What did John Wynne say to Jack Oatey in the '78 GF?

[dedja]

I hope this hasn't been covered before, but one of my memories of the '78 GF was Two Eight visiting Jack Oatey in the coaches box and ruffling his feathers.

For those that have better memories than me, what exactly happened?

Here's some vision but you don't get to see what happening in the coaches box, other than Wynne running into there at a hundred miles an hour.

The incident starts at about 1:10 into the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ute1aAFkls

If this has been discussed before please point me to the relevant topic.

ta ...

[SABRE]

Great topic 'dedja'.
I'd love to know the answer to this one too.

If it's any help, I have it on very good authority that 'Two-Eight' and Jack did not enter
into a debate comparing the various merits of adding, or not adding, milk to tea.

I do hope this helps in your research.
Cheers n Beers,
SABRE

[Mr66]

28 used 'sign' language.
But a deaf friend of mine, who has seen the game, has no idea what a clenched fist and a flying elbow is meant to say.

[dedja]

Thanks SABRE, I'm glad you could help ...

[dedja]

Oh well, who gives a f*** anyway ... can't stand either team.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Well, if you must know, Wynney would never speak seriously on the incident so we don't know exactly what was said. The incident was exacerbated by other Norwood players such as Fienemann and officials such as Bob Farnham getting involved.

According to Sturt runner Daffy Edwards, he claims all that was said by Wynne was "sorry Jack". He claims neither Oatey nor Wynne were all that fussed about it, but other Sturt people were quite upset, and Bob Shearman threw one at Wynne but missed.

When questioned on TV the next day, all Wynne said was "I've never missed a chance to jump into a box". Ian Day decided to drop it right there. It's debatable whether it was pre-meditated or not, but certainly Wynne could have pulled up if he wanted to. Another thing that is certain is if he really wanted to hit Oatey, he would have, but didn't.

My personal thought is it was ploy by Wynne, devised on the spur if the moment, in an attempt to unsettle the Sturt "brains trust". Whether it was as effective as people imagine is debatable.