Duncan Wright and the 'Somerville incident' of 1965

[Woods]

A story on the AFL website recounting a famous (infamous?) incident in a Collingwood/Essendon match back in 1965.

Worth a read.

Eg.

That Wright had hit Somerville is not in dispute, but the motivation remains debated.

Wright is adamant he was provoked, insisting Somerville "started mouthing off and niggling" before back-heeling his shins and then "squirrel-gripping". He says he warned Somerville three times to quit it or else, but Somerville "didn't take any notice".

"I wanted to put a stop to it, and I did. It mightn't have been too smart, but it's too late (to change it) now."


http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-04-22/tears-for-a-pies-enforcer-the-story-of-collingwoods-duncan-wright

[Pies4shaw]

I was there. Somerville fainted.

[Culprit]

I remember Wright fixing up Somerville in 1990.

[RudeBoy]

I was there and I clearly remember my mum saying "if that Somerville doesn't stop niggling Wright, Duncan Wright will flatten him". It seemed like a minute later we noticed Somerville unconscious on the turf and Wright standing about 5 metres away looking up the ground. Unfortunately we lost the game.

[RickyWatt23]

As mentioned in the article it probably cost us the flag in 1966 as Duncan was in our best 18 - hard at it but a horrible kick - who knows, he probably would have been in our 1970 side and Teddy Hopkins wouldn't have got a kick! I remember clearly that it seemed really weak from the club at the time and their reasons didn't ring true with the average fan.

[Flashman]

No real justification for Wright to do that to Somerville though is there?

A niggle is part and parcel of football and he grossly overreacted.


It was lucky that Somerville didn't end up like John Greening to be honest and we are still (quite rightly too) filthy about that incident.

Wright had form too. He was suspended for 8 weeks for a couple of incidents against Geelong as well and all this for a bloke who only played 20 odd games.

He was a thug and Bobby Rose was spot on in pissing him off from the club.

[Woods Of Ypres]

[HAL]

When was this exactly?

[Neil Appleby]

Dark day for the club and I remember feeling a bit ashamed. Collingwood was right to get rid of him I think. I knew his wife professionally and still run into her socially; good woman.

[Dave The Man]

1st Time I ever hard of this

[Piesnchess]

I was pretty young way back then, but I do recall the incident well, im pretty sure it was also Len Thompsons first game, and he did well. What Wrighty did probably warranted at least 10 weeks suspension, I reckon the club was a bit harsh on him, really. It was nothing compared to what that violent thug Odea did to Greening several years later, pales into insignificance, and that bastard Odea was made a friggin life member by the Saint Vomit Board. everytime we play those tossers, I want us too beat the shit outa them, cos of greening, even last week. !

[Flashman]

[David]

[3.14159]

I remember back in 1990, one Kevin Sheedy tried to use the incident to fire-up his team before that years grand-final.
Sheedy wanted vengeance for the son and cited the presence of player with a similar name out there and it was up to the Bumbers redress this tragic injustice here on the ultimate field of battle!!!
Apparently it went down like a lead balloon.
Most of team weren't even born then and those were had no idea what he was talking about.

In the end it was good ole Banksie that did the niggle on Spawn that won us the dae so in end end I reckon we came out on top.

[Mossi]