A very happy 70th birthday to Bert Thornley.

 

——————–

From the Blueseum:

Career: 1969 – 1970
Debut: Round 3, 1969 vs Melbourne, aged 26 years, 228 days
Carlton Player No. 810
Games: 24
Goals: 3
Guernsey No. 13
Last Game: Grand Final, 1970 vs Collingwood, aged 28 years, 23 days
Height: 178cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 3 September, 1942
Premiership Player: 1970

Bert Thornley was a highly-credentialled West Australian rover who was recruited to Carlton in 1969, but who never really lived up to expectations. Before he headed east to Carlton he was captain-coach of East Fremantle in the WAFL. He played the last of his 24 games in the 1970 Grand Final, where he will forever be remembered by trivia buffs as the player coach Ron Barassi replaced at half time. Reserve Ted Hopkins was sent onto the field to boot four goals and spark the most famous revival in Grand Final history, as Carlton stormed home from 44 points down at the main break to beat Collingwood by 10 points.

Some years later, Bert said about that day; “I was shattered when Ron Barassi took me off, because there were a few of us that hadn’t done much. I was playing as second rover to Adrian Gallagher, and he would tell you he didn’t do much in the first half. But I never questioned Barassi’s‘s decision because I had enough faith in him to know it was right for the team and I remain very proud of that. It was a great side and a great club.”

After leaving Carlton, Thornley played at VFA club Preston and later coached at Torquay.