At a function at the Latrobe Football Club, AFL Tasmania Chief Executive, Scott Wade announced the eighth Legendary Team of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame; the Latrobe team of 1970.
The Latrobe Demons team of 1970 was coached by Tasmanian Football Icon, Darrel Baldock, and their victory over Clarence in the Tasmanian State Premiership Final was the high water mark of Latrobe’s golden era from 1969 to 1972.
This era of sustained success by Latrobe was also arguably the most dominant period for any one club in the history of football on the North-west Coast.
Latrobe had enjoyed two highly successful eras in the early 1920s and early 1930s, but had not tasted premiership success since 1933.
The return of Darrel Baldock from a seven season stint with St Kilda was rightly treated with great anticipation in 1969 and the hope that he would, at long last, return Latrobe to pre-eminence.
The Demons fans did not have to wait long as ‘The Doc’ was perfectly equipped and qualified to mould talented individuals like John Jillard, Bob Hickman, Denis 'Mary' Smith, Ken Luxmore and Rod Butler into a consistently winning combination.
The win in the 1969 NWFU decider over Wynyard began a sequence of 6 consecutive grand final appearances for Latrobe Football Club from 1969 to 1974 and a record breaking four consecutive premierships in the NWFU. As well, during this golden era they annexed the 1970 state title with a win over Clarence and were runners-up in 1971 and 1972.
The state premiership win in 1970 was the only one in the long and proud history of the Latrobe Football Club.
The official induction of the ‘Team’ will take place on 6 July at the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame gala function at Wrest Point Casino.
Last Modified on 12/06/2012 17:06