During footy finals time our attention is often turned to those great grand finals of yesteryear. So it was only fitting that we recognised two of our only surviving members from the ‘1950s*
Field umpire, Bill Barbour and goal umpire, Roly Caird umpired the 1959 VFL grand final. Despite 56 years of elapsed time you couldn’t get a word in when the two men caught up recently at the Eildon Hotel for lunch and a convivial ale or two.
Bill, aged 92 and Roly, 95 chatted over lunch about that grand final in ’59 that saw 103,506 people flock to the MCG to see Melbourne run out victors over Essendon by 37 points. For both Bill and Roly it was their one and only VFL grand final. Bill umpired 154 games including 7 finals and 1 grand final. Roly umpired 231 games, 6 finals and 1 grand final.
Ron Bailey who looks after our X-men decided it was time to reunite the two men. Bill has lived in Eildon for many years now and with the help of his son, Paul, Ron organised to drive Roly to Eildon for the day. Roly is a regular at our Mornington luncheons loved the opportunity to see his old mate, Bill.
The grand final umpires team of 1959 was star studded. Boundary umpire Herbert Kent was running in his third of four grand finals in a career that included 330 games, a record only bettered by current boundary umpire, Darren Wilson. On the ground with him was William Treloar who umpired 155 games including 8 finals and 3 grand finals. Darrell Cranch partnered Roly in the goals. Darrell’s career included 117 games, 5 finals and 2 grand finals.
* Harry Beitzel who umpired the 1955 grand final is the third remaining member of the 50’s.
