John Smith the seventh official Ovens and Murray league legend

Ovens and Murray league legend John Smith relives the “rugged” gameplay of country footy in the 1970s and ‘80s.

David Johnston

4 min read

July 27, 2023 - 2:46PM

The Weekly Times

By his own admission, John Smith played football on the edge.

In an era of only one umpire and long before match review panels existed, players knew they could push the boundaries in the physicality stakes and often did.

Smith played 316 matches for four Ovens and Murray clubs from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and is widely regarded as one of the best and toughest of his time.

His standing in the league will be further recognised on Saturday night when he becomes the seventh official legend of one of the oldest and strongest competitions in the state.

But nearly 40 years on since he last played, he admits to crossing the line on occasions.

“It was pretty rugged,” he said.

“If you didn’t stand your ground, you were gone.”

In 1973 playing for North Albury, Smith experienced the highs and lows of his career.

He romped home by five votes in the Morris Medal and won the first of three North Albury best and fairests.

North Albury and Benalla were the season’s standout teams with Benalla winning the second semi-final by nine points before North Albury set up a grand final rematch with a similarly tight preliminary final win.

Ovens and Murray legend John Smith played the bulk of his career with North Albury. Picture: Supplied

North Albury felt the best way to premiership glory was to unsettle Benalla physically, but the tactic backfired big time.

“Without a doubt we were the best side,” Smith said.

“Things got a bit screwed up in the days leading up to the grand final and what happened on the day.

“We were a very physical side, but we overplayed our hand in that area.”

North Albury lost the grand final by seven points and Smith was reported for striking and suspended for six weeks in a move that would have costly repercussions 12 months later.

After serving his ban from the previous year’s grand final, Smith again topped the medal voting.

But even though he had a clean playing record in 1974, he was ruled ineligible to complete back-to-back medal wins with the honour bestowed upon Corowa’s Alan Way, who had finished one vote behind.

Smith maintains the decision to make him ineligible was made up on the spot because the league hierarchy wasn’t clear on the rules relating to such situations.

John Smith has become the seventh official legend of the Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Despite previously hoping the matter would one day be revisited, Smith said: “It’s all done and dusted now.

“It’s 40 years ago.”

Smith first played in the O&M for Rutherglen, aged 17, when his brother-in-law, the late Frank Hodgkin, was appointed coach after a successful stint with Ganmain.

Hodgkin first played in the O&M with Myrtleford in the late 1950s before joining St Kilda.

In his debut VFL season, Hodgkin was awarded the Saints’ best first-year player.

But like many of the time, he preferred the country lifestyle over the bright lights of Melbourne.

Smith idolised Hodgkin.

“If you didn’t give 100 per cent he didn’t want to know you,” he said.

“He was the best footballer the O&M produced because he had the likes of Jimmy Sandral and Brian Gilcrist to deal with as opponents.

“They were champions, but Frank was (180cm) tops and played centre half-forward against all those great players.”

Smith’s first taste of coaching came at Wodonga before returning to North Albury.

In 1980, Smith played in his only O&M premiership team with North Albury, which became the first team to win the flag from the elimination final.

It had only four wins after 12 rounds, but didn’t lose another match before beating Wangaratta Rovers in the grand final.

Ovens and Murray Hall of Fame legend John Smith. Picture: Supplied.

The Rovers dominated the 1970s with seven flags in the decade with Smith still in awe of their achievements.

“I take my hat off to Wang Rovers because they were well trained, well disciplined and their turnover of players from one year to the next was minimal,” he said.

“They were the measuring stick and there was nothing wrong with that.

“It’s up to the other clubs to match that standard.”

Smith grew up on a dairy farm at Tallandoon in the Mitta Valley with his football career winding up in the 1980s when he coached Mitta United to a flag in the Tallangatta and District league.

Electricity wasn’t connected in the area until 1965 with Smith’s lifelong childhood memories including coming home from school and kicking the football with his brother Peter until dark.

“It was our upbringing. We just loved footy,” he said.

“The enjoyment I then got was watching my sons play the game and my greatest love now is watching my grandchildren playing netball and footy and seeing them get the same enjoyment I did as a kid.”

One of his sons, Joel, played 221 AFL matches with St Kilda and Hawthorn.

Also being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year are North Albury’s Daniel Leslie, Albury’s Matthew Fowler, Benalla’s Richie Castles, Wangaratta Rovers’ Tony Pasquali and Myrtleford netballer Anndrea Crisp-Sullivan.