In particular a whole street in Parnell Street, Elsternwick were mad St Kilda supporters. It was almost a condition of being allowed to move into the area. Neale Roberts at one time lived in Parnell Street and Ian Drake owned a house at the end of the street where also at one time Allan Morrow, Ian Rowland and one other who I cannot recall lived. Allan was driving a Tarax truck (probably the first Fox truck) at the time.
While a lot of the glory, credit and accolades were being handed out to glamour players most of us who felt we really understood what it took to get there knew how valuable Allan Morrow was to StKilda.
I saw Morrow play against I think Ray Gabelich and definitely Murray Weideman in the bog at Victoria Park one day where he and Bud Annand on the outer wing stood toe to toe throwing punches at the Collingwood pair in what today would be described as a melee. It went on for at least 5 minutes but it was the David and Goliath perspective than won my admiration.
In later games Morrow mixed it with Ted Whitten/John Schultz then John Nicholls, Alan Mantello and Noel Teasdale etc. These were the days of genuinely big men, tough seasoned and hard .. very very hard.
Morrow had a huge height and reach disadvantage, was well under these players total body weight but just gave and gave and gave of himself for the club.
When St Kilda finally won the premiership it was poetic justice that Mocca had the ball in his hand at the end. That was the big man in the sky acknowledging his efforts when others did not.
At the after match celebrations a barbecue I think at Sandringham FC I tried to get signatures from the players. The Doc and Ian Stewart were surrounded. Alan was sitting quite a way from these players mostly on his own and he gave me his signature and spent at least 5 minutes talking to me and encouraging me in my endeavours to play football. He provided me with the inspiration to play football then have a crack at trying to play in the VFL. I was not good enough to play league football but I did manage to play as a 6' ruckman for 10 years at Clayton FC.
Each and every Saturday I gave away between 3-6" in height and 2-4 stone in weight, ran myself into the ground for a footy club. Different level .. same principle.
Players who have to basically play at least 50% above their true ability and produce all the time win my vote .. first second and third. Without Mocca St Kilda would be lacking.
Thanks for everything Allan .. the Saints should immortalize you.
Ken McAvoy
