If the formation of the Sydney Swans in 1982 was a turbulent period for the officials and supporters of the South Melbourne club, spare a thought for the players.

 

“When we went on an end of season trip to Manila the playing group was split,” former South Melbourne player Brett Yorgey recalled. “Half wanted to go to Sydney, the other half preferred to stay.” The fact was that the club was broke, and there was no other option than to go to Sydney.

 

The transition was interesting to say the least for the players who eventually wore the red and white of the new club in round one under new coach Ricky Quade, but for those on the borderline of selection it was chaotic. “I had played all the pre season games, but missed out on selection when the round one teams were posted,” Yorgey said.

 

That was the beginning of a whirlwind period for the former North Albury premiership player.

 

“The South Melbourne(Sydney) seconds played in the VFL competition. After missing senior selection for the first game of the season I played 2-3 games in the South Melbourne seconds. It was after that they asked me to go and play with Williamstown in the VFA for the remainder of that season. I decided that Perth was a better option after a call from Jack O’Dea who was the General Manager of the Demons. I flew over Friday night for Saturday’s game.”

 

As a result, when Sydney played their historic first home game on the Sydney Cricket Ground against Melbourne on Sunday 28^th March, Yorgey had already played a seconds match with Perth against South Fremantle at Lathlain Park on Saturday the twenty seventh.

 

Son of Dennis Yorgey, who played seconds with North Melbourne before coaching for many years in country football, Brett was a late convert to football, preferring to concentrate on basketball as a teenager. He was no slouch on the court, touring New Zealand with a regional representative side. Yorgey was among a group of players recruited by South Melbourne in 1981, with Anthony Daniher and Dennis Carroll among the others, and he represented the club in a night match against Essendon at Waverley.

 

“Going to Perth was among the best things I did over my football career,” Brett told us.

 

“Playing with great guys, it was an experience with many fond memories and lasting friendships. I played under Ian Stewart, Ricky Quade, Leigh Matthews and Rob Wiley, but regard Malcolm Brown as without peer among coaches. He had a way with people, which got the best out of them.”

 

Yorgey was initially surprised at the standard of West Australian football.

 

“I hadn’t heard much about WA players, apart from Stephen Michael and a few others, and I was taken aback at my first experience, especially the good club sides of that period, Swan Districts, Claremont, West Perth, Subiaco, and East Perth. The preliminary final of 1986, in which Perth were beaten by Subiaco, was the equal of any game I played in.”

 

After playing the first game of 1982 with the seconds, Yorgey spent three weeks on the sidelines before debuting for the Demons against Claremont. “I played on Noel Morton as I got my first taste of the powerful Claremont combination,” he said. The arrival of Brown and his assistant coach, Claremont legend Kevin Clune signalled a memorable few seasons for Brett. “They were enjoyable people to be around,” Yorgey recalled. “1984,85, and 86 were my best years of footy.”

 

Brown’s coaching bag of tricks proved to be an eye-opener for the new recruit.

 

“One day he came into the rooms with a heart, which he proceeded to tear apart until there was just a small portion left on the table. “That’s what you blokes showed last week,” he ranted. In the background was Whitney Houston singing “The Greatest Love Of All.”

 

On another occasion he had us all laying on the ground holding hands in a circle with “Jonathon Livingston Seagull” wafting through the speakers and appropriate bird sounds. “That’s how you should play the game,” he said.”

 

Yorgey was there when the infamous microphone smashing incident took place.

 

“It was during the seconds game against West Perth when Brett and Dean Farmer were reported by the umpire. Brownie walked onto the ground and said: “That’s it, everyone off.” West Perth player Peter Murnane reportedly made a comment to which Malcolm took umbrage and found himself held by the throat by big Mal. The microphone incident was a sequel that happened during a break in the league game when a reporter attempted to interview Brown about the shenanigans.” Even the reporter found it humorous.

 

One of Brett Yorgey’s most painful yet unusual injuries occurred in a Perth match.

 

“I jumped across an opponent when going for the ball, and in the process got flicked in the testes. It felt OK for a while but eventually I had to leave the field. I was living with Mick “Stinger” Rea at the time, and when the area had swollen to grapefruit proportions he took me to hospital. I spent Monday in there as a prize exhibition, with a parade of female nurses checking it out. When a doctor came in and commented: “It will have to be removed,” I began to panic, and requested a second opinion.”

 

“The upshot was that for six weeks I had to use a syringe to pull blood out of there before taking the field.”

 

Hard at the football, with a long penetrating kick, Yorgey was well suited by the local conditions, and whether playing in the centre, as a clearing half back, or hard working forward, he became one of Perth’s most consistent performers over his initial five seasons at the club, before being signed by Collingwood in 1987. “I’d spoken with Melbourne and Footscray, but Collingwood seemed to be the keenest, so I went there,” he said.

 

His Collingwood debut was against Geelong, and his direct opponent was West Australian Mark Bairstow. “Our big ruckman, Wes Fellowes, cleaned Mark up, and the poor bugger was looking decidedly groggy, which suited me, and I managed a few kicks while he staged a slow recovery. To my chagrin, I noticed him go to the bench, and that was when Gary Ablett sidled up to me. Fortunately, the ball steered mercifully clear of us.”

 

Yorgey collected nineteen possessions and kicked two goals in his first outing with the Pies and remained in the side for the remainder of the season, with the exception of the last game. After playing with the seconds for the first half of 1998, he was persuaded by Perth to return for the second half of the season. The Demons were on the cusp of the four with six wins from their first eleven fixtures and went on to collect another six from the remaining ten rounds, but just missed out on finals action.

 

Brett was selected in the New South Wales side that defeated Western Australia by two points under lights at Adelaide Oval in a State of Origin clash in March, 1988.

 

In 1989, Yorgey was appointed captain-coach of VFA club Port Melbourne.

 

“On the first training night I couldn’t believe my eyes,” he recalled. “There was a bloke setting up a stall selling watches.”

 

“It was an interesting couple of years. The club wasn’t doing too well(we finished eighth in the first year and tenth in the second), and there were plenty of hardcore supporters not backward in letting you know their opinions of your coaching and playing abilities and perceived deficiencies.”

 

Brett relinquished his coaching duties but remained for an extra season as a player before hanging up the boots.Twelve years later son Tom joined Hampton juniors, and thus began a new involvement for Yorgey on the other side of the fence. His association with Hampton Junior Football Club has been a long and enjoyable one, with West Australian Mark Brayshaw also a keen supporter of the club.

 

Brayshaw was President of the Board Of Management while Yorgey was Juniors President.

 

Tom Yorgey represented the club in SMJFL Interleague teams. The competition for places is fierce with hundreds of boys to pick from in what is one of the strongest junior competitions in Australia. Hampton fields teams from under nines to under nineteens, as well as a senior and reserves side, and is represented by twenty four sides.

 

Married to Leanne, Brett also has a daughter, Emily, who is an accomplished dancer.

 

Golf and the kids account for most of Brett Yorgey’s leisure time these days. He takes his role in junior football very seriously, and has produced a players development document. “It’s all about the development of our kids as people, not just football,” he said. “We need to foster self belief in the whole group, not just the ones who happen to be blessed with the most ability. They should be allowed to play in a variety of positions, not pigeonholed as a back or forward pocket player, and our coaches are instructed to give all the kids at least three quarters on the field regardless of the state of play.”

 

Brett named Leon Baker(Swan Districts and Essendon), Peter Thorne(East Perth and Claremont), Noel Morton(Claremont), and Murray Wrensted(East Fremantle) as tough competitors, and added kudos for South Fremantle’s Stephen Michael as a great player and Swans Ron Boucher as an imposing figure on the football field. “I saw him grab Rhett Baynes by the throat one day, and was in fear of the bloke’s life.”

 

Brian Cousins, Rob Wiley, Mark Watson, Mick Rae, and Chris Stasinowsky were some of the great players he played with.

 

“My debuts for Perth and Collingwood took place on beautiful days,” Brett Yorgey reflected. “It was symbolic of my exceptionably enjoyable experiences at both clubs, and I look back at those years with fond memories.”

 

An entertaining chat with Brett Yorgey is highlighted by his love of the game and commitment to the next generation who play it.

 

It is not known if his CD collection includes Whitney Houston or Jonathon Livingstone Seagull.