Congratulations Verdun- Inducted into AFL HOF

[saintbrat]

1116 SEN Footy ‏@SENfooty
St Kilda premiership player Verdun Howell is the next inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame

http://www.afl.com.au/news/event-news/h ... dun-howell

FACTFILE: VERDUN HOWELL
Clubs City South/St Kilda/Claremont
Born June 16, 1937
Recruited from City South (Tas)
Playing career 1952-68 (CS 1952-57; St K 1958-68)
Games 226 (CS 67; St K 159)
Goals 59 (St K)
Player honours
Brownlow Medal 1959; St K best & fairest 1959; St K premiership 1966; CS premierships 1954, 1956; Victorian representative (9 games); St K Team of the Century; St K Hall of Fame; Tas Football Hall of Fame; Tas Team of the Century.
Coaching record: Claremont 1972-74 (66 games, 30 wins, 36 losses)

[saintbrat]

and video
http://www.afl.com.au/video/2016-06-14/ ... dun-howell

[kosifantutti]

Has he actually been announced?

I thought Fox Footy was live and only Maurice Rioli and Bagshaw from Sturt have been up.

[saintbrat]

Matt Finnis ‏@Matt_Finnis
Wonderfully humble champion of St Kilda takes his deserved place in the AFL Hall of Fame

[saintbrat]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/t ... 876472d47a

VERDUN Howell made a habit of waiting for major football achievements, from the game’s highest individual honour to what remains St Kilda’s only premiership.

And then there was his No. 16 jumper for that 1966 Grand Final, finally reunited with Howell after 50 years through the kindness of his Collingwood opponent Max Pitt.

The waiting began with the 1959 Brownlow Medal, which he received 30 years after the fact when the AFL decided to award retrospective medals. He had been “beaten” on countback by South Melbourne rover Bob Skilton.

Howell, who turns 79 on Wednesday (making him the fifth oldest surviving medallist behind Peter Box, 84, Fred Goldsmith, 83, Neil Roberts, 83, and Brian Gleeson, 81), looks back on the Brownlow with mixed feelings.

“It was disappointing that I couldn’t accept it at the time because it can never be the same as getting it when you actually won it, but I’m getting more used to it as time goes by,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Initially I would go to a Brownlow function not knowing if I should be there.”

[Verdun66]

I couldn't be happier about this. Fantastic news. That vision gives a glimpse of his great talent. I remember a commentator saying once that Verdun was like Nijinsky. I think he meant the ballet dancer, not the horse!

By today's standards a small full back, but he had a fantastic leap, was quick, a great kick and Mark. And I was at Moorabbin the day he was full forward and kicked 9 against the Hawks. People didn't kick great bags of goals back then, so 9 was unbelievable. Neil Roberts says he was on a forward flank, but my clear memory was he was FF.

He was supposedly one if the first full backs to run off his man. Full forwards didn't chase back then! So dashing was a phrase often used to describe Verdun.

[BigMart]

Another great Tasmanian Saint!!!!

[saynta]

Another great Tasmanian Saint!!!!

and a great footballer. Well deserved honour.

[perfectionist]

Footballers were shorter then, but he was still short for a full back (179cm or 5 ft 10in). His leap made up for the lack of height and his pace, relative to lumbering full forwards, as previously mentioned, was a real advantage. I have vivid memories of three games he played. First was at the Lake Oval against South Melbourne in 1962. At three quarter time, we trailed by 6 goals, three goals to nine. I was religious in those days (I was 10) and said a Hail Mary. Allan Jeans, for the first time, shifted him to full forward. In the last quarter we ran riot, kicking 8 goals 5 behinds to nothing, with Verdun kicking three of the first six. As an aside, Bob Skilton played in this game and kicked 4 goals. His skills on both sides with foot and hand had to be seen to be believed. It was no fluke he won three Brownlows. Had he played in a decent side he could have won ten. He was also the ultimate fair player, just like Darrel Baldock, Ross Smith and Ian Stewart. I soon found out that "Hail Mary's" did not often produce such miracles.

The next game was in 1965, the year of our move to Moorabbin. It was on the Queen's Birthday weekend, the match of the round at the MCG with 72,000 in attendance. At the time, it was the largest H&A game attendance ever for the Saints. Melbourne, the reigning Premiers and who had won 6 of the last ten flags, were unbeaten with eight wins and on top of the ladder. We were second, having lost one (somewhat presciently) to Essendon at home. The teams lined up. Initially, the Melbourne team and many others thought that the Saints had gone to the wrong ends. Verdun was at full forward and, for the first time, a skinny bloke called Bob Murray, recruited from Sandringham in 1962 as a full forward but who had failed including in his only game of the 1965 season until then, the first where he kicked one behind, lined up at full back. It was just his 12th game for the club. The rest, as they say, is history. We slaughtered Melbourne, doubling their score, with Verdun kicking three. He played the rest of the year at FF and kicked 35 goals, including 4 in the SF and 3 in the GF.

Verdun Howell played representative state football for Victoria as did Bob Murray but Bob was All Australian fullback in 1969. I saw Bob in his prime and we have had none better. It was his contested mark, ten seconds before the siren in 1966 that gave us our flag just as much as Barry's point. Had Bob played all of the GF in 1971, or we had a player of similar quality at fullback in 1997, 2004 -2010, our flag tally would be a lot higher.

And, of course, the last game I remember him playing was in the GF of 1966. Cowboy Neale had taken over the full forward position. Verdun had been "relegated" to a HBF. His skills were not as good as they once were but his experience was vital. A great Saint and a worthy addition to the Hall of Fame.

[borderbarry]

One year, must have been 1965 or 66, the two gun full forwards kicked bags against Bob Murray, Then in the return games, Verdun was played full back as Murray was injured. He held them each to one goal. They were Peter Hudson and Peter McKenna.

[Verdun66]

Nice post Perfectionist. I was there on 2 of those days. I remember Howell and Murray swapping in that game very well. I remember the crowd yelling out that they'd gone to the wrong ends. And then we thrashed the reigning premiers who were undefeated on their home ground. Happy Days!

And while you are right that Verdun's powers had diminished by the 66 GF he had a few injuries. Including for that game a broken jaw that had been wired shut. Probably hadn't eaten proper food for a couple of weeks. So in that famous game both our captain and vice captain were crocked. Amazing really.

[perfectionist]

One year, must have been 1965 or 66, the two gun full forwards kicked bags against Bob Murray, Then in the return games, Verdun was played full back as Murray was injured. He held them each to one goal. They were Peter Hudson and Peter McKenna.

Peter McKenna played against us in 1965 but not 1966. In 1965, he played three games and kicked zero, 1 and 2 goals respectively. Peter Hudson did not come to Victoria until 1967, after his four 4 with us had run out (boo). They both played against us in 1967. In each of the two games he played against us in 1967, McKenna kicked three goals and Bob Murray was his opponent. In each of the two games Hudson played against us he kicked 2 goals and Murray was his opponent. What you may be confused about is a 1966 game against Geelong at Moorabbin. Murray missed this game, Howell played on Wade and he kicked one goal. In the return match at Kardinia Park, Murray played and Wade kicked 8 goals. I was at that game and we were ahead at three quarter time, but the breeze got up in the last quarter and Goggin killed us. Nobody could have cut off the passes Wade got. He kicked 8 goals one behind, some from a mile out. At the other end, Cowboy kicked 2 goals 7 behinds. Sad trip on the train going home (as it usually was).

[Bernard Shakey]

Wow l remember all those games now.

Verdun was a brilliant player at both ends of the ground and was, and still is, a thorough gentleman! Congratulations!

[magnifisaint]

I've been told that Howell was a better fullback than Murray and Murray is the best Saints fullback I've seen.

[Stephen Theodore]

Wow l remember all those games now.

Verdun was a brilliant player at both ends of the ground and was, and still is, a thorough gentleman! Congratulations!

I also remember those games, and what a champion player and person he was

[George27]

It is great to read these tributes to Verdun - and to Bob Murray - from fellow old-time Saints. As we look back over 50 years and more, there is a temptation to overstate the efforts of those who played in the 66 premiership, but let me assure younger readers that Verdun Howell and Bob Murray were both brilliant key position defenders. For me, assessing their whole careers, I think Verdun's versatility puts him ahead of Bob. We felt very safe when those lads were in the team.

Sincere congratulations, Verdun.

[saynta]

It is great to read these tributes to Verdun - and to Bob Murray - from fellow old-time Saints. As we look back over 50 years and more, there is a temptation to overstate the efforts of those who played in the 66 premiership, but let me assure younger readers that Verdun Howell and Bob Murray were both brilliant key position defenders. For me, assessing their whole careers, I think Verdun's versatility puts him ahead of Bob. We felt very safe when those lads were in the team.

Sincere congratulations, Verdun.

I used to be able to go into the rooms in those days. Both thorough gentlemen.

[saintbrat]

Verdun Howell on Radio last night- approx 42 min in
http://omnyapp.com/shows/7-11-sport/spo ... as-june-15

[happy feet]

It is great to read these tributes to Verdun - and to Bob Murray - from fellow old-time Saints. As we look back over 50 years and more, there is a temptation to overstate the efforts of those who played in the 66 premiership, but let me assure younger readers that Verdun Howell and Bob Murray were both brilliant key position defenders. For me, assessing their whole careers, I think Verdun's versatility puts him ahead of Bob. We felt very safe when those lads were in the team.

Sincere congratulations, Verdun.

I was too young to remember 1966 or Verdun Howell. My Dad had alot to do with our club over a period of 30 years and rated Verdun Howell as the key to winning that premiership.

[Trev from the Bush]

One year, must have been 1965 or 66, the two gun full forwards kicked bags against Bob Murray, Then in the return games, Verdun was played full back as Murray was injured. He held them each to one goal. They were Peter Hudson and Peter McKenna.

Peter McKenna played against us in 1965 but not 1966. In 1965, he played three games and kicked zero, 1 and 2 goals respectively. Peter Hudson did not come to Victoria until 1967, after his four 4 with us had run out (boo). They both played against us in 1967. In each of the two games he played against us in 1967, McKenna kicked three goals and Bob Murray was his opponent. In each of the two games Hudson played against us he kicked 2 goals and Murray was his opponent. What you may be confused about is a 1966 game against Geelong at Moorabbin. Murray missed this game, Howell played on Wade and he kicked one goal. In the return match at Kardinia Park, Murray played and Wade kicked 8 goals. I was at that game and we were ahead at three quarter time, but the breeze got up in the last quarter and Goggin killed us. Nobody could have cut off the passes Wade got. He kicked 8 goals one behind, some from a mile out. At the other end, Cowboy kicked 2 goals 7 behinds. Sad trip on the train going home (as it usually was).

Yep, also on the train with Dad that day at Geelong. And, in typical Cowboy fashion, the 2 goals 7 became 8 goals 2 the next week at Moorabbin against South.