I'VE known Eaglehawk stalwart Neil "Darby" Monro for more than 30 years, so it was no surprise to me when he was inducted into the BFL Hall Of Fame last October.
Darby remained a one-club player throughout his long career in spite of early eighties overtures from Northern United.

He played his first game of competitive footy with the Eaglehawk under-15s, a game which set in train a partnership that would span 25 seasons.

Neil was blessed with great pace and that asset, coupled with superb anticipation and ability to read the play, served him well through 325 senior fixtures for the Two Blues.

There was always a perception among the Eaglehawk faithful that Darby wasn't a very long kick.

I seem to remember he seldom missed hitting a target, and that was regularly when he was running at full tilt.
He served the Two Blues as a player of real longevity and towards the end of his career even took on the senior coaching duties.

They breed ‘em loyal out at Canterbury Park and Darby Monro remains one of the ‘greats' in a star-studded list of class footballers.

AFTER he'd worked through the junior ranks Darby stepped up to the under-18s in 1969.
And at the relatively tender age of 16 he made his senior debut the next year: 1970.

Playing primarily in the forward pocket in those early days Darby impressed many with his courage. Time and again, he'd put his body over the footy without concern for his own safety.

When he did get the opportunity to have a run on the ball, Darby had giant ruckmen such as Mike Hammond and Bryan Clements to palm the ball the ball down to him and direct the play at will.

In 1971 Monro was a fixture in the Eaglehawk seniors and played in the premiership side, coached by John Ledwidge, that season.

Having enjoyed success so early in his career, Neil saw the other side of the coin once the powerful Eaglehawk combination steadily broke up.

With the Eaglehawk Football Club's 1980 centenary rapidly approaching, the club worked hard to ensure the ultimate celebration and under playing coach Denis Higgins Darby again received a premiership medallion.

Higgins' Hawks accounted for Golden Square by two points in a classic BFL grand final.

And then, by the end of the 1982 season (another premiership year for the Two Blues), Neil had decided for a number of reasons to hang up the boots.

Among the factors weighing on his mind were the purchase of a new business and losing some of the sight in one eye.
Footy appeared to be over for him.

HOWEVER, Tony Southcombe had taken over the coaching role at boom club Northern United and in 1983 he visited Neil to try and convince him to come out to Raywood and train.
Eaglehawk got wind of this possibility so Hawks' supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief when the familiar figure of Darby trotted onto Canterbury Park in the tried and tested Two Blue colours.

Coach Jeff Fehring gave Neil's career a spark when he moved him to the back pocket. The positional switch wasn't well received by some of the Eaglehawk faithful, but in the end it prolonged Darby's career overall.

He was to hold the defensive spot during the frustrating mid-eighties which saw three grand final appearances against Northern United for no wins and, consequently, no silverware.

Darby can still recall the play-off in 1984 where Eaglehawk held United scoreless in regular time in both the opening quarters.

Only trouble was the Swallows piled on goals in ‘red' time in both those terms.

And rarely during the finals series of 1984-85-86-87 did United fail to snatch a well-earned rest after a second semi-final win, In contrast, Eaglehawk had to battle through the preliminary finals to make it to the Big Dance.

IN 1989 Neil took over the coaching reins from ‘Ninga' O'Connell. He was a playing coach that year, before announcing he'd be the non-playing coach for the 1990 season.

He'd always said he loved playing, so he just had a kick in the Twos. He enjoyed that, but then had to saddle up with the senior coaching files and papers by 2.15 on Saturdays.

At the end of 1990 Darby retired completely from senior football of any description, with more than 300 senior games to his credit.

Not only that, but Darby has a collection of three premiership medals from six grand final appearances.
He also represented the Bendigo Blue and Golds on four occasions to round off his career.

AND it was on one of those inter-league trips that Darby and I had a conversation, with a difference.

We were playing the South-West District League at Narrandera in the NSW Riverina.
Because a long bus trip was needed to get there and because the match was on a Sunday, we took off from the QEO early one Saturday.

I think it was 1980. Anyway, the BFL chairman of the time liked a mid-morning tipple so Ned Flood directed the driver to stop beside the Murchison pub.
Out tumbled the hierarchy and while most settled for a small-ish beer, Ned downed a stiff whisky or three.
Back we got on the bus and headed off to an RSL club in a NSW border town. Steak and salad for lunch --- the steak was so good, BFL full-back Peter "Charger" Davey downed two!

Later in the afternoon it was decreed the players needed a walk to "stretch the legs."

Darby and I were among the last to emerge from the bus, and it then took off into the distance. "Don't go too fast, Richard," Darby whispered.

"I'm not too keen on this walking caper. If we stay here at the back they might reverse the bus back and we won't have to walk as far as the others."

The ploy worked, sort-of, as we ambled up to where the bus was parked. Everyone else was on board, and waiting.

RON Best booted a swag of goals, Victor Hugo (later to play with South Melbourne/the Swans) six or seven for South-West and the BFL romped home to a comfortable win.
I don't remember anything about the return trip so maybe players, reporters and officials were in full celebration mode.

Richard's tips for split Round 10, June 18: Kangaroo Flat, Eaglehawk, Golden Square.
June 25: Strathfieldsaye, Sandhurst.

2011 season tally: 31.

By Richard Jones