Blast from the Past...

[LPH]

I was sitting in the carpark before the game yesterday... having a few quiet beers, watching the boy have a kick with a mate, listening to the radio.

An 'older' bloke walks in with his dog - he looks familiar to me.

"Excuse me mate" I say, "Your name wouldn't happen to be Max James, would it?"
"Yes, it is" he replies.

We have a reasonable conversation about all things footy - he's a Power supporter but obviously has a 'soft spot' for the Swans - having played 55 games between '78 & '82.

He informs me that he played 8 State Games & is 1 (of only 3) Simpson Medalists from SA.

He won that award - playing as Ruck Rover & kicking 6 goals - not bad for a 'Fullback", I think to myself... apparently, 'Kerls' came to him the night before the match & told him he was playing 'on the ball'.

His 'biggest highlight' in a 200+ game career - 1977 Premiership with The Maggies.

Thought some of you might enjoy the 'trip down memory lane'

BTW... told him to have a look @ this site... "The Most Knowledgeable SANFL Fans around"

[Adelaide Hawk]

Next time you speak with Max, ask him why his wedding photos show him with red hair

[Dog_ger]

Prison Bars , Number 27 if my memory is anygood?

G'day Max James.

[CENTURION]

copper?

[smithy]

http://webspace.webring.com/people/nm/mcalmanac/JAMES.html

This from McAlmanacs site.

[Pseudo]

Reckon he stood as an independent candidate for a seat up Port way in the recent state election. Saw his mug on election posters as I was driving through.

[robranisgod]

He informs me that he played 8 State Games & is 1 (of only 3) Simpson Medalists from SA.

SA have had at least 6 Simpson Medallists : Fos Williams, Bob Shearman, Max James, Graham Cornes, Craig Bradley and Chris McDermott.

I think that he may have meant that he was the third SA Simpson medallist.

Interestingly the first 3 won their medals in losing sides. Graham Cornes won his weeks after he had been sacked by Ron Barassi from North Melbourne. Chris McDermott was a surprise. The umpires were the only people at the ground who didn't believe that A Jarman wasn't best on ground. Jarman had something like 40 touches to McDermott's 20. Even Cornes the coach, and Kerley who I think was chairman of selectors thought that it was a very strange decision.

Looking at the records it appears as though no SA player can now win the Simpson medal. Perhaps since the introduction of the Fos Williams medal SA players have been precluded from winning the Simpson medal.

[GWW]

He came back and played in a Grand Final one year without having played any other games that season, is that correct?

Think it was 84

[CK]

He came back and played in a Grand Final one year without having played any other games that season, is that correct?

Think it was 84

Correct. Russell Ebert, by some reports, felt that his work at the time (plumbing or laboring) would have kept him fit enough to slot straight back in. Stood Peter Laughlin in that Grand Final, and fair to say the experiment wasn't entirely successful.

[Mickyj]

Reckon he stood as an independent candidate for a seat up Port way in the recent state election. Saw his mug on election posters as I was driving through.

correct

[LPH]

He informs me that he played 8 State Games & is 1 (of only 3) Simpson Medalists from SA.

SA have had at least 6 Simpson Medallists : Fos Williams, Bob Shearman, Max James, Graham Cornes, Craig Bradley and Chris McDermott.

I think that he may have meant that he was the third SA Simpson medallist.

Interestingly the first 3 won their medals in losing sides. Graham Cornes won his weeks after he had been sacked by Ron Barassi from North Melbourne. Chris McDermott was a surprise. The umpires were the only people at the ground who didn't believe that A Jarman wasn't best on ground. Jarman had something like 40 touches to McDermott's 20. Even Cornes the coach, and Kerley who I think was chairman of selectors thought that it was a very strange decision.

Looking at the records it appears as though no SA player can now win the Simpson medal. Perhaps since the introduction of the Fos Williams medal SA players have been precluded from winning the Simpson medal.

Thanks for the clarification.
Perhaps he said "only 3 until then" - as I said, I was having a few beers @ the time.
I thought the 'Simpson Medal' was also awarded to BOG in WAFL Grand Final in the past, is that correct?

[robranisgod]

He informs me that he played 8 State Games & is 1 (of only 3) Simpson Medalists from SA.

SA have had at least 6 Simpson Medallists : Fos Williams, Bob Shearman, Max James, Graham Cornes, Craig Bradley and Chris McDermott.

I think that he may have meant that he was the third SA Simpson medallist.

Interestingly the first 3 won their medals in losing sides. Graham Cornes won his weeks after he had been sacked by Ron Barassi from North Melbourne. Chris McDermott was a surprise. The umpires were the only people at the ground who didn't believe that A Jarman wasn't best on ground. Jarman had something like 40 touches to McDermott's 20. Even Cornes the coach, and Kerley who I think was chairman of selectors thought that it was a very strange decision.

Looking at the records it appears as though no SA player can now win the Simpson medal. Perhaps since the introduction of the Fos Williams medal SA players have been precluded from winning the Simpson medal.

Thanks for the clarification.
Perhaps he said "only 3 until then" - as I said, I was having a few beers @ the time.
I thought the 'Simpson Medal' was also awarded to BOG in WAFL Grand Final in the past, is that correct?

That's correct. It is still awarded for WAFL Grand Finals and state games at Subiaco, but there hasn't been an opposition winner for a long, long time.

[Magpiespower]

Correct. Russell Ebert, by some reports, felt that his work at the time (plumbing or laboring) would have kept him fit enough to slot straight back in. Stood Peter Laughlin in that Grand Final, and fair to say the experiment wasn't entirely successful.

Late inclusion for the injured Ben Harris.

Asked Max about his surprise selection when he spoke at a sportsman night years ago at our footy club.

Said he had been digging ditches all day long on the Saturday (GF was played on Sunday that year) and pleaded with with Ebert not to pick him because he was completely knackered.

He also cleared up the 'mystery' of the Fred Phillis-Tim Evans goalsquare incident in the '77 GF...

[stampy]

didnt think there was any mystery, freddy clouted timmy and then went down himself

[JK]

didnt think there was any mystery, freddy clouted timmy and then went down himself

Thats strange, I always thought Freddie would have been more inclined to go up himself

[GWW]

He also cleared up the 'mystery' of the Fred Phillis-Tim Evans goalsquare incident in the '77 GF...

Don't leave us in suspense mate

[mal]

Max James a player from a bygone era
When players , like Max would jump over a pack and take a contested mark
My memories of Max were some really good , at times spectacular rmarking

TRIVIA
Had a son that played AFL as well, making it another father/son milestone
His last game for SS back then was the first game Sydney played at the SCG

[bayman]

Max James a player from a bygone era
When players , like Max would jump over a pack and take a contested mark
My memories of Max were some really good , at times spectacular rmarking

TRIVIA
Had a son that played AFL as well, making it another father/son milestone
His last game for SS back then was the first game Sydney played at the SCG

his son is heath james

max had the newsagency opposite the watermark hotel or as i call it lennies' on anzac highway for a few years not so long ago with a friend called jane

[bar20]

He came back and played in a Grand Final one year without having played any other games that season, is that correct?

Think it was 84

Correct. Russell Ebert, by some reports, felt that his work at the time (plumbing or laboring) would have kept him fit enough to slot straight back in. Stood Peter Laughlin in that Grand Final, and fair to say the experiment wasn't entirely successful.

Your a wealth of knowledge CK and on the money again

[hilly84f1]

thats amazing to think your only game of the year would be a grand final
and...after working all day the day before
my how the professionalism of the game has changed
For memory the same thing happened at hawthorn in 1985, when they brought in O'halloren to stand the big fish Paul SALMON
Once again it wasnt exactly a complete success...