Neville Elwin 1985

Saturday, 17 September 2005 05:00

After the retirement of point scoring machine and Sea Eagle legend Graeme Eadie at the conclusion of the 1983 Grand Final, Manly struggled to find a reliable goal kicker whose general play was good enough to maintain a first grade spot.

During the 1984 season then coach Bob Fulton hoped players like Steve Hegarty or Tony Melrose would fill the void left by Eadies departure. Both players either struggled with form or consistency with the boot during the 1984 season.

As a result Fulton put feelers out across the footballing
After the retirement of point scoring machine and Sea Eagle legend Graeme Eadie at the conclusion of the 1983 Grand Final, Manly struggled to find a reliable goal kicker whose general play was good enough to maintain a first grade spot.

During the 1984 season then coach Bob Fulton hoped players like Steve Hegarty or Tony Melrose would fill the void left by Eadies departure. Both players either struggled with form or consistency with the boot during the 1984 season.

As a result Fulton put feelers out across the footballing world in an effort to find a goal kicker who would be able to win matches in the defence orientated game of that era. Generally not more than a handful of points separated teams in the mid 1980s and an accurate goal kicker meant competition points.

A player who had represented Country from the Newcastle district for a number of years came under Fultons radar. His name was Neville Elwin, a tough nuggetty half or five eight, Fultons scouts watched him play the 1984 Newcastle Grand Final and he kicked an amazing 11 goals from 11 attempts.

Could this unknown toe poker be the last piece in Fultons jig saw puzzle?

Elwin arrived at Brookvale in 1985 and far from being a tough nuggetty half he was more like a slow, overweight, road bump.

He did however play one first grade game for the Sea Eagles on the wing. From memory it was at Brookvale but I cant recall the opponents however after missing every shot at goal he attempted during the game he was relegated to Reserve Grade never to be seen again.

To put it kindly, Elwin found the jump from country to Sydney football extremely difficult and never lived up to the reputation he had earnt as a footballer & goal kicker in the bush.

So after 1 game and no points for the Sea Eagles, Elwins footballing career in the big smoke was at an end.

I would like to be able to provide a happy end to this story but thankfully I never heard for Elwin again after 1985 although he may have represented Country again in the following seasons.

Neville Elwin a goal kicker who missed the mark.

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