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Peter Crimmins
Captain Courageous
1975 team with Peter Crimmins (middle, second row) captain. (Courtesy Hawthorn FC). How many do you know? The answer is below (don't cheat!)
I only recently knew of this book about the life and times of Hawthorn's dynamic rover Peter Crimmins.
Before I received a copy of the book, Crimmo: the Peter Crimmins story, just released, I was focusing on how quickly I could put a story together for this weekend. When the book arrived it was a toe-breaker - nearly 500 pages!
I opened the book and figured that I could scan this pretty quickly to get the gist of a few deciding footy matches and the basics of the story. Wrong!. It took me a whole morning just perusing 100 pages (or less). It was funny, educational, thrilling, awe-inspiring, beautifully-written and a fascinating, intricate and emotional tale of one of football's all-time greats from growing up in the country to his tragic death in the prime of his life.
Crimmo: the Peter Crimmins story author, Dan Eddy, had complete access to family records and describes Crimmins’ remarkable life-long impact from on family and friends, clubs, teammates and Australian football.
Before I received a copy of the book, Crimmo: the Peter Crimmins story, just released, I was focusing on how quickly I could put a story together for this weekend. When the book arrived it was a toe-breaker - nearly 500 pages!
I opened the book and figured that I could scan this pretty quickly to get the gist of a few deciding footy matches and the basics of the story. Wrong!. It took me a whole morning just perusing 100 pages (or less). It was funny, educational, thrilling, awe-inspiring, beautifully-written and a fascinating, intricate and emotional tale of one of football's all-time greats from growing up in the country to his tragic death in the prime of his life.
Crimmo: the Peter Crimmins story author, Dan Eddy, had complete access to family records and describes Crimmins’ remarkable life-long impact from on family and friends, clubs, teammates and Australian football.
With hawk in 1975. (Courtesy Gwen Crimmins)
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In full flight against Carlton. (Courtesy Gwen Crimmins)
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Peter Crimmins was always the shortest of his peers, particularly in the sporting arena, yet he never let stature stand in the way of achieving all he set out to accomplish. The second of five boys to country copper, Bryan Crimmins and wife Merna, Peter's determination and will to win was evident from his childhood days in Shepparton. Once, Peter hid older brother Barry's football boots so that he could replace him in the team later that day; that Barry was captain meant little to his brother!
On the hallowed Main Oval of Kilmore's famed Assumption College (ACK), Crimmins once kicked 10 goals in a game, and many astute judges still say he was one of the finest to ever wear the college's light and dark blue uniform. Indeed, such was his sporting prowess during his two years at ACK, only Crimmins and Neale Daniher were later selected in Assumption's greatest ever football and cricket teams.
On the hallowed Main Oval of Kilmore's famed Assumption College (ACK), Crimmins once kicked 10 goals in a game, and many astute judges still say he was one of the finest to ever wear the college's light and dark blue uniform. Indeed, such was his sporting prowess during his two years at ACK, only Crimmins and Neale Daniher were later selected in Assumption's greatest ever football and cricket teams.
Doing commando training in 1968. (Courtesy Inside Football)
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Crimmo and wife Gwen (nee Blum) on their first date in 1968. (Courtesy Gwen Crimmins)
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With Gwen, Ben and Sam in 1975. (Courtesy The Age)
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Crimmins' feats at VFL club Hawthorn are, to some degree, widely known: consistent ball-winning rover, took on players far bigger, State representative, 1971 premiership player, captain for two seasons, and one of the most admired combatants in the game's history. But Crimmo is more than just a story about a footballer done good. Peter Crimmins was a family man and great mate to so many, no matter their background.
Peter's union with wife Gwen (nee Blum) remains one of football's greatest love stories. According to Australian Football legend Leigh Matthews, Peter and Gwen were the glue that kept the Hawthorn team together during the late-1960s and early-1970s; a period when the 'family club' moniker came into being.
Peter's union with wife Gwen (nee Blum) remains one of football's greatest love stories. According to Australian Football legend Leigh Matthews, Peter and Gwen were the glue that kept the Hawthorn team together during the late-1960s and early-1970s; a period when the 'family club' moniker came into being.
Peter and Bob Keddie (in 1971) were two of Hawthorn’s emerging young
stars of the late-1960s.
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When Crimmins famously fought his battle with testicular cancer, which ultimately claimed his life at just 28, his remarkable determination to return to football not once, but twice, inspired so many, including the children and their families who were enduring similar fights to his against the dreaded disease; his funeral, held just days after Hawthorn won the 1976 premiership, revealed the impact Crimmins had made on so many. On that day, Melbourne witnessed an outpouring of grief unprecedented for a footballer. The Peter Crimmins Cancer Research Fund, launched after he died, raised thousands of dollars for cancer research.
Crimmins' spirit lives on decades after his passing, which is why Crimmo - a sporting story, a love story and a social history all in one - is such an important tale which everyone should read. Peter survives through Gwen and their sons Ben and Sam, who were four and two respectively when their dad died. Also through the many teammates and opponents he played with, including Peter Knights who, to this day, when inducting a new recruit or staff member at Hawthorn, enlightens them with tales of the 'Little Fella' and the impact that he had on the football club and everyone associated with it. It is no surprise, therefore, that Crimmins has been immortalised at Hawthorn, with the yearly club champion winning the Peter Crimmins Medal. |
Kevin Sheedy
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Rodney Eade
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Mike Sheahan
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Peter Hudson
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Crimmo: the Peter Crimmins story by Dan Eddy
Published by Slattery Media Group (rrp$34.95)
Available from booksellers or from:
Dan Eddy
Slattery Media Group
Hardie Grant
Hawks Nest shop
Published by Slattery Media Group (rrp$34.95)
Available from booksellers or from:
Dan Eddy
Slattery Media Group
Hardie Grant
Hawks Nest shop
WON WON WON!!!
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This 495 page blockbuster - Crimmo: the Peter Crimmins story - has been won b y Karen Dalton from Tullamatine
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The 1975 Hawthorn team (at top)
Back row: (L-R): John Kennedy (coach), Michael Tuck, Len Petch, Alan Martello, Peter Knights, Gerry McCarthy, Robert Wilkinson, Kevin Heath,
Bohdan Jaworskyj, Des Meagher.
Third row: (L-R): Shane Murphy, Stuart Trott, Michael Moncrieff, Bernie Jones, Kelvin Moore, Leigh Matthews, Geoff Ablett, Peter Welsh, Kelvin Matthews. Second row: (L-R): Gerry Lynn, Ian Scrimshaw, John Hendrie, Alan Goad, Peter Crimmins (capt.), Don Scott (vice-capt.), Ian Bremner,
Alle DeWolde, Leon Rice.
Front row: (L-R): Ian Paton, David Polkinghorne, Kelvin Steel, Michael Douge, Barry Rowlings, Robert DiPierdomenico, Brian Douge, Charlie Grummisch.
Back row: (L-R): John Kennedy (coach), Michael Tuck, Len Petch, Alan Martello, Peter Knights, Gerry McCarthy, Robert Wilkinson, Kevin Heath,
Bohdan Jaworskyj, Des Meagher.
Third row: (L-R): Shane Murphy, Stuart Trott, Michael Moncrieff, Bernie Jones, Kelvin Moore, Leigh Matthews, Geoff Ablett, Peter Welsh, Kelvin Matthews. Second row: (L-R): Gerry Lynn, Ian Scrimshaw, John Hendrie, Alan Goad, Peter Crimmins (capt.), Don Scott (vice-capt.), Ian Bremner,
Alle DeWolde, Leon Rice.
Front row: (L-R): Ian Paton, David Polkinghorne, Kelvin Steel, Michael Douge, Barry Rowlings, Robert DiPierdomenico, Brian Douge, Charlie Grummisch.