Vale Kevin Threlfall: Geelong doctor, board member and president’s impact on the club over three decades

Kevin Threlfall was a renowned figure at the Cats, and he helped Sam Newman reach an historic milestone. A Cats great and a former vice-president reflect on Threlfall’s legacy after his passing.

Sam Newman had been plagued by ankle injuries for years.

The Geelong legend managed to reach 300 games – at that stage a club record – despite these concerns, and club doctor Kevin Threlfall was pivotal in getting him there.

Ankle injuries were far more devastating at the top level in the 1970s with the lack of treatment available.

Medical magician Dr Kevin Threlfall strapped Newman with moleskin tape sourced from the United States. Geelong great Bruce Nankervis recalls it being “special” at the time, but it is now commonly used.

It had a significant effect, allowing Newman to prolong his career and reach the 300-game milestone.

“Sam was the only one that could have the tape because it was a special tape and Sam had a number of problems with his ankle,” Geelong great Bruce Nankervis said.

“They brought it in from overseas there’s no doubt that it helped Sam play on and helped Sam play a number of games. He was very innovative Kevin, he always looked at something different.”

This was just one of many recovery stories from long-time Geelong doctor and board member Threlfall, who passed away at the age of 94 on November 27.

Kevin Threlfall (right) with Sam Newman and trainer Barry Finn. Picture: Geelong Advertiser/Bob Gartland collection

Another involves Nankervis himself, who had struggled with a groin setback.

The doctor took Nankervis to America in the mid to late 70s, where Nankervis received valuable advice from medical experts that had a different approach to practitioners in Australia.

Threlfall also treated American footballers on that trip and had such success with his inferential therapy machine that those players wanted it for themselves.

“We treated a number of gridiron players with it and there was one particular player who had a fair bit of swelling,” Nankervis said.

“After a couple of treatments that started to disappear and they showed a lot of interest. By the time we left basically they wanted to buy the machine and do this and do that but because it came through customs you couldn’t do that.

“And by the time we came back after those weeks my groin was improving, just from isometric exercises and things like that they taught us, which was good.”

Two revered members of the AFL Draft field also benefited from the innovation and meticulous care of Threlfall during their playing days.

Former Geelong Falcons talent manager Mick Turner, who notched up 245 games across a 14-year career for the Cats, and AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan (102 games) were both helped through injury blows by Threlfall.

He served as club doctor for 25 years from 1958-1983, and players were always welcome at his practice on Villamanta Street in Geelong, where there were plenty of gadgets that nursed them back to health.

Kevin Threlfall made an enormous contribution to the Cats. Picture: Geelong Advertiser/Bob Gartland collection

HIGHS AND LOWS

Threlfall was with the Cats through the good times and the bad.

In the early years of his tenure Threlfall was medical officer when Geelong won the 1963 premiership.

Two decades later, he helped guide club through financial peril.

The Geelong life member was renowned for his medical work, he also sat on Geelong’s board for 27 years from 1960-1987, including four years as president of the club from 1983-1987.

Former Geelong vice-president Bob Gartland spoke highly of Threlfall, saying that his legacy still lives on at the club.

“He was a true Geelong man in the pure sense of that phrase. He loved Geelong, he loved Geelong Football Club and Geelong Football Club and Geelong people loved him,” Gartland said.

“He did a great job at our club, he was a great servant for our club when things were pretty tough. He has been there for the best and the worst of it.

“He was a caring fellow and I can’t remember one bad comment about Kevin Threlfall. He was just a very generous, giving, caring person to everyone he met. His care for the players was paramount and he was quite innovative too with the things.”

Bruce Nankervis (left) with Corey Enright and Ian Nankervis in 2017. Picture: Pat Scala

Nankervis said the hard work and sacrifice of Threlfall led Geelong in the right direction.

“When he was president, when he started in 1983 there were issues within the club financially and things like that so he steadied that,” Nankervis said.

“Kevin kind of stabilised it all and headed it in the right direction.”

Nankervis will speak at Threlfall’s funeral on Wednesday, where the much-loved figure will be remembered.

“He was a character, he always had a bit of a hum about him. You’d hear him humming – humming was one of his ways with all the medical things going on,” Nankervis said.

“But very supportive of us at the football club. I have spoken to a number of players and no one had a bad word about him.”

Originally published as Vale Kevin Threlfall: Geelong doctor, board member and president’s impact on the club over three decades