Inside the intriguing career of two-time Geelong premiership player George Goninon

George Goninon stirred up opponents, kicked bags of goals and helped Geelong to two premierships. But his career had an abrupt end. His flag teammate Bill McMaster reflects on his legacy.

George Goninon back in 2007.

George Goninon was certainly an interesting Cat.

The dual Geelong premiership player, who passed away last week at the age of 96, was chock-full of confidence but he walked the talk on the field.

And that was where he proved to be a nightmare match-up for defenders – in more ways than one.

His flag teammate Bill McMaster, 93, now the only living player from Geelong’s invincible side that won back-to-back premierships in 1951-52, remembers one dominant display from the antagonistic forward down at Punt Road vividly.

Geelong players Bob Davis, Bernie Smith and George Goninon (right).

“This day at Richmond it was a very cold, wet day it was. The player he was playing on was a very good strong player,” McMaster said.

“It started to rain and it started to hail, well George had one of the best days that I saw him play. I think he kicked about 11 goals. He kept having a go at this bloke all the time, calling him for everything and whoever it was took his eye off the ball and was concentrating on George.

“George would answer him back and kick another goal, he had a marvellous day.

“He was different – he was perky, used to chirp, is the word I suppose.

“He’d always have a chat to the player he was on telling him that he’d kick 10 goals on him and he’d always get his opponent fired up.”

One of the pioneers of the drop punt, Goninon’s most memorable performance was his massive bag of 11 in the 1951 preliminary final against Collingwood – to this day the equal highest individual goalkicking tally in a final.

This wasn’t enough for Goninon, though, who felt he was robbed of one goal that was ruled as a behind by the umpire.

And he was eventually proved right when VFL general manager Jack Hamilton conceded as much.

George Goninon kicked 11 against the Pies in the 1951 semi-final. Picture: Bob Gartland Collection.

“The day after the prelim final when he kicked the goals, I was talking to him on the Sunday morning and congratulated him. And instead of being very happy about it, he really went off and said ‘they’ve taken a goal off me!’” McMaster chuckled.

“He called up for everything, ‘I kicked another goal and they haven’t given me that goal!’

“I don’t remember the goal I just remember the furore about it and it proved he was right.

“He was a little bit different but all I can say is he was a very good drop punt kick for goal.

“He was confident, cocky, a very accurate kick. He was universally the player that started the drop punts, there wasn’t too many players kicking drop punts before he came along.”

OFF FIELD CONTROVERSY

After moving over from Essendon after being stuck behind a handy forward by the name of John Coleman, the Burnie product filled his boots at the Cats, leading the club’s goalkicking in four of his five seasons.

He would finish with 278 games across 78 games for Geelong, including 86 majors in 1951 and 59 in 1952 as a pivotal part of their premiership years

However, there could have been more goals for Goninon and more trophies in the Cats’ cabinet.

A mainstay in the dream team that won a 23 consecutive games from 1952 to 1953, a VFL/AFL record, Goninon was sensationally dropped after the 1953 semi-final despite having kicked 65 goals for the season.

Goninon later claimed he was axed by coaching great Reg Hickey because of an off-field controversy.

George Goninon back in 2007.

The Cats lost the 1953 grand final by 12 points to Collingwood and didn’t make the 1954 decider after finishing as minor premiers.

McMaster believes Geelong would have made it a three-peat if Goninon was out there.

“If he’d have played to his general standard the side would have won, yes. I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” McMaster said.

“He was always dangerous (in finals). He was so confident, if he got the ball you could almost say that it was a goal.

“Look people have their own opinions (why he was dropped) and I certainly don’t know.

“Even I knew ‘Hick’ very well and he never ever mentioned it to me. I have no idea what happened.

Goninon was cut from the Cats 12 months later, kicking 23 goals in 11 games in his final season.

FLAG YEARS

Goninon’s death means McMaster, is the only surviving member of that famous side.

He went on to coach the club for two seasons in 1971-72 in what he describes as a “poor” tenure, and then was the club’s head recruiter for a decade.

McMaster is unsure how it stacks up to the 21st century Cats side that won three premierships in five years – but they were certainly on a bit more money than McMaster and his Goninon.

Bruce Nankervis and Bill McMaster (right) back in 2015. Picture: Mitch Bear

“I used to rock up on a Saturday, get my money and then buy a cardigan or buy a jumper or something like that,” McMaster said.

“It wasn’t much, put it that way. You could count it pretty quickly.”

The former ruck and forward is still enjoying life and looks back at the memories of those premierships fondly.

“I’m very pleased I’m still here. I saw them come and go,” McMaster said.

“We had a very good side. We had a very good spirit, Hick was coaching, Hick was coaching well and the club overall there was a great spirit amongst the players. Fred Flanagan was at centre half forward, Bob Davis was at his best.

“It was just one of those sides that comes around every now and again.

“You don’t get that very often, you have to have particular players and Hick was a very strong coach and he wouldn’t stand for any nonsense.”

Originally published as Inside the intriguing career of two-time Geelong premiership player George Goninon