Hampshire

[1eyedog]

There's been some talk about Bluey in some of the threads and I use to like him as a kid. Small for a ruckman (my 1980 Scanlens card says 196cm) with the face of a blacksmith. What type of ruckman was he? He looks very heavy set to me, was he in the Scott Wynd mold? I never have really found out much about him except that I liked it when he was in the action on 7s big league of a Saturday night. Can some of the woofers who remember seeing him play describe him and why he was so respected by the club? I remember going to games when he was playing but I was usually climbing all over the rocks at the southwest end of the ground for half the game.

He did coach us I believe but did he captain us as well at any stage? A great effort from a player who started at another club. I wonder if TCD could track him down.....

[AndrewP6]

I'm in a similar situation, as a kid I recall him as coach...had pics taken with him in the rooms (will try and track them down!) but don't recall much else...

[Sockeye Salmon]

He might have been 196cm but ruckmen generally weren't that big back then. Purser and Round were both 194cm.

Bluey was definately more Ben Hudson than Patrick Ryder. He had broad shoulders and a big chest and got pushed around by nobody.

Mostly he was respected for giving 100% every single time he went onto a field. Not a huge amount of athletisism or natural talent but you knew exactly what you were going to get every week.

[The Doctor]

He was understudy to Gary Dempsey for a few years. Dempsey remains the best ruckman I have seen and Bluey was an honest toiler who gave good support to an all time great.

Saw Bluey give Mike Fitzpatrick a very hard time at Princes Park playing in the back pocket.

[strebla]

I was only a boy but all I can remember is him leaving nothing on the field not the class of Dempsey but the heart of Pharlap

[craigsahibee]

True clubman. As other have said not blessed with skill but never shirked an issue. Bluey retired to take over the coaching role from Royce Hart. Bluey personified the Bulldogs' image of the early 80's.

[BulldogBelle]

One day when Bluey was coach we were getting absolutely crucified by the umpires. The fans were crying out for some sort of action.

At quarter time Bluey went off towards the umpires in the centre of the ground, he had some sort of thin book or white paper held in his right hand, he stopped about 20 metres short and stuck his hand rigorously up at them.

We gave such a cheer.

The umpires barely noticed and it the incident was not pursued by the VFL.

Such was his courage, he was a hero.

[Hotdog60]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb256/Diggydogxx/DogsvSwans.jpg

I think this was Bluey Hampshire going for the mark at the Lake Oval in the early 80's correct me if I'm wrong I was very bad at labeling my photos.:o

Other players for the dogs (I think) are Bill Berry also going the mark with Brian cordy in the forground, Bruce Reid to the right and Alan McConnell at the back.

I also think Alister Ford was playing at the time so it maybe him.

[1eyedog]

That is a fantastic image that's going straight to the desktop thanks for sharing. Is that the pyrox sponsor patch? SS you are right you didn't need to be a giant to be the big man in the middle back then, but there were some big boys that Bluey would of been up against, Lee from Richmond, Moore from the Pies/Demons (who could jump), the Maddens must of just come onto the scene. Bluey would have come up against these giants. Thanks for all the great info, his picture becomes a little clearer to me.

[Remi Moses]

The lake oval scene of many a hammering in the late 70's early 80's. Bluey was a real toiler and a heart like pharlap.Did a good job after that Richmond plant Hart got the tijana.

[mighty_west]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb256/Diggydogxx/DogsvSwans.jpg

I think this was Bluey Hampshire going for the mark at the Lake Oval in the early 80's correct me if I'm wrong I was very bad at labeling my photos.:o

Other players for the dogs (I think) are Bill Berry also going the mark with Brian cordy in the forground, Bruce Reid to the right and Alan McConnell at the back.



Spot on with the players ...a terrific photo.

Bluey looked like he was 40 or 50 in his playing days, a very older looking man.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4445/hampshire.jpg

[Twodogs]

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb256/Diggydogxx/DogsvSwans.jpg

I think this was Bluey Hampshire going for the mark at the Lake Oval in the early 80's correct me if I'm wrong I was very bad at labeling my photos.:o

Other players for the dogs (I think) are Bill Berry also going the mark with Brian cordy in the forground, Bruce Reid to the right and Alan McConnell at the back.

I also think Alister Ford was playing at the time so it maybe him.

I'm very often wrong about these things but I reckon it's not Bluey going for the grab, Hampshire's hair wasnt that blond. At bfirst I thought it was Bruce Reid but that's him just off the contest to the right so I think it might be Al Ford.

[ledge]

I dont think its Al Ford build and head dont look right.

[The Doctor]

looks like Tony Morwood (21) and possibly Steve Wright (22) for Swans

[AndrewP6]

Trawling through old pics at Mum's tonight, I found a pic of me, Jim Edmond and Bluey Hampshire in the change rooms... will try to post here when I can.

[bornadog]

I'm very often wrong about these things but I reckon it's not Bluey going for the grab, Hampshire's hair wasnt that blond. At bfirst I thought it was Bruce Reid but that's him just off the contest to the right so I think it might be Al Ford.

Thats bluey allright and Ford is also going for the mark, but is blurred and has the long hair.

[Twodogs]

Thats bluey allright and Ford is also going for the mark, but is blurred and has the long hair.


Hampshire was a ranga though and the guy in best postion to mark is almost a bleach blond.


Also I reckon the arm reaching around to spoil belongs to Barry Round.

[ledge]

Neither of them are Al Ford.
Actually looks more like Butch Edwards with the long hair.
Was that the year he played for us?

[Hotdog60]

Allen Edwards played only one season in 1984 and at that time South Melb. had gone to Sydney.

I did a bit of detective work and I reckon it's Round: 5, Lake Oval, Date: 25-Apr-1981
And the team that day was:

Footscray
38 Berry, Jeff
4 Berry, William
16 Burton, Chris
49 Cordy, Brian
29 Cordy, Neil
9 Davidson, Stan
32 Dunstan, Ian
20 Edmond, Jim
10 Egan, Mick
6 Ford, Alister
1 Hampshire, Ian
7 Hawkins, Doug
25 Jennings, Geoff
54 Kennedy, Rick
13 Komp, Mark
28 McConnell, Alan
34 McKenna, Michael
40 Perrin, Brian
5 Reid, Bruce
35 Wheeler, Terry

Info from http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1981/071619810425.html

[ledge]

The long haired one would be Bill Berry.

[1eyedog]

AH WOOFERS you super snoops! Put a pic up here from any era, blurred or not and they'll tell you who it is. Superb stuff. I wonder (if it is indeed Bluey which kind of makes sense if that's Round in the contest as well) if Bluey took that mark? Not a bad grab man in front with no leverage.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Neither of them are Al Ford.
Actually looks more like Butch Edwards with the long hair.
Was that the year he played for us?

Neither Butch nor Bluey ever got that far off the ground.

[1eyedog]

He looks at least 6'3 although it's hard to get a good scale.

[Twodogs]

Neither Butch nor Bluey ever got that far off the ground.


I'd bet if you dangled a can of beer of a second floor balcony theyd be able to jump high enough reach it!

[ledge]

I'd bet if you dangled a can of beer of a second floor balcony theyd be able to jump high enough reach it!

Thats so true i was a member at Melton footy club in 2001 and introduced Butch to my ex dad in law, dad in law offered to get the first beer i thought oh no what just happened he is in a shout with Butch!

[AndrewP6]

18[ATTACH]188]

Here's one from yesteryear - Bluey, Jim Edmond, and yours truly (a waaaaaaay younger version of all!)

[1eyedog]

18[ATTACH]188]

Here's one from yesteryear - Bluey, Jim Edmond, and yours truly (a waaaaaaay younger version of all!)

Bluey looks a little worse for wear in that photo:)

[AndrewP6]

Bluey looks a little worse for wear in that photo:)

I know! And it was after a game, too - not after a night on the piss! Dogs v Melbourne, IIRC.

[azabob]

I know! And it was after a game, too - not after a night on the piss! Dogs v Melbourne, IIRC.

Perhaps he was on it the night before? :D

[LostDoggy]

He might have been 196cm but ruckmen generally weren't that big back then. Purser and Round were both 194cm.

Bluey was definately more Ben Hudson than Patrick Ryder. He had broad shoulders and a big chest and got pushed around by nobody.

Mostly he was respected for giving 100% every single time he went onto a field. Not a huge amount of athletisism or natural talent but you knew exactly what you were going to get every week.

I czn remember running on the ground as a young teen just after losing a close one at home. I said ""Good game, Bluey" He said "Thanks, I tried real hard to win for you guys." this was done with a look that you knew was the Gospel Truth. Not nasty, just honest. Stayed with me forever.

[AndrewP6]

Andrew, you haven't changed a bit

Haha... thanks (I think!)