Hawthorn Football Club: http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4742/newsid/109066/default.aspx
NEWS
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/football-world-mourns-loss-of-two-great-men-from-hawthorn-20110309-1bo0d.html
THE AGE: Football world mourns loss of two great men from Hawthorn
Greg Baum March 10, 2011
A LITTLE of the essence of what made Hawthorn great has been lost this week with the passing of Des Meagher and Ken Herbert.
Meagher, who turned 67 on Monday, was a rangy left-footed wingman in the team that won the 1971 premiership, the first of eight in 21 years for the Hawks, a run of success unequalled in post-war football.
Herbert, 86, was an unexceptional footballer, but a peerless football thinker. He was chairman of selectors of the flag-winning teams of 1976 and 1978, also friend and mentor to Don Scott, captain of those teams. He was also credited with unearthing Leigh Matthews, Hawthorn's greatest player.
Herbert was a confidant and right-hand man to David Parkin in coaching stints with Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy. Parkin played with Meagher and captained and coached him. So can football's lineage be traced.
Meagher was of his times and ahead of them. He came to Hawthorn from Xavier and Old Xaverians, classic Hawthorn provenance then. He was also a running enthusiast when no-one else was.
Parkin remembered that he would finish work as a pharmacist at Box Hill hospital, run to training at Glenferrie, dominate all the drills - this in an era when John Kennedy's commandos were training at a pitch previously unknown in the competition - then run home to Box Hill. He would also run marathons and once, on a trip to the country with his family, ran ahead and waited for them to pick him up at Narbethong. ''He had a running capacity that I've never seen in a footballer,'' Parkin said. ''He loved running. He set a new standard in distance covered. He had unbelievable tenacity. He was as wiry as could be. He was a very consistent and competent footballer.''
Parkin said Meagher was highly intelligent, excelled at swimming and water polo, and had a quirky sense of humour. He would terrorise teammates at Sunday morning sessions in the pool. ''He would bounce balls off people's heads all the time,'' he said. ' ''He was a very interesting character around the place. Don (Scott) is different. Des was different again. But they were the kind of people that made up the fabric of that club. Within the homogenous group there were a lot of very different characters. Des was one of the real characters.''
Meagher played 199 games for Hawthorn from 1966-76, and made state teams in 1967 and 1973. He later coached the Hawks reserves for 14 years.
Herbert ''adopted'' both Scott and Parkin. He walked out on Hawthorn in 1980, refusing life membership, because of the Hawks' treatment of the pair as coach and captain; few dynasties are perfect. He advised Parkin at Carlton, was chairman of selectors when Parkin led Fitzroy to the 1986 preliminary final - the club's last final - and was still writing to Parkin in a second stint at Carlton in 1991. ''He just loved his footy,'' Parkin said.
THE AGE: Football world mourns loss of two great men from Hawthorn
Greg Baum March 10, 2011
A LITTLE of the essence of what made Hawthorn great has been lost this week with the passing of Des Meagher and Ken Herbert.
Meagher, who turned 67 on Monday, was a rangy left-footed wingman in the team that won the 1971 premiership, the first of eight in 21 years for the Hawks, a run of success unequalled in post-war football.
Herbert, 86, was an unexceptional footballer, but a peerless football thinker. He was chairman of selectors of the flag-winning teams of 1976 and 1978, also friend and mentor to Don Scott, captain of those teams. He was also credited with unearthing Leigh Matthews, Hawthorn's greatest player.
Herbert was a confidant and right-hand man to David Parkin in coaching stints with Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy. Parkin played with Meagher and captained and coached him. So can football's lineage be traced.
Meagher was of his times and ahead of them. He came to Hawthorn from Xavier and Old Xaverians, classic Hawthorn provenance then. He was also a running enthusiast when no-one else was.
Parkin remembered that he would finish work as a pharmacist at Box Hill hospital, run to training at Glenferrie, dominate all the drills - this in an era when John Kennedy's commandos were training at a pitch previously unknown in the competition - then run home to Box Hill. He would also run marathons and once, on a trip to the country with his family, ran ahead and waited for them to pick him up at Narbethong. ''He had a running capacity that I've never seen in a footballer,'' Parkin said. ''He loved running. He set a new standard in distance covered. He had unbelievable tenacity. He was as wiry as could be. He was a very consistent and competent footballer.''
Parkin said Meagher was highly intelligent, excelled at swimming and water polo, and had a quirky sense of humour. He would terrorise teammates at Sunday morning sessions in the pool. ''He would bounce balls off people's heads all the time,'' he said. ' ''He was a very interesting character around the place. Don (Scott) is different. Des was different again. But they were the kind of people that made up the fabric of that club. Within the homogenous group there were a lot of very different characters. Des was one of the real characters.''
Meagher played 199 games for Hawthorn from 1966-76, and made state teams in 1967 and 1973. He later coached the Hawks reserves for 14 years.
Herbert ''adopted'' both Scott and Parkin. He walked out on Hawthorn in 1980, refusing life membership, because of the Hawks' treatment of the pair as coach and captain; few dynasties are perfect. He advised Parkin at Carlton, was chairman of selectors when Parkin led Fitzroy to the 1986 preliminary final - the club's last final - and was still writing to Parkin in a second stint at Carlton in 1991. ''He just loved his footy,'' Parkin said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-premiership-player-des-maugher-dies/story-e6frf9jf-1226018499083
Herald Sun: Hawthorn Premiership Play Des Meagher Dies
Des Meagher in action for Hawthorn (Source Herald Sun)
HAWTHORN is mourning a "true champion" after the sudden death of 1971 premiership player Des Meagher today.
Meagher played 198 games from 1966-76 and kicked 96 goals.
He also coached the Hawthorn reserves side for 14 years and took the team to seven successive finals series from 1982-88, including the 1985 reserves premiership.
“We were saddened to learn the club, and the game, has lost a true champion today,” Hawthorn chief executive officer Stuart Fox said.
“All associated with Hawthorn Football Club would like to offer their condolences to the Meagher family.”
Hawthorn players will wear black armbands for Friday night’s practice match against Melbourne in Launceston.
Meagher played 198 games from 1966-76 and kicked 96 goals.
He also coached the Hawthorn reserves side for 14 years and took the team to seven successive finals series from 1982-88, including the 1985 reserves premiership.
“We were saddened to learn the club, and the game, has lost a true champion today,” Hawthorn chief executive officer Stuart Fox said.
“All associated with Hawthorn Football Club would like to offer their condolences to the Meagher family.”
Hawthorn players will wear black armbands for Friday night’s practice match against Melbourne in Launceston.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/109060/default.aspx?print=true
AFL: Hawks farewell premiership player Meagher
(Source: afl.com.au)
By Ashley Browne 4:43 PM Wed 09 Mar, 2011 Premiership player Des Meagher has died at the age of 67
DES MEAGHER, a Hawthorn premiership player in 1971 and later a longtime assistant coach, died on Wednesday after a sudden illness.
He was 67.
Originally a champion water polo player, the tall, rangy left-foot wingman joined the Hawks from Old Xaverians in 1966 and went on to play 198 games for the club until his retirement and the end of 1976.
He played on the wing in the 1971 side that beat St Kilda by seven points to win Hawthorn’s second premiership and was on the bench in the 1975, when the Hawks were beaten by North Melbourne in the Grand Final.
He played in the second semi-final the following season, but was left out of the side that beat North a fortnight later in the Grand Final.
Legendary coach John Kennedy said it was sad for the club to lose "a great Hawthorn man."
"We’re all totally shocked about it," Kennedy said. "He set a great example around the club with his approach to fitness. He was a fine running wingman, equally at home at Glenferrie Oval and the bigger grounds."
Former teammate Peter Knights said Meagher’s athleticism was one his great features. "He would have been a great player in today’s football because he was tall and he could run."
"He also had one of the quickest hand-to-foot releases of any player I can ever remember. He could get boot to ball really quickly."
After coaching in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs after his retirement, Meagher returned to Hawthorn in 1980, where he spent 14 years coaching the reserves and serving as an assistant to senior coaches David Parkin, Allan Jeans and Alan Joyce.
In that respect, Meagher played a huge role in Hawthorn’s dominance of the 1980s.
So many of the club’s great players at the time, including Dermott Brereton, Gary Ayres, Chris Langford, Peter Schwab, Jason Dunstall, Greg and Paul Dear, Andy Collins and Peter Curran, among many others, served the classic Hawthorn apprenticeship and played a season or more of reserves football under Meagher.
"He had a huge influence on Hawthorn’s success," Joyce said. "So many of the club’s good players spent time under him and he was a great support to me and the other senior coaches. There were never any issues with Des. His loyalty could never be questioned."
Still supremely fit. even as a coach, emerging players at Hawthorn reportedly used to say they were ready for senior football only when they could run faster than Meagher.
"He was a bit of a hard taskmaster," said Knights, whose last game as a player was the 1985 reserves Grand Final, in which the Hawks, coached by Meagher, beat Carlton. "Allan Jeans would have the seniors training at one end of Glenferrie Oval, while at the other end, Des would be training the boys really hard."
"But he was a really good foil for ‘Jeansy’ and they proved to be a great coaching combination."
Hawthorn Chief Executive Officer Stuart Fox extended his deepest sympathies to Meagher's family and friends at this sad time.
"We were saddened to learn the club... has lost a true champion today," he said
Meagher represented Victoria three times and was a life member of Hawthorn.
As a mark of respect for Meagher, Hawthorn players and on-field officials will wear black armbands for Friday night’s game against Melbourne.
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
DES MEAGHER, a Hawthorn premiership player in 1971 and later a longtime assistant coach, died on Wednesday after a sudden illness.
He was 67.
Originally a champion water polo player, the tall, rangy left-foot wingman joined the Hawks from Old Xaverians in 1966 and went on to play 198 games for the club until his retirement and the end of 1976.
He played on the wing in the 1971 side that beat St Kilda by seven points to win Hawthorn’s second premiership and was on the bench in the 1975, when the Hawks were beaten by North Melbourne in the Grand Final.
He played in the second semi-final the following season, but was left out of the side that beat North a fortnight later in the Grand Final.
Legendary coach John Kennedy said it was sad for the club to lose "a great Hawthorn man."
"We’re all totally shocked about it," Kennedy said. "He set a great example around the club with his approach to fitness. He was a fine running wingman, equally at home at Glenferrie Oval and the bigger grounds."
Former teammate Peter Knights said Meagher’s athleticism was one his great features. "He would have been a great player in today’s football because he was tall and he could run."
"He also had one of the quickest hand-to-foot releases of any player I can ever remember. He could get boot to ball really quickly."
After coaching in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs after his retirement, Meagher returned to Hawthorn in 1980, where he spent 14 years coaching the reserves and serving as an assistant to senior coaches David Parkin, Allan Jeans and Alan Joyce.
In that respect, Meagher played a huge role in Hawthorn’s dominance of the 1980s.
So many of the club’s great players at the time, including Dermott Brereton, Gary Ayres, Chris Langford, Peter Schwab, Jason Dunstall, Greg and Paul Dear, Andy Collins and Peter Curran, among many others, served the classic Hawthorn apprenticeship and played a season or more of reserves football under Meagher.
"He had a huge influence on Hawthorn’s success," Joyce said. "So many of the club’s good players spent time under him and he was a great support to me and the other senior coaches. There were never any issues with Des. His loyalty could never be questioned."
Still supremely fit. even as a coach, emerging players at Hawthorn reportedly used to say they were ready for senior football only when they could run faster than Meagher.
"He was a bit of a hard taskmaster," said Knights, whose last game as a player was the 1985 reserves Grand Final, in which the Hawks, coached by Meagher, beat Carlton. "Allan Jeans would have the seniors training at one end of Glenferrie Oval, while at the other end, Des would be training the boys really hard."
"But he was a really good foil for ‘Jeansy’ and they proved to be a great coaching combination."
Hawthorn Chief Executive Officer Stuart Fox extended his deepest sympathies to Meagher's family and friends at this sad time.
"We were saddened to learn the club... has lost a true champion today," he said
Meagher represented Victoria three times and was a life member of Hawthorn.
As a mark of respect for Meagher, Hawthorn players and on-field officials will wear black armbands for Friday night’s game against Melbourne.
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/hawks-legend-des-meagher-dies/story-e6frepf6-1226018564807
CourierMail: Hawks legend Des Meagher dies
Des Meagher (1) at Junction Oval in 1974. Source: News Limited
HAWTHORN premiership player and long-time reserves coach Des Meagher has died.
Meagher, who turned 67 on Monday, played 198 games for the Hawks from 1966-76, including their second premiership, in 1971.
He also represented Victoria.
Meagher later coached Hawthorn's reserves for 14 years, leading them to seven straight finals series from 1982-88.
Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox said the club had lost a true champion and players would wear black armbands in Friday night's practice match against Melbourne in Launceston.
Victorian Amateur Football Association: http://www.vafa.com.au/index.php?id=13&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=579&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&cHash=c3b215792c
Des Meagher
VALE DES MEAGHER 10.03.11
Des Meagher was a great servant of the VAFA. Des Meagher died yesterday, just a couple of days past his 67th birthday.
Known to most in the football community as a Hawthorn wingman, Des was also a great contributor to Amateur Football.
He represented Old Xaverians, Victoria and was an All-Australian in 1965 before crossing to Glenferrie, where he represented the Hawks 198 times over 11 seasons, playing alongside former amateur players Ray Wilson, David Parkin.
Beyond his playing days, Des returned to VAFA ranks as coach of Whitefriars between 1995 and 2000. In the process, he led the Friars to premierships in 1998 and 1999.
Sincere condolences to Des' wife Nan, their three daughters and extended family.
Resquiescat in pace.
Des Meagher was a great servant of the VAFA. Des Meagher died yesterday, just a couple of days past his 67th birthday.
Known to most in the football community as a Hawthorn wingman, Des was also a great contributor to Amateur Football.
He represented Old Xaverians, Victoria and was an All-Australian in 1965 before crossing to Glenferrie, where he represented the Hawks 198 times over 11 seasons, playing alongside former amateur players Ray Wilson, David Parkin.
Beyond his playing days, Des returned to VAFA ranks as coach of Whitefriars between 1995 and 2000. In the process, he led the Friars to premierships in 1998 and 1999.
Sincere condolences to Des' wife Nan, their three daughters and extended family.
Resquiescat in pace.
Xavier College: http://www.oldxavs.com.au/content/story/2011/mar/rip-des-meagher-204
RIP Des Meagher
One of Old Xavs greatest footballers, Des Meagher died on Moday, aged 67.
After leaving school Des played with OXFC under the eye of Peter Rhoden as coach. Des played 75 games with Xavs in the mid sixties representing the Big V in 1964 and 1965.
Des was introduced to Hawthorn by Peter Rhoden and went on to play 198 games between 1966-1976. Following his playing days Des coached Hawthorn Reserves for 14 years, taking the team to seven successive finals series from 1982-1988.
Apart from his talents as a wingman Des represented Victoria at water polo.
Des was a delight to have in a side with his quirky sense of humour and will be fondly remembered.
The entire club, players and supporters offer their sympathy to the family.
One of Old Xavs greatest footballers, Des Meagher died on Moday, aged 67.
After leaving school Des played with OXFC under the eye of Peter Rhoden as coach. Des played 75 games with Xavs in the mid sixties representing the Big V in 1964 and 1965.
Des was introduced to Hawthorn by Peter Rhoden and went on to play 198 games between 1966-1976. Following his playing days Des coached Hawthorn Reserves for 14 years, taking the team to seven successive finals series from 1982-1988.
Apart from his talents as a wingman Des represented Victoria at water polo.
Des was a delight to have in a side with his quirky sense of humour and will be fondly remembered.
The entire club, players and supporters offer their sympathy to the family.
WHITEFRIARS OLD COLLEGIANS FOOTBALL CLUB INC. A member club of the Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier Sponsors
Vale Des Meagher
We briefly reported last week the death of our former coach Des Meagher. Des coached our club from 1995 to 2000 with the club winning the D grade flag in in 1998 and quickly followed by C Grade in 1999, these feats were recognised with Des being selected as coach for our “Team of Friars First 20 Years”. To paraphrase Brendan Lee (immediate past president) our club grew up with Des at the helm.
Des was more broadly known in the community for his time playing 198 games of VFL football for the Hawthorn from 1966 to 1976 after being recruited from VAFA club Old Xaverians. He was a member of the Hawks 1971 premiership team and was undoubtedly one of the best players of his era representing Victoria 3 times. He then went on to coach the Hawthorn Reserves for another 14 years. A true allrounder Des also represented the Big V in water polo.
Memories at our club of Des are fond and testament to that were to be seen at his funeral on Tuesday where a large number Friars attended to show their respect and admiration. The funeral was a wonderful tribute to a man who in his life achieved much, lived it to the full and has left a great legacy in many places.
As a club our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they mourn, but they can be assured there a many places in the world where Des will not be forgotten. Whitefriars OCFC is one of those.
Des Meagher
March 7, 1944 – March 9, 2011
Vale Des Meagher
We briefly reported last week the death of our former coach Des Meagher. Des coached our club from 1995 to 2000 with the club winning the D grade flag in in 1998 and quickly followed by C Grade in 1999, these feats were recognised with Des being selected as coach for our “Team of Friars First 20 Years”. To paraphrase Brendan Lee (immediate past president) our club grew up with Des at the helm.
Des was more broadly known in the community for his time playing 198 games of VFL football for the Hawthorn from 1966 to 1976 after being recruited from VAFA club Old Xaverians. He was a member of the Hawks 1971 premiership team and was undoubtedly one of the best players of his era representing Victoria 3 times. He then went on to coach the Hawthorn Reserves for another 14 years. A true allrounder Des also represented the Big V in water polo.
Memories at our club of Des are fond and testament to that were to be seen at his funeral on Tuesday where a large number Friars attended to show their respect and admiration. The funeral was a wonderful tribute to a man who in his life achieved much, lived it to the full and has left a great legacy in many places.
As a club our thoughts and prayers are with his family as they mourn, but they can be assured there a many places in the world where Des will not be forgotten. Whitefriars OCFC is one of those.
Des Meagher
March 7, 1944 – March 9, 2011
