A Slice of MPNFL History Blackford up there with the best by Doug Dyall When discussions come around to local legends of our game here on the Mornington Peninsula it does not take long before the name Tony Blackford enters the conversation - and almost always with admiration. Today the two sides that Tony had great success with, Frankston Bombers and Sorrento, do battle at Greg Beck Oval. It provides us with a chance to reflect on a career that is a remarkable one and deserves the highest praise. Starting with the Frankston Bombers under 18’s in 1985, it was clear Tony had talent and in 1986 he took out the Ken Lyons Medal as the winner of the MPFL Best and Fairest. He made his senior debut the same year at Frankston, a club that he would go on to play 139 senior games with between 1986 and 1997. A career highlight came in 1991 with the MPNFL Division Two best and fairest medal complementing a premiership flag for his beloved Frankston Bombers in the same season. Getting the coaching bug in 1998, Tony left Frankston Bombers for Berwick where he amassed another 42 senior games and in his three-year tenure picked up his second premiership medal, this time as player and coach in 1999. Tony went back to Frankston as coach in 2001 before moving south in 2002 to take up the role with Sorrento. He played another 66 senior games culminating in another premiership in 2004 where many believe the club’s great run of success began.
Returning in 2009 to Frankston Bombers, Tony had immediate success with his third premiership as a senior coach. He stayed at Frankston Bombers till the end of 2012 before spending some time fishing, and in the media promoting football. Then in 2014 he was lured back to the coaching ranks with Red Hill, where he stayed four seasons and got the club into finals twice. Lured back to Sorrento for 2018 as coach, Tony parted company with the club before the season began. Now able to spend more time enjoying his other love fishing, Tony still has some involvement in the media and is always promoting football and fully supportive of all clubs and players. We all should admire Tony’s dedication to local football and take note of his great contribution to our game. TONY BLACKFORD CAREER STATS PLAYING RECORD: 237 senior games with Frankston, Berwick and Sorrento. COACHING RECORD: 298 senior games winning 190 games, losing 105 with 3 draws. PREMIERSHIPS: Three as player in 1991, 1999 and 2004. Three as a coach in 1999, 2004 and 2009. AWARDS: MPFL Third 18 Best and Fairest in 1986. MPNFL Division Two Best and Fairest in 1991.
Tony Blackford Frankston Bombers premiership team of 1991
www.aflsoutheast.com.au
35