General News
17 September, 2024
Wally Lock — A sporting prodigy, by Brian Lennen
Wally Albert Lock was born in Maryborough on January 22, 1917. His nickname was “Wal” from the initials of his name. He was a prodigious talent in any pursuit he took on.
On meeting him at a social function I was in ignorance of his achievements.
One of my contemporaries looked at the elderly Wally and commented that he was the most unlikely athletic figure.
How wrong he was.
In discussion with Frank Moore (in his corner shop), Frank said that he was the most prodigious junior talent that local cricket had produced and was sought as a player by every local team.
Wally’s junior performances were “Bradmanesque”.
To quote Ron Sinclair’s History of Cricket in Maryborough and District:
“In 1935 the dynamic right-hander started the season with a bang. For Church of England he made 172 in the first game against Methodists and 108 in the second. In an exhilarating innings he set a record score of 268 consisting of 17 sixes and 32 fours.”
For the second successive season Wally surpassed 1000 runs. His tally in 1934-35 was 1046.
Unfortunately for cricket lovers he was lured away by Melbourne Football Club — the powerhouse of the Victorian Football League, where he was a top utility player for over a decade.
He commenced his career with Melbourne as a half forward flanker.
According to the legendary Percy Beames, he was known as Melbourne’s “Bunton” in his early years.
He went on to play in the backline as a brilliant defender.
Football legend, the late Ron Barassi described Lock as his boyhood hero. He saw Lock as a player who combined strength with guile and “football intelligence” and “was dashing and played with flair”.
Like most of his contemporaries his career was interrupted by the outbreak of war.
He enlisted in the army to serve in World War Two and held the rank of corporal, serving overseas in the 4th Field Ambulance.
At age 29 he resumed playing.
Injury and misfortune plagued him and deprived him of three premierships.
He missed in 1939 due to suspension, he missed out in 1940 due to injury and finally he played in the 1941 premiership side.
He played on the halfback flank and was one of the team’s best players with a performance described as “outstanding”.
In 1947 he was Melbourne’s Best and Fairest at the age of 30. He was also named in the “Team of the Year”.
Again he missed playing in a premiership in 1948 after re-injuring his troublesome ankle. A knee injury ended his career in 1950.
He was honoured with inclusion into the Melbourne Football Club “Hall of Fame” in 2013.
In 1946 he was made a Life Member of the club and in 2000 he was named in the Melbourne Team of the Century.
In 2008 during Melbourne’s 150th anniversary he was included in the list of 150 heroes.
His fearless pursuit of the football and his tearaway dash put a strain on his body and contributed to his many injuries. This is why in a career spanning 14 years he played only 140 games.
After his retirement the Melbourne “juggernaut” were runners-up in 1954 and 1958 and won the premiership in 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1959 winning four flags in five years.
Wally passed away at the age of 75 on June 17, 1992.