Wang Rovers great named as eighth O&M legend

Six more players have been inducted into the Ovens & Murray Hall of Fame plus a champion forward, who kicked more than 1000 goals, became a legend.

Wangaratta Rovers’ champion Steve Norman has become the eighth official legend of the Ovens & Murray Football-Netball League for a career highlighted by seven premierships and more than 1000 goals.

After a modest start, that included being overlooked for the Rovers’ 1970 grand final team, Norman made his presence felt for the rest of the decade.

Norman, who died last year, kicked 1016 goals, second only to another O & M legend, North Albury’s Stan Sargeant, who booted 1096 goals.

Wangaratta Rovers champion Steve Norman has been elevated to a legend of the Ovens & Murray league.

Norman’s first century of goals came in 1975 when he kicked 118 and two years later he booted 115 including bags of 15 and 13.

The 1977 season was particularly sweet with the Rovers avenging a grand final loss to arch rival Wangaratta the previous year.

Norman, who possessed explosive pace and brilliant judgment, kicked six or more goals in 68 of his 242 matches.

Neville Hogan, another O & M legend, coached four premierships Norman played in and described him as an exceptionally “versatile” player.

“I would regard Sargeant as a Doug Wade or Jason Dunstall type full-forward and Norman more an Alex Jesaulenko type,” he said.

“He didn’t have to mark the ball.

“He could pounce on it on the ground, he was quick and catlike.

“Few players could judge the ball off the boot better.

“He would be just as happy to have a mongrel punt wobble off the boot come his way than a good pass.

“He suited us and we suited him which made him such a good player.”

Albury’s Daniel Maher played in six flags for the Tigers.

Norman’s elevation to legend took place on Wednesday night at the annual Hall of Fame induction evening that began 20 years ago and has seen more than 100 of the league’s greatest footballers and netballers and club and league officials honoured.

Inductees this year were six-time Albury premiership player and former coach Daniel Maher and the late Jim Matthews, who also played for Albury in the 1940s and 1950s and won four club best and fairests and twice finished runner-up in the Morris Medal.

Wodonga's Des Richardson has been inducted into the Ovens & Murray Hall of Fame.

Matthews also excelled at tennis and went close to representing Australia in the Davis Cup.

Dual Corowa-Rutherglen premiership midfielder Carl Dickins and Wodonga star Des Richardson were also inducted.

Terry Burgess, who won the Morris Medal in the 1983 season he had Gary Ablett as a teammates, joined his sister Lindy in the Hall of Fame.

North Albury’s Fiona Boyer is the latest netballer to be inductee in a career highlighted by four A grade premierships as coach.

Myrtleford's Terry Burgess won the O & M Morris Medal in 1983 when Gary Ablett played for the Saints.