DA's Australian Sports History | Podcast on RSS.com

DA's Australian Sports History

DA's Australian Sports History

by DA

Season 2026

1966 Rugby League St George

We look back at Rugby League in Australia as at 1966. At that time the premier competition was the New South Wales Rugby Football League comprising ten teams - all from New South Wales. The mighty St George team were on a 10 consecutive premiership run - but how would they fare in 1966 with the retirement of Captain-Coach Norm Provan. It is a brief look at the league, the Grand Final and the four "immortals" who all played for St George in the 1960's. Norm Provan, Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper & Graeme Langlands. Trust you enjoy the episode. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1966 Australian Rules Football St Kilda

In 1966, the game of Australian rules football was very different. The premier competition was the Victorian Football League. Twelve teams based in Victoria all playing on a Saturday afternoon on suburban grounds. Grounds that were often muddy & wet. The game controlled by one umpires was a stop / start affair.. Players playing in set positions on the field. Drop kicks, flat punts and the coaches message .......... "do not handball on the backline" This episode is simply a snap shot of the game at a point in time. Who were the clubs & their supporter base. How had they fared to date. Who were favoured in 1966. It turns out the best teams of the year were Collingwood, St Kilda, Geelong & Essendon. Who would prevail and how was the game broadcast to the fans. Brings bad fond memories of childhood. Trust you enjoy the episode Thank you balls boys, thank you Hawk Eye. DA

1965 Golf Peter Thomson

Peter Thomson is remembered for his five British Open and three Australian Open titles. His legacy to the game of golf is however far greater. than just as a player. He took the game to all parts of the world where he excelled. He was an administrator, a journalist, commentator and course designer. Born in suburban Melbourne and raised in the post war era, he was a self taught player who first played on the local municipal course access the road from his home. He remained grounded and humble in assessing his outstanding career which extended beyond three decades. His great love was the links styled golf of Britain and Australia. That is where he played his best golf. Never a long hitter of the ball, he was strategic in his play and sought to avoid trouble. This enabled his great success in Europe where the courses and conditions could be less than perfect. Peter's finest win came in 1965, in a British Open field that included Jack Nicklaus & Arnold Palmer. It demonstrated to any doubters that he could beat the best in the world. Trust you enjoy a short tour of Peter Thomson's career. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1964 Swimming Dawn Fraser

Dawn Fraser is considered Australian greatest Olympic champion and greatest female athlete. Dawn won gold medals in the 100m freestyle event at three successive Olympics. She made history as the first female to swim the event under one minute and held the world record for the event for 15 years. Famously, Dawn has also courted controversy. She was banned at age 12yrs through no fault of her own then after the Rome Olympics and finally after the Tokyo Olympics which ended her career. Dawn has also experienced grief and challenging times. Subjects that she deals with openly. Dawn.s background and down to earth, knockabout approach to life has endeared her to the Australian public. She has used that profile to champion causes such as the Olympics and charities, particularly those assisting people with disabilities or disadvantage. There are champions and champions. Of all of those, Dawn stands at the front of the queue. Her life is remarkable. In this episode we look at some aspects of Dawns life with a focus on 1964. Trust you enjoy the episode. That's stumps. DA.

1964 Australian Rules Ron Barassi

Ron Barassi is a legend in Australian Rules football. No player / coach has a greater profile. No one has done more to change the game. No person has done more to promote the game. Ron Barassi played 254 games kicking 330 goals. He coached 515 matches. In that time he was part of six premierships as a player and four more as a coach. The father /son rule was created to enable Ron Barassi to play for the Melbourne FC. He as the first player to play the position of ruck rover. He pioneered the modern game with pace and handball, famously winning the 1970 grand final as a consequence. But it is the personal story that is fascinating. Losing his father in the war. Mentored by the great Norm Smith, Establishing himself as a footballer in a great Melbourne side and his career as a coach. He was hard and a tough task master, but those who could survive under his style of leadership thrived and loved the man. Post his career he was much loved for his passion for the game and knowledge. Ron passed away in 2023 aged 87 years. He has a bronze statue at the MCG. That says it all. To know more of Ron, there is his book Barassi ; The biography. But in today's episode, this is a summary only of some aspects of Ron's football life. Until next time. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye. DA

1963 Netball Joyce Brown

Joyce Brown is remembered as the outstanding coach of the Australian Netball team (the Diamonds). Together they won multiple World titles. Joyce was also a fabulous player in her own right. She was the captain of the Australian team to win the first ever World Championship in England in 1963. She was also selected as a player in the Netball Team of the Century. But the influence of Joyce extends beyond the statistics. Joyce was a pioneer, trailblazer and advocate for both netball and women's sport generally. Much of the popularity which netball enjoys today can be attributed to the work of Joyce - even though she would not hear of it. As a coach, she would make it her business to know her players and build relationships. Her role was not only to make her players better athletes but also to be well rounded people with strong values. Joyce was a coach ahead of her time. Someone who would think differently to the prevailing norm. Someone who would look to other sports to improve her game of choice. This episode is a potted history of Australian netball using Joyce as the vehicle to do so. To learn more of Joyce Brown and her thoughts on sport and life generally, would recommend you to read her book ...... No Limits. Until the next episode. That's stumps. Thank you ballboys. Thank you Hawk Eye.

1962 Cycling Sid Patterson

Sid Patterson was an outstanding track cyclist winning two World Amateur titles in the Sprint & Pursuit disciplines and a further two World Professional titles in the Pursuit event. He won Australian titles on the track in twelve consecutive years. It was a time when track cycling was popular in Australia. Crowds would flock to such events and the main drawcard were Sid Patterson & Russell Mockridge. The two were great rivals, team mates and friends. Their personalities were complete contrasts which made the rivalry even more fascinating. Sid was a man of the people. Reserved by nature. Humble in victory. It belied his competitive spirit. He had a strong work ethic and turned up to each event physically prepared and with an eye for detail regarding his equipment. He was fiercely loyal to Australia and did the country proud in his trips to Europe where he took on the best riders in the world. Sid Patterson passed away age 72 years in 1999. This is part of his story. It includes his most satisfying victory - the Austral Wheel Race in 1962. That's stumps. Thank you ball boys. Thank you Hawk Eye.

1960 Cricket The tied test

Cricket "purists" value test cricket over all other forms of the game. And of all the tests ever played, there is a strong argument to say the first test between Australia and West Indies at Brisbane in December 1960 is the greatest match of all. More the 1400 runs, twenty wickets and a match remembered for outstanding fielding exploits. Wins for either side looking likely at some stage or a draw. Yet the result was none of these. It ended in a "tie". The same score after each side was dismissed twice. But its legacy is so much more than being a great game of cricket. The two captains being Ritchie Benaud & Frank Worrall ensured positive attacking cricket was played in great sporting spirit with mutual respect. The teams, match & series captured the imagination of the public and revived a sport that had become less interesting over recent years. At the end of the series in appreciation, there was a ticker tape parade for both teams through the city of Melbourne.. A trophy was struck in honour of Frank Worrall, the first West Indian captain of colour and that trophy is still contested by the teams to this day. It is a fascinating story. Trust you enjoy listening. But for now, that's stumps. Thank you ball boys, thank you Hawk Eye.

1960 Athletics Herb Elliott

Herb Elliott is rightfully considered one of Australia's greatest ever athletes. What is amazing is that he competed in one Olympic Games only, and had retired by 22 years of age. In that time, he ran 44 times in races over the mile or 1500m and was undefeated. In doing so, he set multiple world records. After athletics he went on to have a successful business career. Herb Elliott attributes much of his success to his eccentric coach - Percy Cerutty and there is reference to Percy in this episode. Trust you enjoy the episode. For now, that's stumps. Thank you linesman, thank you Hawk eye.

1960 Golf Kel Nagle

Kel Nagle is sometimes over looked when we talk of the great golfers that Australia has produced. This is an oversight. Kel Nagle won tournaments every year from 1949 to 1975. This included the British, Australian and New Zealand Opens. He also lost a play off for the US Open in 1965 in dramatic circumstances. With no golfing background, not having played the game until age sixteen and not picking up a club from nineteen years of age until twenty-four (due to the war), Kel would go on to become a champion golfer. His wins were in fields containing the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer & Peter Thomson. What endeared Kel Nagle to others was his calm, understated and humble demeanour. He was universally liked and respected. This episode is a small sample of the life of Kel Nagle. Would encourage you to read further on golf in the 1950's & 60's including Peter Thomson, Norman Von Nida & Kel Nagle. Thats stumps, thank you ball boys, thank you Hawkeye. DA

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