It would be reasonable to expect that a player who missed out on getting a run on the ground during Footscray's only Premiership victory in 1954 might be somewhat aggrieved. But there is no animosity from 19th man, Angus Abbey.
At the time of the Grand Final victory, players on the bench only got a run if someone was injured.
Unlike today, where the interchange bench is virtually used as a rotational tool. Abbey's role in the Grand Final was to replace Martin, Gallagher or Donald in defence, should they get injured. Abbey's fellow team mate and bench warmer, Jack Nuttall, also did not take the field that day.
In an interview to be shown at this week's 1954 Celebration Gala Dinner at Crown Palladium, Abbey jokingly says, 'We were hoping one would get a corked leg or not too bad, a broken arm or something…but it didn't happen…unfortunately, they were so intent on winning the game (and I've got no argument with that), that they forgot about Jack and Angus.
We had a great seat, had a look at what was going on, but we thought, at the end of the day, we'll get changed and go home'. Asked if he had a shower after the game, Abbey laughingly responds, 'There was no point.'
Captain-coach Charlie Sutton, offered his apologies to the two reserves after the game. 'When we got in the bus…Charlie walked up to me and said, "I'm sorry fellas, I'm sorry". He was apologising for not getting us on.'
Abbey considers himself lucky to have been part of Footscray's only Premiership side. He virtually retired from VFL football during 1953, due to the pressures of starting a new business venture.
Sutton stepped in and persuaded him to keep training, saying, 'Stay fit, you never know, you might be needed.'
So, Abbey came back in 1954, and was emergency for the 2nd Semi-final before receiving the nod from Sutton that he would be a late inclusion in the side, when Sutton ruled himself out with a leg injury.
Abbey needed to borrow some shorts before the game and found himself on the ground halfway through the first quarter when the unlucky Lionel Ryan slipped a disc in his knee.
Abbey performed well at half forward for the remainder of the match thereby retaining a spot on the bench for the Grand Final.
According to Abbey, he had to pinch himself outside the MCG on Grand Final day. It was like a dream for him to get that far, let alone taste Premiership success.
Abbey had grown up about a mile from the Western Oval where, like most kids of that era, he kicked a newspaper football around the streets. On match days, he could hear the cries of the crowd.
Remarkably, Abbey never played competition football as a teenager and only played one season of senior football (with the Waratahs in the Footscray District League), before accepting an invitation to train with Footscray. To his great surprise, he made the final list.
Abbey is content with what he achieved at Footscray. 'I've played in five finals, what more could one ask.
I would have liked to have had a kick in the Grand Final, no question about it…I played in the first Semi ever won, the first Preliminary final ever won and [was] part of the team of the [only] Grand Final that was won in 80 years. I mean, that'll do me.
Thanks very much,' he says. Not bad for a bloke who had 'retired' in 1953.
