KERRY 'HACKA' GARLAND was a talented cyclist as a teenager and didn't take his football seriously until he was in his early 20s. The late bloomer quickly established himself as a reliable key defender for Jindera where he played more than 200 matches and is a life member. Garland caught-up with The Border Mail's BRENT GODDE.
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BRENT GODDE: You are well-known for your nickname 'Hacka'?
KERRY GARLAND: It was given to me at a young age by Mick and Gerard Robinson when I was still at high school and has stuck since.
BG: It is an unusual nickname?
KG: The short version is we were away on a school trip and we were telling scary stories before we went to bed and I made up a story about a group camping and someone came along and hacked their heads off.
BG: It gets better?
KG: I got up in the middle of the night and saw Mick sleeping and I thought it might be a funny prank if I grabbed him around the neck and tried to scare him. Mick woke up and started screaming 'it's the hacka, it's the hacka!'
BG: Mick had the last laugh though?
KG: My prank landed me in hot water with one of the Brothers and I ended up copping six of the best with the strap which stung but I thought it was well worth the effort.
BG: After playing your junior football with North Albury you decided to follow your passion for cycling?
KG: I was fairly passionate about cycling as a teenager and in my early twenties.
BG: Where did the passion for cycling come from?
KG: My father, Reg, didn't play football but was an avid cyclist and had a fair bit of success.
BG: You suffered from pre-race nerves which resulted in losing a lot of nervous energy and performing at your best?
KG: No matter what I did, I could never overcome it and I have no doubt it hindered my performances. But that's life.
BG: Did you have much success?
KG: I competed both as an amateur and a professional. I was lucky enough to win several club road and track championships alongside numerous top three placings in some major state and regional road and track races.
BG: What do you consider the highlight?
KG: Probably winning the NSW State under-17 Road Title. I owe a lot to my teammate Neville Farrugia who played a pivotal role in my triumph and Neville finished runner-up.
BG: You also beat Gary Sutton at one event before he went on to compete in two Olympic Games?
KG: That's right up there amongst my highlights as well.
BG: After a successful cycling career you decided to quit and turn your attention to football?
KG: I was 22 when I decided to head out to Jindera in 1977 who were coached by Dave Palmer.
BG: Did you have any previous connection to Jindera?
KG: I knew the Robinson brothers, Ged and Mick, who were instrumental in getting me to the kennel. My uncle, Ken, had also spent a few seasons with the Bulldogs previously.
BG: You ended up winning a flag in the reserves?
KG: I managed to play a few senior games but played in the winning reserves grand final against Howlong under Graeme Broster.
BG: The following season in 1978 you cemented your spot in the seniors?
KG: I'm proud to say I never got dropped from the seniors throughout the rest of my career.
BG: In 1979 you enjoyed one of your most consistent seasons and finished runner-up in the best and fairest?
KG: I got pipped by one vote by Denis Spurr.
BG: You were ultra-consistent throughout your career?
KG: I would have finished in the top-five in the best and fairest on at least half-a-dozen occasions.
BG: The Bulldogs were super-fit in 1979 under coach Mark Lambert?
KG: Lambert was a bit of a fitness fanatic and I think most blokes that played that season would agree that Mark got us the fittest of any coach during that era at Jindera.
BG: It paid dividends early in the season?
KG: I think we reeled off eight straight wins to stamp ourselves as the raging flag favourite and were playing Walla in round nine who appeared to be our biggest threat.
BG: Jindera were the victim of a cunning stunt by the late great Des Kennedy who was long-time secretary/treasurer of the competition and an avid Walla supporter?
KG: We were warming up with what most people thought would be a grand final preview and Des walked into our rooms and asked if he could take a headshot of each of us because "I want a picture of the best team going around."
BG: An unusual request?
KG: It's probably fair to say that being undefeated we had a healthy opinion of ourselves as a team and it didn't take much to stroke our ego.
BG: So the players agreed to have their headshots taken?
KG: We all obliged but looking back it's probably no surprise that we got rolled by Walla that day.
BG: It triggered a losing streak for Jindera?
KG: We only won three matches for the rest of the season and snuck into finals but were eliminated straight away.
BG: Do you blame Kennedy for your demise?
KG: We found out later that Des didn't even have a roll of film in his camera that day he took our headshots. It was just a cunning stunt by him to make sure we got ahead of ourselves and think that we were unbeatable. Kudos to Des, it worked a treat.
BG: You played under some great coaches and interesting characters during your career at the kennel?
KG: I played under Dave Palmer, Graeme Broster, Mark Lambert, Geoff Boyle, Ross Hillary, Dallas Kotzur and Peter Murray.
BG: In 1982 you decided to follow your good mate Dave Palmer who had signed with Henty?
KG: Dave and I are still good mates and catch up for a coffee when we can. I call him 'Daffy' and he calls me 'Gun.'
BG: Did you receive match payments at Henty?
KG: I did all the pre-season and played in the practice matches and at training on the Thursday night before our first match one of the committee members wanted me to sign a contract and asked how much I wanted a match.
BG: How much did you hit the Swampies up for?
KG: I said I didn't want a lot and that previously during my time at Jindera I was only ever on the standard match payment.
BG: The Swampies thought you were worth more than the standard match payment?
KG: The committee member said 'we didn't get you out here to play for nothing, how much do you want?'
BG: You weren't chasing the big bucks?
KG: I just said give me the standard match payment but the best insurance policy there is, in case I get injured.
BG: It proved to be a smart move by you?
KG: I couldn't believe it but when I played against my former Jindera teammates that year, I did my ACL.
BG: How did you do your knee?
KG: I was playing full back and Dave Palmer was at centre half-back and playing on Dick Hetherton who was one of the premier forwards in the competition.
BG: Hetherton got the better of Palmer that day?
KG: Dick was dominating against Dave, so we decided to swap and I went on to Hetherton who I was good mates with when I was at Jindera or I at least thought I was.
BG: You blame Hetherton for doing your ACL?
KG: During a marking contest, Dick knocked me to the ground and proceeded to fall on my leg which finished my day, year and I like to joke, my VFL/AFL aspirations.
BG: So you are saying it was a deliberate act?
KG: I'm just kidding. Basically Dick and I both went up in a marking contest and fell to the ground and only one of us got back up with two good knees.
BG: No doubt an awkward moment considering you were former teammates?
KG: I think Dick felt guilty for about five seconds but moved on fairly quickly.
BG: Henty boasted a star-studded line-up that season?
KG: We did and finished minor premiers. Some of the stars were Dave Palmer, Peter Stubbs, Kerry Boyle, John and Mick Heffernan, Dennis Kane, Mal Singe, Ian 'Osca' Livermore, Mal Habermann, Rod Forge, Gavan Rixon and Kevin Damschke.
BG: But there was one player you rated a clear standout?
KG: Craig 'Nipper' Lieschke won the Azzi medal that season and was a jet.
BG: Henty and Walla were involved in a thrilling draw in the preliminary final?
KG: There was no extra time during that era so we had to come back the following week and play the preliminary final again.
BG: Despite doing your knee earlier in the season, you came into the side for the replay?
KG: With hindsight it was a bit stupid really. I lasted less than a quarter before my knee flared up again. Thankfully we were able to beat Walla though and make it through to play Lockhart in the decider.
BG: You had to miss the decider?
KG: My knee was cactus and unfortunately I had to miss it.
BG: Henty were raging favourties against Lockhart in the big dance after beating the Demons by more than 10 goals twice during the season?
KG: We had beaten them comfortably twice that year but we had a few injury concerns heading into the decider including our trump card in 'Nipper' Lieschke.
BG: The Swampies rolled the dice and decided to take some injured players into the grand final?
KG: We did and paid the price as Lockhart went on to win the flag in their inaugural season in the competition.
BG: You still have fond memories of your one and only season with the Swampies?
KG: I do and if I hadn't done my knee I most likely would have finished my career out there. I still have some great friends from Henty and rate it such a great club with so many great people involved.
BG: During the off season you went to see ACL specialists Grant and Bartlett in Melbourne who also were the choice of most VFL/AFL clubs during that era?
KG: They had the reputation of being the best knee specialists at the time.
BG: What did they think when the boy from the bush came down to see them?
KG: They asked who I played for and when I said 'Henty' they basically told me they had never heard of the joint.
BG: They weren't that keen to do the surgery when they found out you weren't a high-profile player?
KG: They basically told me because of the standard of football that I was playing that I had three options. Take up swimming, cycling or knitting.
BG: No prizes for guessing you decided to get back into cycling?
KG: I got back into cycling for about another four years and my knee started to feel good again so I came out of retirement and went back out to Jindera in 1987.
BG: Did you play seniors or just have a run around in the magoos?
KG: I started back in the reserves but also played a handful of senior matches. I ended up winning a flag in the reserves under Peter Walker against East Lavington.
BG: The following season in 1988 you were appointed reserves coach?
KG: Geoff Boyle was coaching the seniors who I regard as one of the best coaches I have seen in country football. Unfortunately Geoff never got the ultimate reward at Jindera after playing in a few losing grand finals.
BG: You also rate Boyle highly off the field?
KG: I regard Geoff as one of the best blokes I met during my career and I can't speak highly enough of him.
BG: Who do you rate as some of the most talented players over your journey?
KG: Craig 'Nipper' Lieschke and Warren Sykes were the standouts for me in the Hume league. I also rate Darryl (Dobber) Jordan, Ross Hillary, Brian Parks, Peter 'Elsie' Allan, Greg Frank, Gary Drew, Mal Singe, Garry Mickan, Geoff Boyle, Kevin Damschke and big Robin 'Stroppa' Weldon.
BG: There were also plenty of tough nuts running around during that era?
KG: Peter Allen, Tony 'Freckles' Geddes, Trevor Merkel, Ian Kreutzberger, John Sedgwick, Wayne Edwards and Ivan Bennie were all as tough as nails.
BG: One of your more memorable moments involved an incident with Bulldog team-mate Roy 'Fully' Fulford.
KG: I remember Roy chasing a Walla player who had long hair. Anyhow 'Fully' was struggling to catch him so instead of trying to tackle him, grabbed him by the hair and swung him around a few times for good measure.
BG: That would have been funny to see?
KG: 'Fully' acted surprised that he had given away a free kick and said to the umpire 'what was the free kick for, I don't think you can say that was a high tackle.'
BG: 'Fully' and yourself came up with a cunning stunt one week to prevent being dropped from the side?
KG: It's fair to say we were both struggling for form and 'Fully' was in a back pocket and I was full back. We made a pledge to give it to each other at every opportunity to help improve our stats. We ended up with 30 plus possessions each.
BG: Did you both keep your spot in the side?
KG: We did but I suspect the coach knew what we were up to because we played at opposite ends of the ground after that.
BG: You also had a stint playing Super Rules for the Border Buffalo's during the early 1990s?
KG: Some people call it Super Fools but I used to play for Jindera on Saturday's and Super Rules every Sunday fortnight.
BG: Two matches in two days is a fair effort considering your age at the time?
KG: Looking back, it was madness and took a toll on my body and probably cut my Super Rules career a bit shorter than I would have liked.
BG: You still have some fond memories of playing Super Rules?
KG: It was a terrific experience and I got the opportunity to represent NSW on two occasions. Once at the national carnival in Hobart and another time in Sydney.
BG: You despised opposition players for most of your career at Jindera and Henty?
KG: I don't know why but I wouldn't talk to any opposition player after a match or at the pub, especially if we had lost that day.
BG: Any particular reason why?
KG: Looking back I was probably a bit naive and it took me a long time to realise that the opposition were just as passionate about their club as I was about mine.
BG: You eventually changed your attitude?
KG: I did late in my career and made some lifelong friends and acquaintances which I now cherish.
BG: You feel fortunate to have played for both Jindera and Henty?
KG: Both clubs were wonderful to my family and I. But I am really passionate about Jindera considering I spent the majority of my career there and have also been on the committee and participated in working bees and facility projects at the club.
BG: What do you consider some of your career highlights?
KG: Being awarded life membership at Jindera in 1992 is right up there. Also having the new canteen named in honour of my family was a truly humbling experience.
BG: No doubt you would be proud of your three sons in Brett, Kade and Luke and all their achievements during their careers so far?
KG: All three boys have spent time playing in the O&M which I am proud of.
BG: No doubt Jindera would love to see Luke running around in a Bulldogs jumper when he calls it quits at Lavington?
KG: Personally I would love to see Luke finish his career at Jindera. But each of the boys are big enough to make their own decisions and I would never try to influence what club they play for. I just want them to enjoy their football but I do expect them to give their best wherever they play.
BG: That was your motto throughout your career?
KG: I don't regard myself as the most talented player going around but I am proud to say I gave my best effort at playing and training. I would like to think what I lacked in talent, I made up for in heart and effort.
BG: Your wife, Denise, has also been very supportive?
KG: Denise has been amazing and I can't thank her enough for her dedication to our family and support. It's no secret to most players that our partners are the true rocks in our lives.
BG: Denise was also a talented sportswoman?
KG: Denise was a talented basketball player who played alongside Maree Bennie (Jackson) who is obviously Lauren Jackson's mother. She basically sacrificed her basketball so I could play football while she looked after the boys.
BG: You are also on the Hume league Hall of Fame committee?
KG: I have been since its inception and find it very rewarding to delve into the careers of past champions both in football and netball.
BG: You also cherish the friendships you have made?
KG: I have made many great friendships over the journey who have become close and often enjoy family outings with. I feel it is one of the greatest rewards you get from sport.
