Sometimes, footy is more than just a game.
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Just take a look at the 1954 premiership-winning Eden Tigers.
With the smell of finals footy in the air yet again, the five surviving members of that legendary side got together at the Great Southern Inn on Tuesday for a 60-year reunion lunch.
All these years later, Eric Fletcher, Ron Backhouse, Artie Edwards, Lloyd Cocks and Brian Switzer remain good mates, and after a season like ’54, it’s easy to see how the bond was formed.
Thanks to a series of draws and subsequent replays, they certainly spent a lot of time together on the field.
Having been narrowly beaten by Tathra in the previous three grand finals, Eden saw the ’54 season as do or die.
“It was pretty tough that year,” Eric said.
“We played the final against Candelo and at fulltime it was 2-all, so we played again the next week and it was 0-all.
“So we came back again and finally won it, 13-4, and went into the grand final against Tathra.
“You wouldn’t believe it, but it was another draw; 4-all this time.
“But after 10 minutes each way in extra time, we won it 14-4.”
Eric’s boot did the damage for Eden on the big day, kicking three goals and a field goal, with tries scored by George Bartlett and Basil Geraghty.
The Imlay League triumph wasn’t Eden’s only silverware that year, with the side also defeating Bega 10-8 to become the first Imlay League outfit to win the Rickett’s Cup and be crown Group 16 champions.
For Eric and Ron, affectionately known as ‘Fle’ and ‘Sconnie’, the win took on added significance.
After winning multiple competitions in Braidwood, they set out along with Bruce Grant to travel around the state and taste more on-field success wherever they went.
But after arriving in Eden 63 years ago, they found work and decided to stay.
“I did get an offer once, to play for Sawtell for £2 a match, but they didn’t want my mates, so I stayed and I’ve been here ever since,” Eric said.
“It’s good to get together again; ‘Sconnie’ lives at Batemans Bay now but he was here for 60 years, and Bruce passed away a few years ago.
“The rest of us still live here, so we see each other at the football or in the street, but we only see the whole group at these reunions, and the last one we had was for 50 years.”
Their playing days may be over, but these Tigers’ legends still love a game of footy, whether it’s joining the crowd at the George Brown Memorial Oval, or watching the NRL on TV.
In 60 years, they say, it’s amazing how much the game has changed.
“I think there’s more football being played these days; more backline movements and skill involved,” Artie said.
“Back in the old days, it was just about picking the ball up and charging.
“The old one-yard rule, wasn’t that something.
“You’d take one step and ‘BANG’,” he laughed.
Matches were also played under the unlimited tackle rule, a far cry from today’s six-tackle rule that has made shrewd playmakers a key part of the game.
“If you had big forwards like Artie and Bruce Grant, you’d just tuck it under the arm and never let go,” Lloyd said.
“It was a brutal game.”
Fullback: Brian Switzer
Wingers: Reg Switzer and Jack Curtis
Centres: Basil Geraghty and Eric Fletcher
Five-eighth: Ron Backhouse
Halfback: Ray Innes
Lock: Artie Edwards
Second-rowers: Claude Bobbin and George Bartlett
Front-rowers: Kevin Godwin and Bruce Grant
Hooker: Barry Collins