SWAN HILL GOLD 1985 REUNION - UPDATED
20 years ago, LTU Men were victorious in the Swan Hill IV Games. Trobers of all ages are invited to the Rochester Castle Hotel, Johnston St, Fitzroy this Saturday, 29th October from 3pm onwards to commemorate the occasion.
The victorious team were:
Dave Davies
Mark Batros
Mark Collins
Gordie Spinks
Geoff Brown
Barry Parsons
Andrew Whelan
Tony Holden (Coach)
Following is a recap written by Andrew Whelan, better known to the younger Trobers as Sarge, and current LTU Big V men's coach.
The 1985 I.V. team went to Swan Hill with big hopes, having finished 2nd for the previous 4 years, but with only a small team. When they arrived on the Sunday there were more La Trobe supporters than there were players. After starting the week well the Trobers ran into a red hot Adelaide Uni who gave them a nice touch up. With depth and NBL talent, the Adelaide squad was expected to take out the whole tournament. An SOS was sent out for supersub Barry Parsons who arrived on the Wednesday to bolster the team numbers,bringing it to 7.
La Trobe got back to winning and made the semi final against ANU. After a bruising physical encounter, the red of the Bundoora boys saluted and La Trobe had made it to the final where their earlier nemesis was waiting. Coach Holden changed the starters and the defensive matchups in a masterstroke that kept AU off balance and La Trobe, although down, were starting to grind the softer, and some would say prettier, Adelaide team down. The lack of personnel had left the Trobers teetering on the edge of disaster due to the mounting foul count. First Collins, who had battled hard on Luke, copped his 5th. Then Whelan left with 5 followed by Parsons. With only 4 players left the team needed something special. Enter Batros! Swooping on a defensive rebound, the athletic left hander went coast to coast and launched a 12ft leftie hook shot that swished. Adelaide's resistance waned and the La Trobe team hung on with their greatest IV servant Davies top scoring for his team. The mercurial Marks both had good weeks and the talls, Brown and Whelan, provided a presence and target. Parsons, by just answering the call, had enabled La Trobe to win and not forgetting the grand final MVP Spinks who was Stocktonesque in his finest moments. La Trobe's greatest men's coach, Tony Holden, played an integral part in the triumph, completely outcoaching his opposite number.
These 8 blokes and the touring party still maintain their friendship to this day, so come along and have a cool drink and hear the tales truthful or not and celebrate the history of LTUBC.
The victorious team were:
Dave Davies
Mark Batros
Mark Collins
Gordie Spinks
Geoff Brown
Barry Parsons
Andrew Whelan
Tony Holden (Coach)
Following is a recap written by Andrew Whelan, better known to the younger Trobers as Sarge, and current LTU Big V men's coach.
The 1985 I.V. team went to Swan Hill with big hopes, having finished 2nd for the previous 4 years, but with only a small team. When they arrived on the Sunday there were more La Trobe supporters than there were players. After starting the week well the Trobers ran into a red hot Adelaide Uni who gave them a nice touch up. With depth and NBL talent, the Adelaide squad was expected to take out the whole tournament. An SOS was sent out for supersub Barry Parsons who arrived on the Wednesday to bolster the team numbers,bringing it to 7.
La Trobe got back to winning and made the semi final against ANU. After a bruising physical encounter, the red of the Bundoora boys saluted and La Trobe had made it to the final where their earlier nemesis was waiting. Coach Holden changed the starters and the defensive matchups in a masterstroke that kept AU off balance and La Trobe, although down, were starting to grind the softer, and some would say prettier, Adelaide team down. The lack of personnel had left the Trobers teetering on the edge of disaster due to the mounting foul count. First Collins, who had battled hard on Luke, copped his 5th. Then Whelan left with 5 followed by Parsons. With only 4 players left the team needed something special. Enter Batros! Swooping on a defensive rebound, the athletic left hander went coast to coast and launched a 12ft leftie hook shot that swished. Adelaide's resistance waned and the La Trobe team hung on with their greatest IV servant Davies top scoring for his team. The mercurial Marks both had good weeks and the talls, Brown and Whelan, provided a presence and target. Parsons, by just answering the call, had enabled La Trobe to win and not forgetting the grand final MVP Spinks who was Stocktonesque in his finest moments. La Trobe's greatest men's coach, Tony Holden, played an integral part in the triumph, completely outcoaching his opposite number.
These 8 blokes and the touring party still maintain their friendship to this day, so come along and have a cool drink and hear the tales truthful or not and celebrate the history of LTUBC.
Last Modified on 27/10/2005 10:22
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