Border Mail – Alywn Schmidt, Bert Haynes, Roy Batson, Gary Drew and Ian Schilg inducted into Hume league Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame Inductee videos & transcripts can be accessed here

ALWYN SCHMIDT

The Jindera stalwart made a huge contribution as a player and administrator.

His playing career started in 1929 and finished in 1950 after 351 games which is the second highest in the Bulldogs’ history.

Schmidt played in premierships in 1929 and 1946, won the club best and fairest in 1935 and was invited by St Kilda to pre-season training in 1937.

Unfortunately, family circumstances at the time prevented him from taking up the offer so he became secretary of Jindera.

This started an unbroken run in the role (only divided by WW2) of 33 years, finishing with his passing in 1975.

Each year the winning team in the Hume league’s reserve grade competition is presented the Alwyn Schmidt Memorial Shield.

BERT HAYNES

‘Bertie’s’ been a beauty for the Brookers.

He started his career with Holbrook in the Farrer Football league schoolboy competition and went on to play 360 senior games for the Brookers between 1967 and 1983.

He had one season with Tumbarumba in 1976.

Haynes played in an under-16 premiership in 1962 and reserve grade premiership in 1966 before playing in the 1970 Holbrook senior premiership win over Collingullie.

He represented the Farrer league on 12 occasions and kicked over 700 goals.

Haynes coached Holbrook in 1977 and 1978 and led the Brookers in their inaugural season in the Tallangatta league in 1981.

He was a three-time best and fairest winner and came runner-up in the Farrer league’s Baz Medal in 1968.

Haynes won the Upper Murray’s best and fairest in 1976.

He was one of the finest kicks for goal of his era.

Haynes served 23 years on Holbrook’s committee, including 10 as president – the second longest term as president in the club’s history.

ROY BATSON

Batson’s standing as a footballer was clear when the great Norm Smith paid him a visit in the 1960s.

While the great Melbourne coach was unable to convince him to make the move to the city, the Howlong footballer left a huge mark on the Hume league.

He is widely regarded as one of the Spiders’ greatest players after finishing with 235 senior games.

Batson coached his beloved Spiders for two years, starting at the age of 21.

He played a starring role in the club’s 1971 premiership win over Walbundrie at Brocklesby and won the 1967 Azzi Medal on a countback from Rand’s Bob Matthews.

Batson also finished in the top three on four occasions including runner-up in 1972.

He was the league’s leading goalkicker in 1966 and Howlong’s chief goalkicker on four occasions despite playing most positions on the ground.

GARY DREW

Drew’s no-nonsense approach was nurtured while playing rugby league at Yanco Agricultural High School.

He went on to play 300-plus senior matches for Brocklesby, picking up best and fairests in 1978, 1982, 1985 and 1987.

One of the few honours to escape him was a premiership, with the Roos losing grand finals to Walla in 1983 and Henty in 1984.

Drew represented the Hume league on 15 occasions, captaining the competition twice.

He also spent many years umpiring.

Off the field, Drew spent a decade as secretary and was a key figure in the successful merger of Brocklesby and Burrumbuttock.

IAN SCHILG

Schilg’s playing career started in 1946 and, by the time it was completed, he had played 275 matches for Brocklesby over almost two decades.

Among many highlights was the 1950 premiership victory, when Brocklesby defeated Jindera by 20 points at Balldale.

Schilg also played in losing grand finals in 1949 and 1953.

He missed the Brocklesby premiership in 1958 with injury.

Schilg, along with his wife Dorothy, was awarded life membership of the club in 1983.

In 1989, he was awarded a VCFL medal for service to country football.

His administration career and service to the club and league spanned over three decades, taking on many roles including 11 years as president and five years as secretary of the club.

In a golden era for the club, Schilg’s administrative and recruiting skills saw Brocklesby compete in four grand finals between 1976 and 1984 but unfortunately for the Roos they were runners-up in all four premiership deciders.

Schilg’s three sons, David, Neil and Ross, played a combined total of almost 700 games for the club, with David one of only five players to have played 300 or more games for the Roos.