Trugo: the homegrown Melbourne sport you’ve probably never heard of

BELIEVE it or not, there’s a sport many Melburnians outside the inner western and northern suburbs don’t know about. So what is it? And why don’t more of us know about it?

WHEN the late chef and raconteur Anthony Bourdain came to town seeking out Melbourne experiences, he didn’t attend an AFL or cricket match.

He eschewed the hallowed turf of the MCG for the humble green of the Brunswick Trugo Club.

Easily winning bragging rights against food writer and MasterChef Australia judge Matt Preston while filming for his travel series No Reservations in 2009, Bourdain shed light on a sport unheard of for many Melburnians outside the western and inner-northern suburbs.

TRUGO SET TO RETURN TO FOOTSCRAY

BEST SUBURBAN FOOTBALL GROUNDS IN MELBOURNE

This hybrid of croquet and lawn bowls, with a little Aussie Rules thrown into the mix, was invented by Newport railway workers in the 1920s — hence its strong links to the western and northern suburbs.

Player Bert Smith assumes the unique Trugo stance in 1958.

It involved hitting rubber rings, which were old shock absorbers from train buffers, with a sledgehammer down a 27.5m path similar to a lawn bowls rink.

To this day trugo pitches remain, as first played, the length of the old “red rattler” train carriages.

Teams usually consist of eight people who each have 24 shots, standing with their backs to the goals and swinging their mallets (easier to wield than sledgehammers) between their legs to hit the ring.

Historical accounts differ regarding the origins of the name ‘trugo,’ with one article stating it was dubbed in honour of the initials of Tom Grieves, a Newport workshops worker in 1927 who is believed to be the father of the sport.

Other stories refer to someone calling out “that was a true go” on one occasion when a ring was hit between the posts.

Players Jan Lines, Jack Edwards, Carol Edwards, Cheryl Waldron and John McMahon at Melbourne’s oldest trugo club, Yarraville. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

Laying claim to the first trugo club established in 1937, Yarraville is also one that has managed to survive where other clubs have folded.

Yarraville Trugo Club stalwart John McMahon said the number of clubs had whittled down over the years, with clubs in Prahran, Carlton, Coburg, Moonee Ponds, Newport, Preston, Reservoir and Williamstown now closed.

Now only Yarraville, Sandridge, Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, Brunswick and Ascot Vale remain.

After shutting down in 2009, Footscray will make a victorious return to the trugo fold this year, following backing from Maribyrnong Council and a resurgence in the sport.

Liana and Stuart Lucca-Pope take their shots, with their backs to the goals of course.

While some clubs started out with a 60-65+ age limit, the rules have since relaxed to encourage more people to play.

Mr McMahon was introduced to trugo by his father and, having played the sport for 27 years, said he was constantly surprised a lot of people were unaware of it.

“We still come across people who’ve never heard of the game,” Mr McMahon said.

“Because we play between about 10am to 3pm, there are people who walk past us to and from the station who don’t know what we do.”

“After Anthony Bourdain filmed the show we heard from Americans wanting to know about it but I don’t know if started playing.”

The sport also scored a starring role in The Don of Trugo a fictional short film, shot in Footscray and at the Yarraville Trugo Club, which screened at the Yarraville Festival in 2003.

“A guy from Holland contacted us and bought some gear which he took back home with him,” Mr McMahon said.

“We played against his team over dial-up internet. We won because we had the best players from every team.”

Footscray Trugo Club in 1949. Picture: Supplied.

Mr McMahon, 88, said they were always looking for new players and said the sport was great for any age from schoolkids to seniors.

“It’s a light activity but it keeps you walking and moving,” Mr McMahon said.

“It’s also a good social activity to get you outdoors.”

For more information see the Victorian Trugo Association.

MORE LOCAL NEWS:

INTERNATIONAL BEER DAY: WHERE TO FIND MELBOURNE’S CRAFTIEST COLDIES

MORE PLANES TO BRING MORE NOISE TO THE NORTHWEST