Yallourn Football Club YFC - George Bates

YALLOURN V YARRAGON AUGUST 7th 1954
FOOTNOTES ~GEORGE BATES

Yallourn held off a determined Yarragon team to take four premiership points in the 1954 LVFL season. Recent rain had affected the playing surface of the Yarragon Oval and the game was a most physical affair with skill errors creating pack football, heavy traffic and plenty of physical contact.

“…the trainers had their busiest day for the season with players frequently flattened.” (Morwell Advertiser.)

Yallourn was at some disadvantage with Jack Aitken (captain/coach), stalwart Jimmy Shaw and reliable defender Bill Harkins unavailable for selection. The good news for Yallourn was the return of star forward George Bates after a severe shoulder injury. George was a key player for Yallourn and, although only 21, was a power forward in the competition.

“George had no peer in the league at full forward.” (Morwell Advertiser.)

The Blues grabbed an early and important lead in the difficult conditions. Former North Melbourne ruckman, Laurie Shipp provided drive, Jack Vinall converted his opportunities and George Bates found the target in the second term.

By half time, Yallourn had established a handy lead of 20 points. The third term belonged to Yarragon as the midfield gained control. The Magpies (now known as the Panthers) kicked three goals but the Blues had stalled.

Yarragon’s inaccuracy was costly. The maxim, “bad kicking is bad football” is not new and Yarragon paid the price. Yarragon surged again in the final term and whittled the margin to four points. Yallourn’s John Paice worked over time at half back and the game was in the balance. A turn-up was on the cards.

As mentioned previously on the Virtual Yallourn website, Bernie Nairn was a player of great character. Bernie had previously won the YFC trophy for the Best Utility Player (1951) and it is easy to understand why. His indefatigable spirit was again demonstrated as he goaled to give Yallourn some breathing space. Minutes later, Bernie proved to be “the match winner” again for Yallourn as he sealed the issue with a long punt. Yarragon had been brave but the Blues’ experienced players had held sway at the tipping point.

Final score: Yallourn 9.16. (70) defeated Yarragon 7.14. (56).
Goals for Yallourn: Bates 3, Vinall 3, Nairn 2 and Knight 1
Best for Yallourn : Pruden, Madden, Watt, Nairn, Vinall and Shipp

FOOTNOTES ~ George Bates.

George Bates and Yallourn ruckman Lloyd Brewer were listed by Richmond in 1953.
In 1954, following outstanding performances in trial matches at Richmond, George was granted six one-match permits to play for Richmond.
(Note: in those days the permit system allowed players to move clubs without applying for binding clearances.)
George received extensive publicity in his trials at Richmond and Hugh Buggy of ‘The Argus’ was glowing in his comments of George.
George returned to Yallourn early in 1954 and never played VFL football. Lloyd Brewer was selected for Richmond on three occasions.
In 1953, Doug Jorgenson (Morwell) won the league goal kicking award with 73 goals. George was runner–up with 67 goals. Other notable forwards of that era included Alan Anton (Traralgon/Fitzroy), Robert Milgate (Trafalgar/Hawthorn ) and Max Donnelly (Moe).
George’s trophies at YFC include: Best Junior, CGFL Reserves Goal-kicking (1951), and Senior Goal-kicking (1953).

In 1954, George Bates, Pat Wheeler, Jimmy Shaw, Laurie Shipp and Kevin Fanning were selected in the LVFL squad to play the Gippsland FL at Maffra. (14th June 1954.)

The photo that Julie has posted on the Virtual Yallourn website with this story was taken in 1953. The players are at training and the person giving instructions is probably Frank Kelly. Although the photograph is of poor quality and indistinct, some of the players such as George, Des Madden and Jimmy Shaw are recognisable. Jack Aitken from Morwell coached Yallourn in 1954.

There is also a photograph on the Virtual Yallourn website of George as a member of the Yallourn Technical School football team. George was appointed Chief General Manager of the SECV in 1990. The Recreation Reserve at Yallourn North and the Look-Out (observation tower) at Loy Yang are named in his honour. George married Sonja Ostlund and the Virtual Yallourn website carries articles and photographs of these two influential Yallourn identities. George died in 1995.

Sadly, at the time of researching this article, news was posted on Virtual Yallourn of Sonja’s death. Julie George wrote a most fitting tribute to Sonja. The tribute and a photograph of Sonja and Julie can be found on the website.

Written by Roger Spaull for Virtual Yallourn~ October 2012.