By Marcus Uhe
Pakenham Football Club royalties converged on Toomuc Reserve on Saturday for the 50-year reunions of the club’s 1973 and 1974 senior football premierships in the West Gippsland Football League.
15 former champions whose names will live on in folklore at the club made it upstairs to the R.L ‘Cracker’ Jackson grandstand to reminisce and remember the halcyon days.
Pakenham was the team of the region in the early 70s, winning a hat trick of premierships under the leadership of Captain Coach Barry Graham.
In 1974, a three-peat was completed with a thrilling one-point victory over Kooweerup, snatching the lead in the dying stages through a Keith Popovits running goal.
Greg Atkins was just a teenager making his mark at the club when he was selected for the 1973 and 1974 sides, before going on to set the record at Pakenham for most games played at the club with 327, seven of which ended with a premiership medal around his neck.
Walking into a side that was already dominant, there was a defining trait that Atkins remembers of the team that still rings true 50 years after the third and final triumph.
“Team camaraderie and a good atmosphere and a good coach,” were the keys to success in Atkins’ opinion.
“We were big with off-field camaraderie, going out and having a bit of a celebration afterwards.
“We all loved the game and loved one-another’s company and just made a good team out of it all.
“Barry Graham was a great on-field leader and any time we were down, he would do something, like take a screamer or kick a goal.
“He had that ability to do something when you needed it.”
He still keeps a momento of his successes in the early years in a prime location at his home, walking distance from the arena where he etched his name into history.
“I got a flag with the side written on it, I’ve got a beer fridge out in my shed and I’ve got it hanging up there,” he said.
“It all comes back to you, the blokes that you played with.
“We should have it more often, I think.”
1973 Grand Final
Pakenham 22.14 146 def Kooweerup 13.8 86.
Pakenham Goals: B Graham 8, P Bennett 4, W Milner 3, Greg Board 3, C Bransgrove 2, L Jackson, M Fletcher, D Cook. Best: B Smethurst, P Bennett, B Graham, N Cameron, D Young, C Webster C Bransgrove, Gary Board.
Kooweerup Goals: P Woodhouse 3, P Colthrop 3, A Roberts 2, D Anderson 2, R Ingram, V Ventura, G Roberts. Best: R Ingram, L Pepe, P Woodhouse, G Roberts, A Roberts.
1974 Grand Final
Pakenham 12.7 79 def Kooweerup 11.12 78.
Pakenham Goals: P Bennett 3, B Graham 2, D Warford 2, K Popovits 2, T Adams 2, L Jackson. Best: B Graham, C Bransgrove, L Jackson, M. Parker, D Cook, K Burns.
Kooweerup Goals: J Ingram 2, R Ingram 2, S O’Hehir, A Stevens, G Needham, W Esler, I Roach, P Woodhouse, G Roberts. Best: I Roach, J Glasscock, R Ingram, S Ventura, L Pepe, P Thompson, G Roberts.
