BRENT GODDE: You made your senior debut for Albury as a 14-year-old?

PETER GIBBONS: I played the final match of the 1968 season.

BG: You were a bit stiff that it happened to be against Myrtleford?

PG: It was at Myrtleford and I remember being a bit overawed playing against mountain men.

BG: Albury were struggling for numbers during that era and a few of the committee men had to fill in for the reserves?

PG: I remember David Dynan, Bill Mitchell and Bob Brooks all running around in the twos. They didn't even have any football boots and had to borrow some off the senior blokes.

BG: Bob Spargo was coach in 1968-69?

PG: Bob had a young side with blokes like Tom Doolan and myself who were still at school.

BG: Albury was struggling during that era financially?

PG: They basically couldn't afford any recruits so had to pin their faith in the kids. Kids like David Palmer, Rod Graeber, Steve Rixon, Mark Lambert and Terry Cross.

BG: You remember spotting Colin Joss in the crowd one day back during that era?

PG: I was injured and Bob Brooks and Colin Joss were standing together on the hill. I know it's a long time ago but I distinctly remember looking at Colin and I felt he was thinking to himself what can I do to turn things around for the club?

BG: You also played under Joe Ambrose in the early 1970s?

PG: We didn't win many matches because we were such a young side and lacked that senior core you need for success apart from Barry Edmunds and Merv King.

BG: Tim Robb replaced Ambrose as coach?

PG: Robb was a fantastic coach and excellent for our development. A few more young blokes joined the club in Geoff Boyle, Peter Cross and Gavin Rixon. So we were basically a side comprising local kids. Tony Heather also arrived from North Albury.

BG: You hated how Geoff Boyle and Gavin Rixon used to get away with not doing pre-season training because they played cricket?

PG: It was when Jack Clancy was coach and he used to tell them not to worry about football training until the cricket season was over.

BG: Jack wanted high-profile recruit Ted Obudzinski and yourself to do an extra training session one Saturday morning over the pre-season which comprised 100, 100 yard sprints?

PG: Merv King was there and he had to count them.

BG: How many sprints did you do?

PG: We got up to 22 sprints and it was 10am. So I said 'stuff this, we're training our guts out while those other blokes are playing cricket, lets go to the pub.' So we went to the pub and spent the whole day there. Merv didn't take much convincing.

BG: You also played rugby league on a Sunday?

PG: Tony Heather and I played rugby for the Albury Roos. So we used to play football on Saturday, rugby on Sunday and then have a drink. I always dreaded working on Monday's.

BG: How did you rate yourself as a rugby player?

PG: I only used to play in the reserves but I scored six tries one day against the army which was probably the highlight.

BG: What position did you play during your time at Albury.

PG: Predominantly off a back flank.

BG: You also played under Jack Clancy in the late 1970s.

PG: Albury were a bit more financial when Jack arrived and were able to target a few high-profile recruits. The younger blokes also had played around 100 matches and were starting to hit the prime of their careers.

BG: Jack was able to lead the club to finals?

PG: We played finals but it was during that era where Wangaratta Rovers were still dominating the competition.

BG: You played alongside a young Dennis Carroll before he was drafted by South Melbourne/Sydney?

PG: Dennis was only young but I rate him the best player that I have ever played with. You could tell he was a class above and was one of best kicks of the football I have seen.

BG: You also played under Tom Doolan in 1981?

PG: We made the grand final against Wodonga but we got beaten. I started on the bench.

BG: You decided to head bush the following season?

PG: It was more a business decision. I was working for Bockman Batteries which was owned by my uncles and Bob Brooks who was on the committee at Albury suggested if I played out in the bush that I would be able to generate a lot more contacts that would benefit the business.

BG: You ended up playing 190 matches at the sportsground?

PG: I am a life member of Albury which I'm proud of.

BG: Any opposition players that you rated highly?

PG: John Smith would be right up there.

BG: Did many bush clubs show interest in you when word got out that you could be on the move?

PG: Dennis Donovan from Walla and Gary O'Connell from Osborne showed the most interest.

BG: You ended up coaching Osborne in 1982?

PG: Apparently Neville Hogan told Osborne I was interested in heading bush and one thing led to another. Neville obviously coached Wangaratta Rovers but is originally from The Rock-Yerong Creek area.

BG: What was your first impression of Osborne?

PG: It was a fantastic club and everyone involved made my wife Maree and I feel so welcome.

BG: Yet, you only coached Osborne for one season?

PG: I would have loved to have stayed there for a lot longer but it was just that bit too far to travel three times a week when you are a coach.

BG: You didn't mind getting the wife to drive home from home matches?

PG: I used to enjoy the social side of football and I was one of the Walbundrie publican's favourite customers.

BG: You had a special guest in Robert DiPierdomenico at training one night?

PG: It was pouring rain and we ended up having five blokes turn up for training.

BG: That bad?

PG: There was Robbie O'Connell, Max O'Connell and Richard Gleeson who were only 15 at the time, Dipper and myself.

BG: Did you still train?

PG: We ran one lap and then 'Dipper' and myself went to The Rock pub for a session. The other boys were too young to go.

BG: Did you have a fair lick with Brownlow medallist?

PG: We ended up having quite a session. I ran into 'Dipper' at the races last year and was talking to him again and he still remembers his trip to Osborne.

BG: Were you on a good wicket financially to play for Osborne?

PG: I was, I hardly got paid anything during my time at Albury but Osborne did look after me.

BG: The following year in 1983 you joined Brocklesby?

PG: I was good mates with Dennis Mark and he was instrumental in me signing with the Roos.

BG: After playing in defence for Albury and in the midfield for Osborne you made the switch to full forward at Brocklelsby?

PG: Col Trevaskis was coaching the first year that I arrived.

BG: So it was Trevaskis who decided to play you forward?

PG: Not really. I more or less made the decision myself and told everyone I would be playing out of the square.

BG: Who was the full forward the previous year?

PG: I think it was Brett Heathcote from memory.

BG: You got rolled by Walla in the grand final that season?

PG: We finished minor premier and Walla came from the elimination final so it was a bit of an upset when we got rolled.

BG: The following season Brian Parkes replaced Trevaskis as coach. Did you manage to keep 'Parksey' out of the goal square?

PG: 'Parksey' probably was a better forward then me but he was happy to play centre half-forward.

BG: There were some prolific goalkickers running around in the Hume league during that era?

PG: There were quite a few forwards capable of kicking big bags. Blokes like Warren Sykes, Daryl Jordan, Rod Culph and Peter Murray.

BG: What's your memory of Sykes?

PG: Sykes wasn't that tall but was unbelievable on both sides of his body.

BG: What was your relationship like with those other forwards off the field?

PG: Peter Murray is an entertainer but I didn't have a lot to do with Daryl Jordan because I think he was travelling from the Upper Murray.

BG: Did you used to keep an eye each week on how many goals all the other forwards were kicking?

PG: I did but you would have to do a bit of homework each week because the goalkickers weren't put in the paper on a weekly basis like these days.

BG: In 1984 you had a phenomenal season and kicked a league record of 172 goals which remains a league record. Do you know how many rounds it took you to notch the first ton of your career?

PG: I can't remember to be honest. I kicked 18 that season against both East Lavington and Lockhart which is my biggest bag. I think there were a couple of bags of 16 that season as well.

BG: You played on Ross 'Tosca' Hansen when you kicked 18 against East Lavington?

PG: I remember 'Tosca' was on the front page of The Border Mail that day on a few charges and then I kicked 18 on him so it probably wasn't the finest weekend he ever had.

BG: It was a long road trip home after you kicked 18 against Lockhart?

PG: It took me a day and a half to get home. We called into most of the pubs on the way and stayed out at Brocklesby the night before coming home on the Sunday.

BG: How did you poll in the Azzi that season?

PG: Craig Lieschke won the medal that year and he was probably the best player I saw in the Hume league.

BG: You played in another losing grand final that season against Henty?

PG: Henty were a standout that year and went through undefeated under coach Wayne Styles.

BG: You ended up with donuts in both grand finals?

PG: Sad but true.

BG: Any excuses why you didn't perform on the big stage?

PG: Not really but I probably wasn't 100 per cent and was coming back from injury in the grand final against Walla but that's not an excuse. Mark Vogel played on me against Henty and I probably rate him the best defender I saw in the Hume league.

BG: Do you think it cost Brocklesby a flag?

PG: Maybe the first year against Walla because we ended up kicking 14.22 that day and had more scoring shots. But as I said, Henty were a class above in 1984.

BG: The following year in 1985 you had another huge season and kick 139?

PG: We had another handy side and finished third but missed out on the grand final.

BG: You then kick 82 and 108 then next two years to win four successive goalkicking titles and boot more than 500 goals in four years?

PG: We had a strong side and I was getting some excellent delivery from my teammates. But I am proud of my record.

BG: I hope for your sake Brocklesby were paying you per goal?

PG: Unfortunately not. My standard contract out at Brocklesby was I received a steer at the end of the season which I had to cut up myself and then whack in the freezer.

BG: You used to get a lift to training most nights in a cop car?

PG: One of my mates was a cop. We used to have to hide the cop car behind the pub after training so people driving past couldn't tell what we were up to.

BG: Who were some of the Brocklesby locals that you rated highly?

PG: Greg Koschitzke, Garry Drew and Ross Schilg could have easily played at a higher level but couldn't dedicate the time necessary because of farming commitments.

BG: What did you consider your biggest asset as a player?

PG: Probably my ball skills. I played a lot of basketball and rugby league as well which helped in that regard.

BG: Did you have a textbook kicking style?

PG: I was a left footer and at a guess my conversion rate would have been at least 80 per cent.

BG: What do you consider the secret to your success as a goalkicker?

PG: Probably just going through the same routine each time and really concentrating. I used to always aim for a target behind the goals.

BG: Were you a prodigious kick of the football?

PG: I would always take the set shot if I was within 55m of goal.

BG: Who else did you rate as a goalkicker?

PG: Warren Sykes and Terry O'Halloran were all class.

BG: Did defenders try to ruffle your feathers?

PG: Not really but I don't know why.

BG: Did you ever get reported?

PG: No.

BG: Did you rate any defenders in the Hume league.

PG: Mark Vogel from Henty was the standout.

BG: You also played under another prolific goalkicker at Brocklesby in Alan 'Bongo' Bongetti?

PG: 'Bongo' was a star but he was happy to let me play out of the square while he played further up the ground.

BG: You would often go to the Commercial Club on a Friday night for a few beers when you were playing in the Hume league?

PG: Darrel Mark and I used to like to discuss match-ups and tactics on a Friday night. It wasn't a secret and my coaches didn't seem to mind as long as I kept kicking a few goals.

BG: What did you consider your career highlight?

PG: Probably my life membership at Albury.

BG: Your uncle was also a president of Albury?

PG: His name was Maurie Schnelle and he was president during the coaching eras of Murray Weidemann and Jack Jones.

BG: Any regrets during your career?

PG: Losing that one grand final at Albury and two at Brocklesby.

BG: Do you get to the football much these days?

PG: Not really, I've got a grandson who plays for Albury juniors who I go to watch when I can.

BG: You had a stint as a selector at Albury after you retired?

PG: I was a selector under Barry Edmunds for one year and had another two years under Paul Spargo.

BG: You played under Bob Spargo, compare Bob and his son Paul?

PG: They are both intense characters with Paul being the most intense person I have ever met in football.

BG: You have witnessed Paul deliver some fearful sprays?

PG: I was just glad I was a selector and not a player.

BG: Albury won a flag under Spargo while you were a selector?

PG: It's not the same as playing. I love playing football but I hate watching but I did enjoy being a selector.