REMEMBER WHEN? ROUND 16
This week in “Remember When…” we highlight a legend of the Wangaratta Rovers and the OMFNL – Steve Norman, who I remember as a young child being fascinated by his goalkicking feats. I can still remember going to watch him play in grand finals against old rivals Wangaratta. Steve sadly passed away last month leaving behind a playing record as impressive as any footballer to have played the game of Australian Rules – he was 74 when he lost his battle with cancer.
Norman was loved by all at Rovers for his loyalty and love of the club, ability to bring teammates into the play, while opposition clubs marvelled at his ability, heaped praise and recognition on a great opponent. A natural footballing ability, uncanny goal sense, ability to kick the incredible goal and the typical Rovers spirit of “will-to-win” were just some of the attributes that elevated Norman into a pinnacle seldom reached in Ovens and Murray Football.
His first season out of juniors in 1969 was spent in reserve grade which was to groom him perfectly for his goalkicking feats that commenced in 1971 when he equalled the Rovers club record held by Bob Rose of 65 gls. He broke that club record in 1973 booting 97 gls which was to start a phenomenal record that went like this – 1974 (90 gls), 1975 – (118 gls), 1976 (48 gls) missed big part of season, 1977 – (115 gls), 1978 – (103 gls), 1979 – (69 gls), 1980 – (95 gls), 1981 – (65 gls).
Steve played his 242nd and last game in round 18 1983 finishing with 1016 goals with only Stan Sargeant (North Albury) with 1096 having kicked more. He kicked a century of goals on three occasions. He represented the OMFL on 12 occasions and was the OMFL Leading Goalkicker four times and club leading goal kicker ten times.
His proudest achievements came with his teammates in the Golden Era of the Wangaratta Rovers where he played in seven premierships between 1971 and 1979 – the equal most premierships by an individual in OMFL history. The only grand final Norman and the Rovers did not play in during the seventies was in 1973.
Steve Norman is a Life Member and Hall of Fame inductee at Wangaratta Rovers and was inducted into the OMFNL Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also named in the OMFL Team of the Century – he was a bonafide champion #ValeSteveNorman
