Burra players line-up before the 1976 grand final.– Paul Pickering
LEGENDS of the Burra gathered in celebration of Keysborough Football Club’s 60th anniversary on Saturday, pulling on the boots for a stroll down memory lane.
A friendly past players’ match was the prelude to an evening of tall tales and nostalgia at Rowley Allan Reserve.
On-field, the combatants ranged from recently retired players such as Adam Williams – who took part in the Burra’s 2006 finals campaign – to spritely 52-year-old Paul ‘Graff’ Brian.
“It was a bit of a fun game but not too light-hearted,” Keysborough president Clay Cullen said.
“There was a bit of trash talking and a couple of soft cheap shots.”
While there were no hamstrings twanged during the afternoon, however, a freak accident in the first two minutes of the game saw one player leave the ground with a broken wrist.
Many onlookers were impressed by the skill level of the match, including current reserves coach Bryce Ballantyne who later commented that he wouldn’t mind having a few of the ‘oldies’ running around in the twos.
The evening’s festivities included a catered dinner at the club with speeches from several Burra alumni.
Most notably, 75-year-old John Myors reflected on playing in the club’s first game in 1947 – when he was aged 15 – and first flag the following season.
Among the captive audience were half a dozen members of the Burra’s 1976 premiership side – the last senior team to bring the cup back to Rowley Allan Reserve.
