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Who^s Who In Football—No. 1Z
Demon Who Wanted To Be A
Tiger
By BRUCE ANDREW
Seldom has a first year League footballer had such a
marked influence on a team's improvement as has Len
Dockett, since, he took over the pivot position for Melbourne.
It is not mere coincidence that the Demons
bid for the finals dates back to the transfer of Dockett
to the centre and Norm Smith to the attack.
|-"v OCKETT had three games
I | on the wing before going
I J jnto the centre against
North Melbourne. The Demons
]CSt that match, but they found a
new pivol and the attack was
strengthened by the presence of
Norm Smith at the spearhead.
Since then Melbourne have
taken St Kilda, Richmond, Collingwood,
Geelong, Carlton and
Essendon Es'S>ndoii in ta"their their stride. 'No
player can claim sole responsibility
for the revival, but much of the
credit must go to Dockett. He
has been their most consistent and
effective star.
Len Dockett always wanted to
be a Tiger. Born at Carlton, he
went with his family to live at
Fawkner Park when he was young,
and later went to Punt Road
school. He was a member of the I
Victorian interstate schoolboys'
team for cricket and football.
On leaving school. Dockett had
a season with St. Kilda in the under
18 Melbourne Boys' League.
Then followed two years with
Moorabbln in the Federal League.
In 1940 his big moment came
with an invitation to train with
Richmond.
He was upset when it was found
that he lived In the Melbourne
district and that the Demons
wanted to see him train before
granting a residential clearance.
Richmond officials, however, told
him that everything had been
"fixed" and all he had to do was
train at Melbourne. Thev said
there was no need for him to
waste much energy and to coast .
along.
He appeared at Melbourne,
but hadn't been coasting very
lonjr when the astute "Checker"
Hughes sidled op to him and
said, "It's all rifht, son, don't
waste Ume kicking with your
right foot; we know you're a
left-footer. I've rot yon tagged, —
now let's see Justwl what you can R
Scf
That ended his' ambitions to
play with Richmond. He was
placed on Melbourne's supplemen
tary list, but played only two
games with the Seconds before
joining the Army.
During his five vears in New
Guinea and New Britain he hardly
touched a football. On returning
to Victoria at the start of thii
season he thought he was too old
at 26 to break into the Melbourne
side, so he played with the Seconds.
An injury in the second
match brought him under the
notice of the medical Qfficer.
was then invited to have another
try with the seniors. He has not
looked back.
Len is a prominent cricketer
with Richmond. where he has
been a member since he was 14.
In 1938-39 he was claimed by the
VCA cplts and won the batting
average. He is a forceful and
stylish left-hand bat and has been
used as a change bowler on occasions.
LEN DOCKETT Help
LEN DOCKETT
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