CLARENCE great Stuart Spencer last night became only the eighth Tasmanian to be inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Spencer joined Roy Cazaly, Peter Hudson, Ian Stewart, Darrel Baldock, Royce Hart, Laurie Nash and Ivor Warne-Smith on the honourboard of the AFL at an induction dinner in Melbourne last night.
"It came as very much of a surprise. It's something totally unexpected,'' Spencer, 73, said. "I have some wonderful rewards out of football and this is just the icing on the cake.''
Victorian-born Spencer came to Tasmania in 1957, turning his back on a brilliant 122-match VFL career with Melbourne.
He walked away from the Demons for love and family at the age of 24, giving up his VFL career but eventually becoming a legend in Tasmanian football.
Before leaving, and through the vision and attention of coaching great Norm Smith, Spencer had emerged from the back pocket to become a Demon rover and superstar.
Spencer was Melbourne's leading goalkicker and best and fairest in
1955 and a member of the premiership side.
The following year he was again best and fairest, kicked five goals and was best afield in the grand final to ensure the Dees went back-to-back.
Then he was gone. Spencer and his Tasmanian-born wife Faye packed up and moved to Hobart.
"Money was never a motivating force for my commitment to football,'' Spencer said.
"My family was seeking assistance in a management role down in Hobart, that was the reason why I left Melbourne at such a young age.''
"On reflection, with the benefit of hindsight, had we had the opportunity again Faye and I would never have done that.''
"It's too late to look back on it now but yes, we turned our backs on some wonderful opportunities,'' Spencer said.
"My expectations of financial reward were not great and never have been.
"All I wanted out of life was to make the grade as a footballer.
It's not for me to judge, but perhaps I did all right.''
Indeed he did. Four consecutive best and fairests highlighted his career with Clarence, but what will be remembered on both sides of Bass Strait was that day in 1960 when he was best afield and led Tasmania to a famous victory over Victoria.
Spencer returned to the Demons to serve on the committee and was club president for six years from 1986-91.
He still lives in Melbourne.
Spencer was named first rover in Melbourne's team of the century, just more acknowledgement of his playing achievements, as is the Stuart Spencer stand at Bellerive Oval where he became a Tasmanian football legend.
He traded VFL stardom for family, for chook raffles and bottle drives around the Clarence area and in both spheres he fitted in perfectly as a true gentleman and great footballer would.
Last Modified on 07/06/2005 10:15