Gordon Coventry – Collingwood Forever https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au The complete history of Australia's greatest sporting club Tue, 30 Jan 2024 23:13:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.0.21 Rare Coventry footage found https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/rare-coventry-footage-found/ Thu, 28 Sep 2017 05:01:03 +0000 https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=12479 Rare footage has emerged of Magpie goalkicking legend Gordon Coventry in action, kicking a goal during an interstate game in 1933. Action footage of the burly full-forward known as ‘Nuts’ is very thin on the ground: there is a brief newsreel glimpse of him running onto the ground in the 1929 grand final, and another shot from distance apparently of him in the 1930s, kicking a goal against South Melbourne. But this latest footage, uncovered recently by the National Film and Sound Archive, is the clearest and best yet. It shows Coventry, wearing the Big V No.5 jumper, nimbly collecting a loose ball at the end of the goalsquare, turning onto his left foot and – ignoring pleas for a handball from triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton – snapping a clever goal. Former teammate Billy Libbis, by then with Melbourne, is close by. It was taken during a game against South Australia at the 1933 ANFC Carnival held in Sydney. The game, played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, ended in a 15-point win to the Vics, with Coventry bagging seven goals. Interestingly, South Australia’s equally famous spearhead, Ken Farmer, also appears in the newsreel footage, snapping a point early in the game. This is the only known action footage of Farmer in action. Gordon Coventry’s equally famous brother, Syd, can be seen in the background of the Farmer snippet, wearing the No.1 jumper. Coventry’s goal can be found at about the 1-minute mark in the footage here]]> Goals Records https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/goals-records/ Tue, 21 Mar 2017 05:02:11 +0000 http://cfc-forever-staging.qodo.com.au/?p=11674 Archie Smith, who played in the club’s first game, was a star of the early years, notching seven club titles and twice winning the VFL’s goalkicking award. But that was just the start. Dick Lee was the game’s first goalscoring superstar, and he was followed seamlessly by Gordon Coventry, who held the League’s goalscoring record for more than 60 years. And he, in turn, was followed by Ron Todd, who might have been the best of them all had he not gone to the VFA. Then in later years, Peter McKenna, Peter Daicos, Brian Taylor and Sav Rocca all made their mark as prolific forwards. It’s a rich heritage, and one we as a club are only too happy to celebrate with the following collection of records. Click here for a list of Collingwood’s leading goalkickers, year-by-year
Most Career Goals
1299 Gordon Coventry
838 Peter McKenna
707 Dick Lee
549 Peter Daicos
514 Saverio Rocca
453 Alby Pannam
441 Travis Cloke
423 Lou Richards
404 Anthony Rocca
371 Brian Taylor
 
Most  Goals in a Season
143 Peter McKenna 1970
134 Peter McKenna 1971
130 Peter McKenna 1972
124 Gordon Coventry 1929
121 Ron Todd 1938
121 Ron Todd 1939
118 Gordon Coventry 1930
108 Gordon Coventry 1933
105 Gordon Coventry 1934
100 Brian Taylor 1986
 
Most  Goals in a Game
17 Gordon Coventry, v Fitzroy R12 1930, at Victoria Park
16 Gordon Coventry, v Hawthorn R13 1929, at Victoria Park
16 Peter McKenna, v Sth Melbourne R19 1969, at Victoria Park
15 Gordon Coventry, v Essendon R11 1933, at Victoria Park
14 Gordon Coventry, v Hawthorn R14 1934, at Victoria Park
13 Peter McKenna, v Essendon R11 1972, at Victoria Park
13 Peter Daicos, v Brisbane R20 1991, at Carrara
12 Peter McKenna, v Essendon R14 1971, at Victoria Park
12 Peter McKenna, v Geelong R9 1972, at Victoria Park
12 Peter McKenna, v Essendon R20 1970, at Victoria Park
12 Peter McKenna, v Hawthorn R1 1966, at Victoria Park
12 Brian Taylor, v Sydney R16 1985, at the SCG
 
Most  Goals in a Final
11 Ron Todd, v Geelong 1938 preliminary final
11 Ron Todd, v St Kilda 1939 preliminary final
9 Gordon Coventry, v Richmond 1928 Grand Final
9 Peter McKenna, v Carlton 1970 second semi-final
8 Bill Twomey Jnr, v Footscray 1948 first semi-final
8 Ken Smale, v Footscray 1956 preliminary final
7 Gordon Coventry, v Geelong 1927 semi-final
7 Gordon Coventry, v Geelong 1930 Grand Final
7 Gordon Coventry, v Melbourne 1937 preliminary final
7 Des Tuddenham, v St Kilda 1966 second semi-final
7 Peter McKenna, v Footscray 1974 elimination final
7 Peter Daicos, v Carlton 1984 first semi-final
 
Most  Goals at Victoria Park
679 Gordon Coventry
399 Peter McKenna
334 Dick Lee
210 Lou Richards
200 Alby Pannam
 
Most  Goals at the MCG
329 Saverio Rocca
302 Travis Cloke
236 Anthony Rocca
156 Gordon Coventry
145 Brian Taylor
 
Most  Goals in VFA Years (1892-96)
86 Archie Smith
42 George Anderson
19 Harry Dowdall
19 Dick Hall
17 Frank Hailwood
 
VFL/AFL Leading Goalkicker
1898 Archie Smith 31
1900 Archie Smith (tied) 21
1903 Ted Lockwood 35
1905 Charlie H. Pannam 38
1907 Dick Lee 47
1908 Dick Lee 54
1909 Dick Lee 58
1914 Dick Lee 57
1916 Dick Lee 48
1917 Dick Lee 54
1919 Dick Lee 56
1926 Gordon Coventry 83
1927 Gordon Coventry 97
1928 Gordon Coventry 89
1929 Gordon Coventry 124
1930 Gordon Coventry 118
1933 Gordon Coventry 108
1938 Ron Todd 120
1939 Ron Todd 121
1946 Des Fothergill 63
1958 Ian Brewer 73
1972 Peter McKenna 130
1973 Peter McKenna 86
1986 Brian Taylor 100
  • Please note: Ted Rowell (1902), Dick Lee (1910, 1913 and 1915) and Gordon Coventry (1937) each topped the table after the finals in the years noted but not after the home-and-away rounds (which is when the League’s Leading Goalkicker is determined).
 ]]> Nuts’ lasting record https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/nuts-still-rules-the-roost/ Wed, 07 Sep 2016 01:06:15 +0000 http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=10664 By: Glenn McFarlane of the Herald Sun Sydney sharpshooter Lance Franklin has kicked more finals goals than any other current AFL footballer. Franklin will look to add to his 58 finals goals as he takes some of his hottest form into Saturday’s qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney. And if the 29-year-old sticks to his finals average of 3.41 per game, and the Swans can play at least three finals, he could even rocket up to fifth on the all-time table of leading goalkickers in finals football. Even then, Franklin’s chances of catching the man who had held the No.1 mantle in VFL-AFL history in terms of finals goals for more than 70 years – Collingwood champion Gordon Coventry – remains remote (albeit still possible), even if the Swan forward sees out the end of his very long contract. That fact alone shows the enormity of what Coventry achieved, from his third game (which was his first final) to his 306th match (his 31st and last final). In between, he kicked an extraordinary 111 goals in finals matches. 160907_forever600c How close could Buddy get by the time his career is out? And while Coventry held the overall league goalkicking record of 1299 goals until another Swan, Tony Lockett, broke through the 1300-goal barrier in 1999, his record in finals could remain his forever. Even now, almost 50 years after his 1968 death, he remains 33 clear of his nearest rival Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn), 37 ahead of Jack Titus (Richmond) and 39 ahead of Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn). Franklin is 15th overall, but has the capacity to make significant inroads up the AFL finals goals ladder in the coming years. Coventry and Franklin couldn’t have been any more different in their on-field demeanour. Franklin is flamboyant, an extraordinary athlete and a raking left-footer; Coventry was a clinical goalkicking machine, efficient and effective, but as unassuming and unaffected as any champion could possibly be. 160907_forever600a The great Gordon ‘Nuts’ Coventry is pictured with his family. But off the field their goalkicking gluttony would put Coventry and Franklin at the forefront of the public’s imagination. Franklin has been feted for most of his AFL career, and while the impact of footy heroes during the 1920s and ’30s was very different to what it is in the 21st century, Coventry was one of the most identifiable footballers of his era. In 1930, a cartoon of Coventry drawn by the Herald‘s Wells imagined him striding over to “the Australian record-breakers’ seat” occupied by cricket superstar Don Bradman and billiards whiz Walter Lindrum. In it, the Magpie said: “Move over cobbers, I’m in this.” Coventry would never have said that. He was far too modest, but it was an indication of how he was seen by the general community. Here are 10 important Gordon Coventry finals moments that helped him to a record that could last forever.

1. HAPPY 19TH NUTS

Coventry was a teenager from Diamond Creek with unusually large hands and a quiet disposition when he made his debut for Collingwood in Round 15, 1920. He kicked a goal in that first game and was subsequently dropped, saying years later: “I saw hundreds of young lads having their first League games thereafter, but none was as inglorious as mine.” His third game would come in a semi-final, in which he would kick a goal. But his breakout game came in his fourth match – in the preliminary final against Carlton. It came on the day of his 19th birthday, and he finished it with five goals from the Magpies’ tally of 12 in the win over the Blues. The Herald acknowledged what everyone in the crowd knew, that “Coventry … is coming much into notice as a sharpshooter.” He kicked three of Collingwood’s five goals a week later in the Grand Final loss to Richmond.

2. HANDING OVER THE BATON

Dick Lee, Collingwood’s great forward of the first two decades of the 20th Century, played his 230th and last game in the 1922 Grand Final loss to Fitzroy. He kicked two goals that day, one fewer than the young forward who was about to take over his mantle, Gordon Coventry. Coventry’s three goals were not enough to get the Magpies over the line against the Maroons, but it was a further sign that he was on his way to being an elite forward. That season, 1922, he would kick a total of 42 goals and win his first club goalkicker award. It was the first of 16 straight titles for his club.

3. TWO GOOD

After successive Grand Finals losses in 1925-26, there was extraordinary pressure on Collingwood to go one step further in 1927. In the lead-up to the Grand Final against Richmond, the game was almost called off due to a deluge of rain that flooded the MCG. The VFL allowed the game to go ahead, but a series of “miniature lakes” impacted on the game. Incredibly, only three goals were kicked for the entire match, and Coventry kicked two of them, one more than Richmond managed. As the rain bucketed down in the second term, Collingwood’s full-forward booted both goals during that quarter, and it effectively won the game for his team. It didn’t matter that the rain left him stranded on 97 for the season. He would break the century – the first time for a VFL player – two years later.

4. A MASSIVE RETURN TO FORM

Football writers were wondering what was up with Gordon Coventry ahead of the 1928 Grand Final. He had kicked only four goals in his previous four games, and had been held goalless in the semi-final replay against Melbourne. Coventry never told anyone at the time – and would only open up to his brother Syd a decade later – but he had copped whack on the back of his ear in a state match a few weeks earlier. “He would have dropped me out of the side, if I’d told him,” Gordon explained a decade later why he hadn’t told his issue to Syd. “A man at Collingwood in those days had to be really crook before he reported a crack.” Jock McHale forged a plan to give Gordon some space leading into the Grand Final, and used Percy Rowe to protect extra protection. It worked a treat. Coventry ended up kicking nine goals, a record for a Grand Final, as the Magpies secured back to back flags. It would stand as a record for another 61 years until a bloke named Gary Ablett equalled it – in a losing side – in the 1989 Grand Final.

5. THE DECOY

Jock McHale tried something different leading into the 1929 premiership decider against Richmond. After the Magpies had lost to the Tigers in an earlier final – their only loss of an extraordinary year, the coach took a risk and decided to use his most prolific goalkicker, Gordon Coventry, as a decoy for another young forward from Diamond Creek. His name was ‘Tubby’ Edmonds, and he would boot a match-winning five goals. Edmonds was used deep near the boundary line in attack, while the opposition put much of its focus on Coventry, who still managed to kick two goals, but was content to play his “decoy” role as his team won a hat-trick of premierships.

6. SEVEN, AND FOUR IN A ROW

It was somehow fitting that the Coventry brothers – dominant figures in the Machine side – proved so important in the climax to Collingwood’s record fourth straight premiership in 1930. Syd was dominant from start to finish, and was effectively a captain and coach on this day, in the absence of the sick McHale. But Gordon’s performance was just as critical. He kicked seven goals for the Magpies as the club overcame a big half-time deficit to streak away from the Cats as they created history. His seven goals made a total of 13 for his three finals.

7. KEEPING NUTS GOAL-LESS

Collingwood’s quest for a fifth consecutive flag ended in a massive 88-point defeat at the hands of Carlton in the 1930 first-semi-final, and it came with Coventry failing to kick a goal. It was the third and last time in his 31 finals that he would fail to kick a major. After kicking 23 goals in the previous three games (seven against Carlton, 11 against St Kilda and five against Melbourne), there was at least an excuse for his semi-final failure. He suffered a back injury and was lame, one of the many Magpies to be wounded on that forgettable day.

8. SIX IN A BIG LOSS

Carlton handed Collingwood another finals flogging – this time 75 points – in the 1932 preliminary final. But instead of being held goal-less, Coventry booted six goals. The loss wasn’t his fault. His tally was more than half the Magpies’ final total.

9. NO PRATT, AND SIX TO NUTS

On the Thursday night before the 1935 Grand Final, one of football’s biggest sensations took place. South Melbourne’s star forward Bob Pratt was hit by a truck after stepping off a tram. It would cost him his place in the game, and his team any chance of beating the Magpies. Pratt’s counterpart, Coventry kicked four of Collingwood’s 11 goals as he secured a fifth premiership medal, with the Magpies winning by 20 points.

10. 36 AND OUT

Coventry missed the 1936 finals – and a sixth premiership – after he was suspended following an incident involving Richmond’s Joe Murdoch, the only time he was reported in his career. But after briefly thinking about retiring, he made a comeback in 1937, and ended up kicking 72 goals for the year, and 16 goals for the finals series. He booted six against Richmond in a semi-final, seven against Melbourne in a preliminary final and three more in the Grand Final loss to Geelong. It wasn’t the way it was meant to end for Coventry, who turned 36 on the day of his final match. But after 1299 goals, and 111 in finals, it was the end of the road for the champ.

NUTS’ FINALS RECORD

1920: 1 SF, 5 PF, 3 GF 1921: 1 SF 1922: 1 SF, 3 GF 1923: no finals 1924: no finals 1925: 5 SF, 5 PF, 0 GF 1926: 3 SF, 2 GF 1927: 7 SF, 2 GF 1928: 2 SF, 0 SF (replay), 9 GF 1929: 4 SF, 2 GF 1930: 3 SF, 3 PF, 7 GF 1931: 0 SF 1932: 5 SF, 6 PF 1933: no finals 1934: 5 SF 1935: 3 SF, 4 PF, 4 GF 1936: no finals due to suspension 1937: 6 SF, 7 PF, 3 GF 31 finals, 111 goals

THE TOP 15 FINALS GOALKICKERS

111 goals, 31 finals Gordon Coventry (Collingwood) 78, 21, Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn) 74, 24, Jack Titus (Richmond) 72, 29, Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn) 65, 18, Stephen Kernahan (Carlton) 65, 20, Alastair Lynch (Brisbane) 64, 16, Gary Ablett Sr. (Geelong) 64, 18, Doug Wade (Geelong/North Melbourne0 62, 27, Kevin Bartlett (Richmond) 62, 22, Dick Lee (Collingwood) 62, 18, Jack Mueller (Melbourne) 62, 19, Peter Sumich (West Coast) 60, 17, Bill Brownless (Geelong) 60, 23, Wayne Carey (North Melbourne) 58, 17 Lance Franklin (Sydney) 160907_forever600b Lance Franklin: Chasing history.]]> Coventry Suspended https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/coventry-suspended/ Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:19:24 +0000 http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=8862 Gordon Coventry was reported of retaliation against Richmond’s Joe Murdoch in the round 13 contest against Richmond. Murdoch delivered a number of sharp blows to the back of Coventry’s neck, which was dotted with painful boils at the time. Coventry, who kicked five goals for the match, retaliated and was reported. Strangely, the club defended on the basis of Coventry suffering a concussion, not provocation. Despite his 17-season clean record, he was suspended for the rest of the season. The Collingwood supporters were angry and gathered outside the VFL on the night of the hearing, and patrons at local cinemas were incensed when the penalty was flashed on the screen. The Collingwood Council issued protests, Coventry threatened to retire because he was so upset. Amazingly, without Coventry and Len Murphy (who was suspended during the finals campaign), the Magpies managed to win the 1936 premiership. Reference The Official Collingwood Illustrated Encyclopedia by Michael Roberts and Glenn McFarlane  ]]> Leading Goalkicker https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/the-awards-leading-goalkicker/ Wed, 20 Aug 2014 11:07:18 +0000 http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=7583 Year Leading Goalkicker 1892 George Anderson/ Archie Smith 12 1893 George Anderson 20 1894 Archie Smith 25 1895 Archie Smith 27 1896 Wal Gillard 13 1897 Archie Smith 15 1898 Archie Smith 31 1899 Archie Smith 17 1900 Archie Smith 21 1901 Ted Rowell 31 1902 Ted Rowell 33 1903 Ted Lockwood 35 1904 Charlie H. Pannam 24 1905 Charlie H. Pannam 38 1906 Dick Lee 35 1907 Dick Lee 47 1908 Dick Lee 54 1909 Dick Lee 58 1910 Dick Lee 58 1911 Tom Baxter 31 1912 Les Hughes 13 1913 Les Hughes 22 1914 Dick Lee 57 1915 Dick Lee 66 1916 Dick Lee 48 1917 Dick Lee 54 1918 Tom Wraith 26 1919 Dick Lee 56 1920 Ern Utting 23 1921 Dick Lee 64 1922 Gordon Coventry 42 1923 Gordon Coventry 36 1924 Gordon Coventry 28 1925 Gordon Coventry 68 1926 Gordon Coventry 83 1927 Gordon Coventry 97 1928 Gordon Coventry 89 1929 Gordon Coventry 124 1930 Gordon Coventry 118 1931 Gordon Coventry 67 1932 Gordon Coventry 82 1933 Gordon Coventry 108 1934 Gordon Coventry 105 1935 Gordon Coventry 88 1936 Gordon Coventry 60 1937 Gordon Coventry 72 1938 Ron Todd 120 1939 Ron Todd 121 1940 Des Fothergil 56 1941 Albie Pannam 42 1942 Albie Pannam 37 1943 Albie Pannam 40 1944 Lou Richards/ Bob Galbally 26 1945 Des Fothergil 62 1946 Des Fothergil 63 1947 Neil Mann 48 1948 Lou Richards 44 1949 Jack Pimm 34 1950 Lou Richards 35 1951 Maurie Dunstan 40 1952 Maurie Dunstan 43 1953 Bob Rose 36 1954 Keith Bromage 22 1955 Ken Smale 47 1956 Ken Smale 33 1957 Ian Brewer 26 1958 Ian Brewer 73 1959 Murray Weideman 36 1960 Murray Weideman 30 1961 Kevin Pay 31 1962 Murray Weideman 48 1963 Terry Waters 50 1964 Terry Waters/Ian Graham 42 1965 David Norman 32 1966 Ian Graham 58 1967 Peter McKenna 47 1968 Peter McKenna 64 1969 Peter McKenna 98 1970 Peter McKenna 143 1971 Peter McKenna 134 1972 Peter McKenna 130 1973 Peter McKenna 86 1974 Peter McKenna 69 1975 Phil Carman 41 1976 Phil Carman 38 1977 Peter Moore 76 1978 Peter Moore 57 1979 Craig Davis 88 1980 Craig Davis 52 1981 Peter Daicos 76 1982 Peter Daicos 58 1983 Michael Richardson 49 1984 Mark Williams 53 1985 Brian Taylor 80 1986 Brian Taylor 100 1987 Brian Taylor 60 1988 Brian Taylor 73 1989 Brian Taylor 49 1990 Peter Daicos 97 1991 Peter Daicos 75 1992 Peter Daicos 52 1993 Saverio Rocca 73 1994 Saverio Rocca 49 1995 Saverio Rocca 93 1996 Saverio Rocca 66 1997 Saverio Rocca 76 1998 Saverio Rocca 68 1999 Saverio Rocca 33 2000 Anthony Rocca 33 2001 Chris Tarrant 53 2002 Chris Tarrant/Anthony Rocca 38 2003 Chris Tarrant 54 2004 Chris Tarrant 36 2005 Chris Tarrant 36 2006 Anthony Rocca 55 2007 Anthony Rocca 54 2008 Paul Medhurst 50 2009 John Anthony 50 2010 Alan Didak 41 2011 Travis Cloke 69 2012 Travis Cloke 59 2013 Travis Cloke 68 2014 Travis Cloke 39 2015 Jamie Elliott 35 2016 Alex Fasolo 25 2017 Jamie Elliott 34 2018 Jordan De Goey 48 2019 Brody Mihocek 36 2020 Brody Mihocek 25 2021 Brody Mihocek 34 2022 Brody Mihocek 41 ]]> Tony Shaw brings up 300 matches https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/tony-shaw-brings-up-300-matches/ Fri, 01 Aug 2014 01:05:01 +0000 http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=4109 Collingwood and Geelong played out a rare draw in 1934 https://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/collingwood-and-geelong-played-out-a-rare-draw-in-1934/ Fri, 01 Aug 2014 00:50:35 +0000 http://forever.collingwoodfc.com.au/?p=4101