Ando’s Shout: Joel Selwood closing in on all-time VFL/AFL captaincy record
Only five men in VFL/AFL history have captained more games than Joel Selwood – and whether he surpasses them or not will depend on one thing.
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Joel Selwood’s desire to play beyond this season may still see him surpass Stephen Kernahan’s 226-game record as a club captain.
Selwood, 33, will need at least another season to break ‘Sticks’, given no player will ever equal the record of North Melbourne’s John Cassin, who in 1977 (when the Grand Final was drawn) played 27 games in a season.
That can’t happen as the Grand Final replay was replaced by extra time in 2016.
Most AFL games as captain:
1. Stephen Kernahan (Carlton) 226
2. Dick Reynolds (Essendon) 224
3. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) 220
4. Ted Whitten Sr (Footscray) 212
5. Michael Voss (Brisbane) 210
6. Joel Selwood (Geelong) 200
KAH’S DEEDS AMONG BEST IN WORLD
IF competing against men and regularly beating them is the measuring stick, then jockey Jamie Kah might just be the finest female sportswoman this country has produced.
In fact, why stop at Australia, for it’s very hard to find any woman worldwide who has taken on men at their own game and given them such a shellacking.
Before Saturday’s Caulfield meeting, 25-year-old Kah had ridden 66 winners for the 2020-21 season to lead the Victorian jockeys’ metropolitan premiership by a staggering 25 from Damian Lane and Damien Oliver and keep her in touch with the magical figure of 100 in a season.
Harry White, 77, who won the jockeys’ premiership four times as well as riding four Melbourne Cup winners among his 2112 victorious rides, has no doubt as to Kah’s abilities.
“Horses just run so well for her because she’s kind to them,’’ he said.
“Horses aren’t stupid. Keep whipping them and they won’t run.
“Jamie Kah could ride without the whip and, when she does use it, she doesn’t overuse it. You have to ride with the rhythm of the horse, which she does so well.
“She is clearly the best female jockey I have seen and I’m not surprised she’s beating the men because she is riding better than any of them.
“I just love watching her ride.”
Women who beat the men:
1. Danica Patrick (NASCAR)
2. Zhang Shan (Skeet shooting)
3. Julie Krone (jockey)
HOOPS TALK WITH A STEELY GAZE
When choosing a name most synonymous to a chosen Australian sport, Gaze and basketball is a promising start.
They are to hoops what the Cummings family is to horse racing or the Abletts to Australian rules, a father and son team in Lindsay and Andrew who had some form of Olympic Games involvement — 11 times from 1960 until Andrew carried our flag at Sydney in 2000.
Thankfully, Lindsay Gaze OAM, 84, has put his remarkable story to print in Gaze: The Man, The Player, The Coach ($29.99 wilkinsonpublishing.com.au).
He answered some questions during the week.
JA: Name some of your most memorable Olympic moments, Lindsay.
LG: Ron Clarke literally running his heart out in the altitude of Mexico City in 1968, Bob Beamon jumping out of the long jump pit at the same Games and the controversial end to the 1972 gold medal basketball match between the Soviet Union and the US.
JA: I know you don’t like to compare eras, but who are some of the names you would choose in your all-time Olympic basketball squad?
LG: Wlamir Marques, who captured all the greatness of Brazil in the 1950s and ’60s, Arvydas Sabonis, who dominated the Moscow Olympics for the Soviets would be my starting centre and Bill Bradley of the USA, a Rhodes Scholar who the Soviets called “Mr Shootnik” in 1964.
JA: Would Michael Jordan sneak in?
LG: In 1996, the US coach was leaving his hotel after breakfast for training when Jordan was entering on his way home. I asked him how he dealt with the situation and he replied “Michael is hyperactive and only requires a couple of hours’ sleep”.
JA: Other squad members?
LG: Kresimir Cosic from Yugoslavia, shooters such as Eddie Palubinskas, Oscar Schmidt and Andrew Gaze would be handy.
HUXLEY FAREWELLED
A who’s who of Melbourne’s racing media farewelled Ray “Hucca” Huxley at the Malvern Vale Hotel on Thursday.
Favourite “Hucca” yarns were aplenty, such as the Monday evening at Olympic Park dogs where he was hailed as a zoophilist (animal lover).
As would sometimes occur in the old jump races, one dog hit a hurdle and bit the dust early in the race.
Huxley promptly jumped the fence and picked up the injured dog, carrying it to safety as the field raced on. He was naturally declared a hero, much to his amusement.
“I’d had $1000 on the favourite which was leading and didn’t want the thing that fell staying on the track, making it a no-race,” explained Huxley, before breaking out with his trademark guttural laugh.
secrets of ray’s success
ON the subject of Ray Huxley, he, like many punters, lived his life by certain rules — some of which were unique.
Ray Huxley’s golden rules:
1: The best cure for a hangover is a cold stubby in the shower.
2: When on radio, the stubby should be replaced by a single malt whisky.
3: Never wear or be seen near persons in green on race day.
4: When unsure of a person’s name, address them with a hearty “ahhhh, yes matey”.
5: If you win, then in the best traditions of Richard Dreyfuss you must “let it ride”.
AUSSIES SET THE PACE
As the Olympics get close to reality, Australian distance running continues to undergo a renaissance of the like not seen since the 1950s.
That was the era of giants such as Herb Elliott, John Landy, Albie Thomas, Trevor Vincent, Jim Bailey, Merv Lincoln and Don MacMillan.
The new wave is led by Australian 1500m record holder Stewart McSweyn, followed by a highly competitive group including Matthew Ramsden, Oliver Hoare, Charlie Hunter, Ryan Gregson, Luke Matthews, Jordan Williamsz and Rorey Hunter.
WOOL MAKING MARK IN CHALLENGE
Thirty eight years after our greatest triumph on sea, could it be the noble Australian merino will be part of an Italian victory come March off the coast of Auckland?
Three years ago, some astute planning from Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) saw its Woolmark logo placed on the sails of Italy’s America’s Cup entrant Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli.
Co-skippered by Australia’s Jimmy Spithill, the Italians are 5-1 up on INEOS Team UK (first to seven wins) for the right to challenge defending champions Emirates Team New Zealand.
“We wanted to put wool in an unexpected and performance context, such as the Italian sailors standing in a shower while retaining wool’s water-resistant effect,” said AWI CEO Stuart McCullough.
“The lack of live sport around the world has proved a bonus in terms of viewing numbers, plus the spectacular nature of the races.”
SHARK BAND OF BROTHERS
They do things in a family way down at the Sorrento Sharks, with some sort of history to possibly be created when they play arch rivals Rosebud in Round 1 of the MPNFL this season.
The Sharks are a good chance to have four sets of brothers in their senior line-up, with Myles and Leigh Poholke, Mitch and James Hallahan, Luke and James Brigden plus Ethan and Matt King.
GRAND ’POPPY’ STILL TOPS, BUT ART CLOSING
Rick McLean has been involved in the harness racing caper for more than 50 years, and has never seen a more brilliant pacer than Popular Alm in the 1980s.
“Poppy” won 49 times from 62 starts (seven seconds, three thirds) and while McLean doubts we will see a faster horse, he concedes David Moran’s five-year-old Lochinvar Art is something very special.
“The scary part of Lochinvar Art is he appears to be getting better,” said McLean, who has owned more than 400 winners in standard bred racing.
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