Courtesy of Herald Sun
DARREL Baldock is the first to concede his football life was blessed with magic moments -- although if he had the chance, he would change the greatest, most defining experience of his unique career.
The man the football public knew as ``Mr Magic'' and was simply ``Doc'' to his teammates wishes that, on that September Saturday almost 40 years ago after St Kilda had won its first and still only premiership when it beat Collingwood by a point, he hadn't swapped jumpers with Magpie skipper Des Tuddenham.
That was four days before his 27th birthday and last night Baldock, now 76, was again recognised for his greatness when he was elevated to a legend of the game in the Hall of Fame.
The most famous photo in the Saints' history -- Baldock holding up the 1966 premiership cup wearing black and white vertical stripes -- is one Baldock refuses to look at.
He heartily wished the AFL rule that prohibits the swapping of jumpers after the final siren had been introduced back then.
``It's the only regret I have. When I saw that photo I instantly regretted having the Collingwood jumper on,'' Baldock recalled this week.
Baldock said last night's
recognition was ``unbelievable, actually. I really can't define it.
``At my age we're talking about something [football career] that was almost 50 years ago,'' adding with good humour: ``I'd like to be in the same condition, but I'm not.''
The Baldock story is remarkable, his skill as a player incomparable.
Captain of St Kilda's Team of the Century as well as Tasmania's Team Of the Century, his amazing achievements began from the outset of his senior career.
He played for Tasmania at 18 and when he was only 20 and the youngest player on the senior list, he became captain coach of his beloved Latrobe Football club. A challenge? You bet.
``It was very daunting, yes,'' Baldock said.
``I had no idea what the reaction would be -- blokes who had been playing for 10 years or more, how they would take instructions from me.''
Naturally there were old dogs who undermined and would do new tricks for the ``pup'' in charge, but the experience would stand Baldock in good stead when he returned to coach Latrobe to four consecutive flags after his VFL career with the Saints had ended.
Lost in history is his first trip to Victoria as a 16-year-old when he visited for two weeks during school holidays just to have a look while staying with relatives.
Baldock caught a train from Flinders St just to have a look at the famous MCG and ran into another East Devonport boy, Peter Marquis, who went on to be a triple premiership player with the Demons. Within half an hour Baldock, wearing Hall of Fame inductee Stuart Spencer's boots, was training with Melbourne.
His mercurial skills would ultimately lead to three St Kilda best-and-fairests, four awards for leading goalkicker and captaincy of the
1966 All-Australian side before returning home in 1969 for more great exploits, including leading Tasmania to a shock win over Polly Farmer's Western Australian team.
``I've been very, very lucky in the fact that my whole career had those sort of moments,'' he said.
* Baldock has been immortalised in a portrait by acclaimed artist Jamie Cooper to celebrate his induction as a legend in the AFL Hall of Fame. To place an order phone (03) 9292 1928 or go to
Herald Sun Online Shop
For information on Darrel Baldock's playing career and acheivement's, click here...
Last Modified on 23/06/2006 13:39