Originally published April 19, 1969
AS far as the McLeod Medal is concerned, 1969 will go down in Sunraysia football history as the season of the great foul up.
With thousands of radio listeners waiting for the final result at the count, no final decision could be given because one of the umpires’ cards was missing — the card from the Wentworth/Merbein game last Saturday.
And if, if the experts believe, the umpire’s first vote would have gone to Bruce Tschirpig, of Wentworth, it will be Tschirpig who will win the medal.
The SFL’s executive officer (Mr Jim Rowles) did nothing to satisfy the paying public — the public which keeps football going — when he shrugged off the situation as being “an anti-climax”.
Mr Rowles said it was a pity the card had gone astray, but that it would most likely turn up.
The umpire who officiated at the Wentworth/Merbein game should have posted it before he returned to Melbourne.
Mr Rowles’ explanation was that the umpire probably mailed it when he got back to Melbourne.
Tschirpig received a total of 17 votes from games other than last Saturday.
Ahead of him on the present count are ruckman John Croft, of Imperials, and Adrian Bennetto, of South Mildura, each with 19 votes.
Croft would take the medal on a count back because he polled four first votes to Bennetto’s three.
But if Tschirpig is shown as gaining three votes on the missing card, his total will go to 20 and he will win.
Sunraysia Daily contacted the umpire concerned who told the paper he had awarded Tschirpig three votes, two to Ken Snell and one to Bob Dunball, a fact confirmed days after the official count when the voting card turned up in the mail.
There was further confusion earlier in the count when votes were received for “Curran”, of Robinvale, with no initials or player number given on the umpire’s card.
Five Currans are listed as Robinvale players in the Sunraysia Football Guide and four of them played senior football.
