Bendigo: Tribute planned for Sandhurst teenage sensation John Larsen

Details will be revealed soon about a permanent tribute to Sandhurst player John Larsen, who died as the result of injuries suffered playing country footy, aged 19.

In 1968, one of the Bendigo Football League’s finest young players, John Larsen, 19, died playing the sport he loved.

Now, 56 years later, plans are afoot for the Sandhurst player to be remembered with a memorial picture and plaque at the club’s rooms at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, and an award named after him.

Larsen was the son of Marge and Jack Larsen and worked at the family’s farm at Kamarooka, north of Bendigo.

He was starring at centre half-forward against Echuca at the QEO, pulling down high marks and dominating the forward line.

Rising above a pack at the city end in the last quarter, he took a fingertip mark, but seemed to

overbalance and came crashing to the ground.

Larsen took his kick, but soon after was escorted from the ground by a trainer, holding his head.

The late John Larsen, who played for Sandhurst. Picture: Supplied

He was taken to hospital and released, but readmitted the same night when his condition worsened.

Doctors operated next morning and he was later examined by a neurosurgeon flown from Melbourne by Sandhurst.

He remained in a coma and died a week later on July 7.

Larsen had been concussed in the previous game against Golden Square, and some believed this had contributed to his condition.

Some troubling evidence was aired at a coronial inquest, but it delivered an open finding.

Larsen was the first BFL player to die since Castlemaine’s Ian Brown was fatally injured in a Bendigo-Ballarat match in the mid-1950s.

A superb mark, long kick and a fast runner able to break the packs, Larsen often dominated matches, as a ruck-rover or in key defence and attacking positions.

Behind the move for a memorial are former teammates of Larsen’s, led by Gerard Sheehan, who played with him on that fateful day.

The late John Larsen, circled, in the 1966 Sandhurst under-18s team. Picture: Supplied

Others include brothers Trevor and Peter Keogh, the former of Carlton fame, Carl Brewster, recruited from VFA team Waverley, Shane Higgins and Leo Conroy.

Sheehan, a brother of former Geelong 100-gamer Kevin, who is the AFL’s national talent and international manager, was a classmate and friend of Larsen’s at Marist Brothers’ College, and played with him in junior school teams and Sandhurst under-18s, before they and several thirds teammates including future VFL players Trevor Keogh and Kevin Higgins were elevated to senior ranks.

Larsen, known from his school days as “Tom”, debuted with Sandhurst seniors in 1967 and played 18 games.

Sheehan said Larsen’s death remained at the forefront of his memory.

“We played in two premierships together (under-18s and reserves) at Sandhurst before his death,” Sheehan said.

“John Larsen was so talented that he was ready to play at the highest level.

“His tragic death had a profound impact on Sandhurst. Nildo Munari, the coach, was devastated, along with all his teammates.”

The Bendigo Advertiser coverage of when John Larsen was injured playing for Sandhurst in 1968.

Larsen finished his secondary schooling at White Hills Technical School, where he befriended future South Bendigo footballer Rex Pierce, who is also keen to see Larsen finally recognised.

“Quite a few ex-Sandhurst players are well and truly behind this memorial request for this great player who never really got the opportunity to represent his beloved club, as he was taken far too early from us all,” Pierce said.

“John’s parents passed away heartbroken and could never come to terms with his passing, but as John’s father said to me, ‘at least he got to play football with the one club he always wanted to play with’.”

Sheehan said while the incident happened more than a half a century ago, it was important for Larsen to be formally recognised by the club.

Sandhurst president Mark O’Farrell has backed the idea and said the proposal was highly likely to be endorsed at a committee meeting scheduled this week.

He said he envisaged a framed photograph and plaque, to be placed in the club’s museum.

If an award was to be named after Larsen, options include the rising star or most courageous player, O’Farrell said.

“There are some pictures about, but we’d love a good photo of John if we can find one,” he said.

Larsen was one of a group of outstanding Marist Brothers College players in the 1960s, with 10 later playing with VFL teams, including Geoff Southby, Trevor Keogh, Brian Walsh, Barry Mulcair and Tony Southcombe at Carlton, Kevin Higgins and Kevin Sheehan at Geelong, and Trevor McGregor, a Stawell Gift winner, at Fitzroy.