter Henry "Dick" Lee was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League ....
pulled down consistent high marks in the early 1900s.
It wasn't until the 1897 with the push in the back
Push in the back
A push in the back is a free kick awarded in Australian rules football against a player who illegally tackles or interferes with a player from behind. The rule is applied in two different circumstances: tackles and marking contests.-Push in the Back: Tackle:...
rule that high flyers were protected from being pushed in mid air. This prevented potential serious injury. In 1904, "unintentional interference" paved the way for forwards to climb up opposition players backs to take spectacular marks.
In popular culture
The specky has been widely celebrated in popular Australian culture.The phrase "The Big Men Fly" to describe the game of Australian Rules is about the specky and has spawned a play. Alex Jesaulenko's specky spawned the catch phrase "Jesaulenko You Beauty!". Songs like "Up There Cazaly
Up There Cazaly
"Up There Cazaly" is an Australian sporting catchphrase inspired by former St Kilda and South Melbourne great Roy Cazaly...
" also celebrate the popular spectator phenomenon.
There are also a series of football-related children's novels by ex-player Garry Lyon
Garry Lyon
Garry Peter Lyon is a former professional Australian rules football player and was captain of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League. Since his retirement from football, he has been mainly an Australian rules football media personality, featuring on television, radio and in...
and children's author, Felice Arena
Felice Arena
Felice Arena is an Australian children's author and illustrator, and occasional actor. He is best known for the bestselling and award-winning Specky Magee series, and his hilarious Farticus Maximus books...
named after their protagonist, "Specky Magee
Specky Magee
The Specky Magee series is a highly popular and best-selling children’s book series in Australia. The books, written by Felice Arena and Garry Lyon, chronicle the life and times of teenager Simon Magee, an aspiring Aussie Rules football champion. There are currently eight books in the series...
". This character is named after the slang term.
Stepladder
In Australian slang, stepladder describes the player over which another player markMark (Australian football)
A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground....
s to take a specky. In the past, fullbacks have been renowned for regularly acting as stepladders.
The stepladders of famous marks are very rarely remembered or recorded in the history books. The only notable exception to this was Graeme "Jerker" Jenkins who was the stepladder for Alex Jesaulenko's mark; Melbourne band TISM
TISM
TISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
even wrote the song "the Back upon Which Jezza Jumped" about him.
Strong fullback
Football (Australian rules) positions
In the sport of Australian rules football, each of the eighteen players in a team are assigned to a particular named position on the field of play. These positions describe both the player's main role and by implication their location on the ground. As the game has evolved, tactics and team...
s Gary Pert
Gary Pert
Gary Pert is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL and businessman. Gary is the son of Brian Pert.-Fitzroy career:Pert was recruited from Bulleen to Fitzroy and made his debut for the Fitzroy Football Club in 1982...
, Mick Martyn, Chris Langford
Chris Langford
Chris Langford is a former professional Australian rules footballer who is currently a game administrator.Langford is best known for his 303 game career for the Hawthorn Hawks between 1983 and 1997. He captained the club in the 1994 season and earned All-Australian selection. It was his second...
and Matthew Scarlett
Matthew Scarlett
Matthew Scarlett is an Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League . A fullback, tall and weighing , Scarlett is the eldest son of former Geelong footballer John Scarlett....
have been stepladders for speckies on multiple occasions.
Warren Tredrea
Warren Tredrea
Warren Gary Tredrea is retired Australian rules footballer with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . A forward, tall and weighing , Tredrea is the son of former Collingwood and Port Adelaide player Gary Tredrea.Tredrea was zone selected for the inaugural Port...
was the stepladder of a rare Grand Final spectacular mark taken by Paul Chapman in the 2007 AFL Grand Final
2007 AFL Grand Final
The 2007 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 2007. It was the 111th annual Grand Final of the VFL/AFL, staged to determine the...
.
Notable exponents
Many VFL/AFL players have been known for their ability to frequently take "speckies" based on being recognised by the media, nominated or winning the Mark of the Year on multiple occasions.| Player | Mark of the Year titles | Nominated (Year/Times) | Other Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Cazaly Roy Cazaly Roy Cazaly was an Australian rules football player famous for his high marks and ruck work, which gave rise to the phrase "Up There Cazaly".-Early life/career:... |
(of "Up there Cazaly" fame) | ||
| Gary Ablett, Sr. | 1985, 1984 | Mark of the 20th Century* | |
| Tony Modra Tony Modra Anthony 'Tony' Dale Modra is a former Australian rules football player, known for his spectacular marks. He played for the Adelaide Football Club and Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League, mainly at full forward. Modra had the physical strength and size to match the best... |
1993, 1997, 2000 | ||
| Peter Knights Peter Knights Peter Knights is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He is widely regarded as one of the finest centre half-backs to have played the game, despite suffering numerous injuries... |
1972, 1975, 1977 | ||
| Alex Jesaulenko Alex Jesaulenko Alex 'Jezza' Jesaulenko MBE is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He is regarded as one of the game's greatest-ever players and is an official Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame... |
1970, 1973 | Mark of the 20th Century* | |
| Warwick Capper Warwick Capper Warwick Capper is a retired high profile professional Australian rules football full-forward who played with the Sydney Swans with a short stint at the Brisbane Bears in the VFL .... |
1987 | ||
| Brett Burton Brett Burton Brett Burton is a retired Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League. He was picked up at Pick 16 in the 1998 AFL Draft by the Adelaide Football Club... |
2009 | 2009 (2) | Nicknamed "The Birdman" for his huge leap |
| Liam Jurrah Liam Jurrah Liam Jungarrayi Jurrah is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club.... |
2010 | 2009 (2); 2010; 2011 | |
| Chris Tarrant Chris Tarrant (footballer) Chris Tarrant is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club, and has also played for the Fremantle Football Club. He announced at the end of the 2010 AFL season that he would return to Melbourne for personal reasons and would not extend his contract with Fremantle... |
2003 | 2007 (1) | |