SA Footy

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:12 pm**

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/football-mourns-death-of-wally-may/story-e6frf9jf-1226059735877

AUSTRALIAN football is in shock as it mourns the death of Essendon and Sturt great Wally May.

He was 84.

One of the game's toughest players and most assertive commentators on television, May died this week and had his funeral on Friday kept private by his family.

May was a second-generation Bomber when he followed his father Charlie's footsteps to Essendon to start his 94-game VFL career in 1947. He won two premierships - 1949 and 1950 - with the Bombers where he made his name as a ruckman and defender.

May stood out of football in 1953 to claim his clearance to SANFL club Sturt where he played 54 league games and won the Double Blues' best-and-fairest award in 1955. He represented SA twice.

May became captain-coach at Sturt in 1956, a role he held for just one season.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:17 pm**

One of the GIANTS of bringing the game into loungerooms in SA

'Comment Wally May?'

'No Comment'

"Good comment Wally May'

Rest well big man, on a fine job well done.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:21 pm**

Remember his memorable call in the dying seconds of the 1973 GF after Cornes mark, "All the presure on number 12!". A legend of our comp.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:24 pm**

One of my favourite memories that always makes me laugh.

I can't remember for certain the player, so I'm going to say it was Greg Turbill, who took a gutsy mark in the goal square in a game at the Parade under lots of pressure and put Norwood back in front.

'Comment Wally May?"

"Well, it was a fine mark, but in my day, if he had taken the mark, he certainly wouldn't have been able to take the kick."

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:39 pm**

OT: Greg Turbill was as scared as Roger Woodcock was a rubbish shot for goal

RIP Wally

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:47 pm**

Harry the Horse wrote:OT: Greg Turbill was as scared as Roger Woodcock was a rubbish shot for goal

RIP Wally

A village somewhere is missing its idiot.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:51 pm**

rogernumber10 wrote:
Harry the Horse wrote:OT: Greg Turbill was as scared as Roger Woodcock was a rubbish shot for goal

RIP Wally

A village somewhere is missing its idiot.

Be careful. You will get censored.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 4:55 pm**

Yep RIP Wally.
If there's any coverage of his passing on any national footy shows over the weekend I bet they don't mention any ties he had with Sturt.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 5:03 pm**

RIP Wally May

Best commentary team ever Wally May & Ian Aitken with Max Hall in there

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 5:28 pm**

"If you can't kick, you can't play".

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 8:47 pm**

CUTTERMAN wrote:Yep RIP Wally.
If there's any coverage of his passing on any national footy shows over the weekend I bet they don't mention any ties he had with Sturt.

That's funny, the article above came from the Herald Sun.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 8:49 pm**

A giant of the game. Before my time. But from my understanding, he was 'old school' before there was such a thing.
The fact that, "comment Wally May", is a part of the popular vernacular of football fans says much.
Inrterestingly, I didn't know he was a Bombers player, did know his Sturt connection.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 10:24 pm**

Release from Essendon FC below (he played in five grand finals for the club in his 94 games):

Media release
Essendon Football Club is deeply saddened by the loss of two-time premiership player Wally May, who passed away this week, aged 84.

May played in the 1949 and 1950 Essendon premiership winning teams, was runner-up in the Club’s 1951 best and fairest award and was voted the Club’s most consistent player in 1950 and 1952.
Former teammate and close friend Jack Jones said May was a true gentleman of the game.
“He was a great bloke and a lovely man and it’s very sad to think that he’s gone,” Jones said.
“On the field, he was a great ruckman and he had a very strong and physical presence.”
Recruited from the Essendon District League, May was nicknamed ‘Chooka’ after his father Charlie, who played 83 games for Essendon.
“He was a local boy in the area and has a really strong family connection with the club. His father played in the 1920’s and was also a dual premiership player,” Jones said.
“Wally was also a trainer for many years after he retired and really became an icon around the place and was very well respected.”

May stood out of football in 1953 to claim his clearance to SANFL club Sturt where he played 54 league games and won the Double Blues' best-and-fairest award in 1955. He represented South Australia twice.

May became captain-coach at Sturt in 1956, a role he held for one season.
As a mark of respect, Essendon players will wear black arm bands in the Dreamtime at the ‘G game on Saturday night against Richmond.

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 10:30 pm**

locky801 wrote:RIP Wally May

Best commentary team ever Wally May & Ian Aitken with Max Hall in there

Up there with Mike Williamson, Butch Gale and Ted Whitten.
Like the above, took themselves waaaaaay too seriously, but
with the benefit of hindsight, this only adds to the great games they called.
I get the impression that they would have made even dullest H&A game worth watching.

RIP Wall

Posted: **Fri May 20, 2011 10:41 pm**

met him at the Royal Show when I was about 8, about 40 years ago, he was HUUUUGE!! Lots of great memories.

Posted: **Sat May 21, 2011 1:09 am**

RIP walter may

has always been my favourite commentator, didn't see him play but my dad & uncles tell me he was tough, very tough

Posted: **Sat May 21, 2011 2:02 am**

McAlmanac wrote:"If you can't kick, you can't play".

That used to be the case, but not any more ... especially in the AFL.

I know one person who will be missing Wally badly at the moment. John Halbert. John always delights in telling his favourite Wally May stories, and there are plenty of them.

He kept in constant contact with Wally, they were great mates. John tells of the early days when he was an up and comer showing plenty of promise, and the opposition would look to try him out with some physical pressure. John would always warn them, "Touch me and I'll tell Wally". He says it was amazing the number of players who would instantly back off.

RIP Wally.

Posted: **Sat May 21, 2011 9:18 am**

i too was raised with "comment wally may" and his words when studley was lining up for that goal will never leave me

RIP

Posted: **Sat May 21, 2011 9:43 am**

Can anyone advise under what circumstances he came to Sturt (as he stood out of football, Essendon reluctant to clear him)?

Posted: **Sat May 21, 2011 12:07 pm**

Dogwatcher wrote:
CUTTERMAN wrote:Yep RIP Wally.
If there's any coverage of his passing on any national footy shows over the weekend I bet they don't mention any ties he had with Sturt.

That's funny, the article above came from the Herald Sun.

That's funny, since when is a newspaper article a national footy show.

SA Footy

Wally May

Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May

Re: Wally May