Retrogram: Footy’s most iconic photos

Alex Jesaulenko soars over Graeme 'Jerker' Jenkin in the 1970 Grand Final. Picture: Bruce Howard Source: News Limited

WITH NEWSPAPER photographers making headlines — Fairfax media plans to make 75 per cent of its exceptional shooters redundant and outsource much of its photography — it is worth considering the significance of the sporting photograph.

Many of the greatest athletic moments live on in our memories because they were captured by a photographer patiently crouching on the boundary.

Consider the only two tied Test cricket matches to have occurred in the more than 2000 matches played since 1877.

The 1960 tied Test at the Gabba lives large in my mind, largely because of the superb shot of the West Indies celebrating Joe Solomon's brilliant run-out of Australian tailender Ian Meckiff off the scheduled second-last ball of the match. The photograph was taken by The Age's Ron Lovitt — with the last negative left in his camera.

Twenty-six years later Australia was involved in another tied Test, against India in Chennai (formerly Madras). The result was sealed when Australian spinner Greg Matthews trapped tailender Maninder Singh lbw, again, off the scheduled second-last ball of the match.

But because there is no enduring photograph of the moment, that match takes on a more hazy, nebulous existence.

In sport, a picture captures a thousand commentator's superlatives.

So this week Retrogram takes a different tack. Rather than finding 10 obscure or bizarre football photographs, we've decided to list 10 of the most iconic images in the history of the Australian game.

There is one rider: because spectacular marks dominate Australian football's imagery, we've chosen just one specky to represent the dozens of grabs captured on film over the years. It is the first photograph mentioned on this list. So apologies to the likes of Michael Roach, Warwick Capper, Gary Ablett, Jeff Farmer and Gary Moorcroft — and to those who captured their screamers.

Other than their absence, if you have any feedback about other iconic images not listed here, leave a comment below or post a tweet at @_warwickgreen and we'll publish a selection next week.

Veteran sports photographer Clive Mackinnon with his most famous picture. Source: News Limited

1. ALEX JESAULENKO (Carlton) 1970

"Jezza'' took his screamer over Collingwood ruckman Graeme "Jerker'' Jenkin on the biggest stage of all — before a record crowd of 121,696 at the 1970 Grand Final.

The graceful and elegant athleticism of the mark makes it the defining image of the game.

A couple of years ago, the Herald Sun's Matt Stewart spoke to Sun photographer Clive Mackinnon about the moment. Mackinnon, Bruce Howard (The Herald) and Dennis Bull (The Age) sat in their usual position in the Members Stand at the MCG, while Allan Funnell (The Australian) fired off shots from just inside the boundary.

During the second quarter Bull pulled out a bag of Minties and offered them to his colleagues. "Then I looked up and yelled out, 'Look out, the ball's coming back!','' McKinnon recalled.

With no rapid-fire shutters in those days, the photographers clicked just one frame each. "Can you believe it? If I hadn't yelled out I'd have had the picture all on my own,'' Mackinnon chuckled. "As it was, we all got this amazing picture.'' Mackinnon captured Jezza with his hands outstretched about to pluck the ball. In Funnell's frame, taken a split second later, the ball is clasped to the Blues' forward's chest.

Nicky Winmar lifts his jumper and points to the colour of his skin at Victoria Park. Picture: John Feder Source: News Corp Australia

2. NICKY WINMAR (St Kilda) 1993

The image of St Kilda star Nicky Winmar lifting his jumper and pointing proudly to his skin is a seminal moment in the history of race relations in Australia.

Winmar made the gesture in response to racist taunts from the Collingwood crowd at Victoria Park in 1993, but were it not for some outstanding photojournalism, the significance of moment might well have been lost.

Herald Sun photographer Wayne Ludbey, who at the time was working for the Sunday Age, heard Winmar defiantly telling the fans "I'm black and I'm proud of it'' and knew the significance of both the photograph and the story. He lobbied for the image and the story to appear on the front page.

His colleague John Feder also captured the moment, which was used as the main image on the front of the Sunday Herald Sun, although in the context of St Kilda recording a "gutsy win''.

Peter Crimmins is surrounded by Hawthorn premiership stars Bernie Jones, Brian Douge, Ian Bremner, Alan Martello, Peter Knights, Barry Rowlings and John Hendrie. Source: News Limited

3. PETER CRIMMINS (Hawthorn) 1976

Hawthorn captain Peter Crimmins had surgery and chemotherapy for testicular cancer after the 1974 season, and had narrowly missed selection in the 1975 Grand Final, despite desperately wanting to play.

In the rooms before the 1976 Grand Final, coach John Kennedy read the Hawks players a telegram from Crimmo: "Good luck to you and all the boys. It will be a long, hard, 100 minutes but I am sure you will be there at the end. Regards, Peter Crimmins''.

The Hawks were determined to "do it for the little fella" and went on to defeat North Melbourne by 30 points. That night several of the players took the premiership trophy, christened "Crimmo's Cup", to his home in Croydon, where they posed for a photograph with their gravely ill mate.

"Crimmo was sick and dying and the boys took the cup out to him so that he could lay his hand on it because he was very much a part (of winning it),'' former Hawthorn captain David Parkin recalled in 2009. "He hung on for that. To see the joy on his face when the boys came out to see him — that picture is etched in my memory for life."

Crimmins, a father of two, died three days later. He was just 28.

Ted Whitten does a lap of honour with his son at the MCG. Source: News Limited

4. EJ WHITTEN (Footscray) 1995

A MUCH more public celebration of the life of one of football's greats came at the 1995 State-of-Origin match between Victoria and South Australia at the MCG.

Before the bounce, a crowd of 64,186 watched Footscray premiership star Ted Whitten, who had come to be known as Mr Football, do a lap of the ground in an open-topped car with his son, Ted Jr.

While Mariah's Carey "Hero" played over the loudspeakers, Whitten blew kisses to and saluted the fans. When he reached the commentary boxes, Whitten, who was so ill he could barely see, offered his famous "stick it up 'em'' gesture.

Ted Whitten Jr later recalled: "Whatever everybody thought of him over the years, whether they loved him or hated him, I think they appreciated the fact that he wasn't well and it was their opportunity to say goodbye.''

Exactly two months later, E.J. Whitten died of prostate cancer, aged 62.

Roy Cazaly flies for the footy. Source: News Limited

5. ROY CAZALY (South Melbourne) 1922

The former St Kilda and South Melbourne ruckman's aerial feats were so renowned that the cry of "Up There Cazaly'' was apparently used by some diggers as they headed into action on the battlefields during World War 2. It also became name of Australian football's greatest anthem.

The photograph that has come to epitomise the catchphrase shows Cazaly leaping for a hitout in a ruck contest against Essendon's Norman Beckton.

Melbourne coach John Northey and Jim Stynes after the 1987 preliminary final. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Supplied

6. JIM STYNES (Melbourne) 1988

MELBOURNE coach John Northey was clearly unimpressed that ruckman Jim Stynes had given away the 15m penalty that helped Hawk Gary Buckenara kick the matchwinning goal after the siren in the 1987 preliminary final.

Northey was waiting in the rooms and when the 13-gamer appeared the coach launched into him.

Photographer Wayne Ludbey, who had walked off the field with the Melbourne players, captured the moment superbly. It was only years later, when Stynes met and married Ludbey's sister Sam, that it dawned on the Irishman who had taken the photo.

"It was not until years later that Jim bailed me up on the fourth green on Kyneton golf course and demanded, 'Did you take that photo?' He said it was the worst day of his life and he thought of that moment every day," Ludbey remembered.

Stynes embraced the 1988 moment and used it to drive him on to get more out of his football career and life in general.

Michael O'Loughlin kicks the winning goal in the 2006 qualifying final. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

7. MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN (Sydney) 2006

THERE have been some great images of football fans interacting with the crowd, but none better than this image of Swans forward Michael O'Loughlin roaring at West Coast cheer squad members after kicking the goal that delivered a qualifying final win over arch-rival West Coast at Subiaco Oval.

The passionate moment was captured beautifully by News Limited photographer Phil Hillyard, earning him the Australian Football Media Association award for the most outstanding action photo, a rarity for a shot that does not have a football in the frame.

Jack Dyer on the prowl. Source: News Limited

8. JACK DYER (Richmond) 1944

THERE are numerous photographs of footballers that have become so synonymous with the player that they have been replicated in statues.

Think of Ron Barassi and Ted Whitten launching into their distinctive kicking actions. Then there is Bob Davis and Haydn Bunton Sr leaping though the air.

But for mine, one of the best is the image of Richmond captain-coach Jack Dyer breaking clear during the 1944 preliminary final against Essendon at the Junction Oval.

"Captain Blood'', whose vigorous playing style had probably started to catch up with him by the age of 30, is pictured with a bandage on his left hand and another on his knee. Normally a ruckman, Dyer lined up at full-forward that day and booted nine goals in the Tigers' 21-point win.

The powerful image was the inspiration for a statue at Punt Rd Oval, a painting commissioned by the AFL in its centenary year, and the logo used by Channel 9's The Footy Show.

Essendon full-forward John Coleman leaves Harrison House in 1951. Source: Supplied

9. JOHN COLEMAN (Essendon) 1951

FOOTBALL heartbreak has always lent itself to some dramatic photographs: Mick Malthouse consoling Paul Licuria after the 2002 Grand Final; devastated Saints Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke after the 2009 premiership decider; Tony Liberatore celebrating what he thought was the goal that put the Dogs through to the 1997 Grand Final.

But for emotion at its rawest, look at this image Essendon champion John Coleman leaving Harrison House in Spring St on the eve of the 1951 finals series.

The 22-year-old spearhead, a premiership player the previous two seasons, is pictured weeping freely on the shoulder of committeeman Ted Waterford. Coleman had just been suspended for four matches for striking Carlton's Harry Caspar, who was jeered by the crowd as he left the tribunal.

Goal umpire Roy Allen had testified that Coleman acted under extreme provocation, saying: "If I'd been in the same position, I probably would have done the same thing myself."

Essendon would go on to lose the Grand Final to Geelong by 11 points.

Leigh Matthews and Terry Daniher clash at halftime of the 1990 Grand Final. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: News Limited

10. LEIGH MATTHEWS (Collingwood) and TERRY DANIHER (Essendon), 1990

COUNTLESS footy scuffles have lent themselves to timeless photographs, notably the 1974 Windy Hill brawl and the 1985 Grand Final stoush. But rarely is the photographer in the midst of the action.

The Herald Sun's Craig Borrow was in the thick of it at halftime of the 1990 Grand Final when the two teams came of the MCG, having punched on at quarter-time, with Bombers skipper Terry Daniher knocking out Collingwood's Gavin Brown with a square-up punch.

Borrow was right behind TD's left shoulder at halftime as he engaged in a verbal altercation with Pies coach "Lethal'' Leigh Matthews, who reportedly told him in no uncertain terms that Brown would be back.

Essendon's Tim Watson later recalled that Matthews came at Daniher "like a madman''.

The image was so strong that Rupert Murdoch, in town for the Monday launch of the Herald Sun, insisted that the front page be remade with the photograph splashed prominently, above the headline "Lethal's Weapon''.

The first edition of the Herald Sun after the merger of the Herald and the Sun in 1990. Source: Supplied

RETROGRAM RECALL

Last week Retrogram featured 10 classic music videos featuring footy players showcasing their singing skills (or lack thereof) .

From Warwick Capper via Twitter: "There's none better (than I Only Take What's Mine). Hit #1 and hung the mic up ! I almost choked on my cornflakes when I saw Jacko in top 10 this morning !''

Retrogram says: If only you had "hung the mic up". I seem to recall you and Jacko combining in the late 1990s for an attempt at a techno track called Rippin' Undies. Fortunately no version of that particular musical travesty seems to exist on the world wide web.

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