Ron Kneebone

[Adelaide Hawk]

I have a football with the signatures of some very famous people in SANFL history, mainly Magarey Medallists such as Bob Hank, Lindsay Head, Barrie Robran, Russell Ebert, John Platten, Don Lindner, etc ... you get the idea.

One signature I wanted to add to my collection was that of Ron "Bones" Kneebone, the great Norwood utility who won the Magarey Medal in 1966 playing at Full Back, a very difficult thing to achieve. I also had a photo of several Norwood players in the early 60s I couldn't identify.

So I contacted Ron last Saturday morning and asked if I could see him. His reaction was that of the gentleman I always heard he was .... "I would love to". So I visited the house of the great man later that morning.

We sat in his recreation room for an hour and a half and I listened to great stories of his career at Norwood, including how he was recruited, his first game, the Marx Kretschmer incident (and how he got even), how he nearly left Norwood early in his career to play for West Torrens, his friendships with other players (especially the "Gentle Giant" Big Bill Wedding), amongst other great stories.

He spoke of the night he won the Magarey Medal, and typical of Ron's humility, decided he had no chance of winning so he went to the Royal Show with his wife and great friend Bill Wedding. He was walking around the grounds and people were all yelling out to him, "Well done Ron", "Congratulations", etc.

It wasn't until he discovered the Channel 9 reporters were looking for him that he realised he had won the medal. I recall sitting at home waiting to an interview with him and wondering why it took so long for him to get to the studio.

Ahhh, there were so many stories, too many to relate here. However, for the benefit of all Norwood supporters of my "vintage" I will relate a very special story he told about Bill Wedding.

Ron claims he has been very lucky with his health over the years, and still looks great at 71 years of age. The only issues were of the odd operation for knee replacements etc, he has managed to keep himself very fit.

On the last day of Bill's life, Ron visited him in hospital. There was Bill, deathly ill, .. and worried about Ron's knees rather than his own dillemma. I think that speaks volumes, not only of Wedding, but of the esteem and respect he had for his good friend Ron Kneebone.

As a kid, I had four heroes ... Bill Wedding, Ron Kneebone, Ian Brewer, and Peter Hudson. I had the pleasure of meeting all four in later years and am comforted in the knowledge the men I looked up to all those years ago were men of impeccable quality.

I will see Ron again soon, and looking forward to it. As I drove away I thought how nice it would have been to have had a camera crew filming my "interview" with Ron, it would have made compelling viewing for us "oldies" interested in the game's history and great players of a bygone era.

For those not familair with his record, here are a few details:
* 201 games, 86 goals from 1957 to 1967
* 16 games for South Australia from 1959 to 1967
* Norwood Captain 1963, 1964. Vice Captain 1961-62 & 1965-67.
* Norwood Best & Fairest & Magarey Medallist in 1966
* AFC Carnival selection (Hobart 1966)

In his best season, 1966, he stood Peter Hudson in a carnival match in Hobart and kept the legenday full forward to 2 goals. Not many players ever did that .... but then Ron could do almost anything once he applied himself to the job.

I would welcome any memories others may have of Ron "Bones" Kneebone.

[spell_check]

I wonder if Norwood could do that (interview) and post it on Youtube as part of RedlegTV?

[Adelaide Hawk]

I wonder if Norwood could do that (interview) and post it on Youtube as part of RedlegTV?

Spelly, I am of the opinion that Ron wouldn't open up in front of a camera as easily as he did with me, another person with a passion for the Norwood Football Club and for friendships made from football.

Ron was genuinely surprised by how much interest I took in his career, that's how modest the man is. The game was so different back then, and so were the people in it.

[McAlmanac]

You lucky man. Was his nickname The Tank?

And is Woodville's Terry Kneebone his brother? There seems to be some resemblance. Of course, Ron denied Woodville its first Magarey Medallist by pipping Bob Simunsen.

[Adelaide Hawk]

You lucky man. Was his nickname The Tank?

And is Woodville's Terry Kneebone his brother? There seems to be some resemblance. Of course, Ron denied Woodville its first Magarey Medallist by pipping Bob Simunsen.

I didn't ask about his brother, but I always believed Terry Kneebone was indeed his brother. I'll have to ask him. Ron's preferred nickname is Bones. I think the Tank name was a media concocted sobriquet of which Ron wasn't particularly enamoured. All his friends know him as Bones.

His son tried out for West Torrens and was quite a good player apparently. However, after a few seconds games he was transferred in employment to the country about 600kms away. Neil Kerley told Ron his lad was just about to be selected for the Torrens league team at that time.

I remember the 1966 Magarey Medal count as if it were yesterday. All the favourites were up there. As you say, Simunsen I think was the pre-count favourite. Everything was going along nicely with Ron hanging in there, when suddenly he scored 2-3 1st preference votes very close together, and it was a very exciting evening for Norwood supporters.

Kneebone polled 22, Simunsen 18, Trevor Hughes 18, and Robert Day 16. The amazing thing is those days was how all the Sturt players would rob votes from each other.

[CK]

Terry was indeed Ron's brother. A pleasure to read this, AH, must have been a great experience. My grandfather used to deal with Ron quite a bit through work, and always used to speak of him in glowing terms (Grandfather was a Norwood man through and through, so wasn't sure how much bias was in there of course!). Every time I read "Men Of Norwood", there is a bit of a glow when reading the chapter about his career. Times were indeed different back then in so many positive ways.

[JK]

Awesome awesome stuff AH, a very envious Redleg here ... I'll be sure to forward a copy of this to my old man who just idolised the names you mentioned.

[Squawk]

Yes, and AH he was also an innaugural member of the Norwood Hall of Fame in 2006. I got the chance to talk with both him and Bill Wedding that night and they were both sensational. And luckily I got them both to sign my Hall of Fame footy.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Yes, and AH he was also an innaugural member of the Norwood Hall of Fame in 2006. I got the chance to talk with both him and Bill Wedding that night and they were both sensational. And luckily I got them both to sign my Hall of Fame footy.

You're one up on me. Sadly I never thought to get Bill's signature until it was too late. Two high quality people and it's not hard to see why they were great mates.

[Magpiespower]

It's amazing what people (not just retired footballers) will tell you when you interview them.

Nearly always give you so much more than you could have possibly imagined.

And you hardly even have to ask a question.

Coz once they get on a roll...

[mal]

Adelaide Hawk on meeting Ron Kneebone.

HAWK: "Hey Ron how about a signature."
KNEEBONE: "Yeah Sure Hawky."
HAWK: "Who shall I make it out to,To Ron ...


___________________________

Great work AH , love reading your posts in this room

[Adelaide Hawk]

Adelaide Hawk on meeting Ron Kneebone.

HAWK: "Hey Ron how about a signature."
KNEEBONE: "Yeah Sure Hawky."
HAWK: "Who shall I make it out to,To Ron ...

Spot on Mal, he said he wanted two of mine to swap for one of yours

[Adelaide Hawk]

You lucky man. Was his nickname The Tank?

And is Woodville's Terry Kneebone his brother? There seems to be some resemblance.

I checked with Ron tonight. He confirmed that Terry is indeed his brother. He said Terry played junior football for Norwood but had an altercation with coach Alan Killigrew. Killa said he didn't want Terry at the club so he left and joined Woodville when they entered the league.

Ron claimed Terry always saved his best football for when he played against Norwood

[JK]

You lucky man. Was his nickname The Tank?

And is Woodville's Terry Kneebone his brother? There seems to be some resemblance.

I checked with Ron tonight. He confirmed that Terry is indeed his brother. He said Terry played junior football for Norwood but had an altercation with coach Alan Killigrew. Killa said he didn't want Terry at the club so he left and joined Woodville when they entered the league.

Ron claimed Terry always saved his best football for when he played against Norwood

My old man tells me Killa didn't seem to have a lot of time for the local Norwood lads and many had a falling out with him as a result.

[mal]

Killa took a training session at Walkerville under 18s in the mid 70s
I was at the session.
After training Killa said I had great ball handling skills and said I would become a very good footballer.
What a great man saying that.
Pity I only made the Walkerville team 3 times for the season.

[Psyber]

You lucky man. Was his nickname The Tank?
And is Woodville's Terry Kneebone his brother? There seems to be some resemblance.

I checked with Ron tonight. He confirmed that Terry is indeed his brother. He said Terry played junior football for Norwood but had an altercation with coach Alan Killigrew. Killa said he didn't want Terry at the club so he left and joined Woodville when they entered the league.

Ron claimed Terry always saved his best football for when he played against Norwood

My old man tells me Killa didn't seem to have a lot of time for the local Norwood lads and many had a falling out with him as a result.

He imported a lot of Victorian players with him. Some were not bad, some were shockers - like Morrie Pope.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Killa took a training session at Walkerville under 18s in the mid 70s
I was at the session.
After training Killa said I had great ball handling skills and said I would become a very good footballer.
What a great man saying that.
Pity I only made the Walkerville team 3 times for the season.

Sounds like you would have played more for Norwood than Walkerville

Another thing about Ron Kneebone. He played all 4 games in the 1966 Hobart Carnival (in his favoured No. 3 jumper), but he started on the bench in the first match against Victoria, replacing Ron Elleway in the 1st quarter. He also held Peter Hudson to 2 goals, and Hudson often refers to Kneebone as one of the hardest opponents he ever played against.

Ron wishes he was never told this, but he learned from a selector after the carnival that had he started that game on the field, he would have won All-Australian selection.

[Squawk]

Any more updates AH? He wasn't at the Hall of Fame this year

[Adelaide Hawk]

Any more updates AH? He wasn't at the Hall of Fame this year

He had very good reason for this. I'll send you a PM to explain.