Col Trevaskis coached Acton, Leeton, Shepparton, North Albury, Brocklesby and Wodonga

BRENT GODDE: You were born and bred in Finley?

COL TREVASKIS: I was born in Tongala but relocated to Finley when I was four.

BG: You made your senior debut for Finley in 1967?

CT: I was 16 and Ian 'Doggie' Rowland was my coach who played 109 matches for St Kilda during the 1960s.

BG: Rowland made you look good as a developing ruckman?

CT: 'Doggie' had just been delisted by St Kilda and was one of the stars of the competition. I was only learning the art of rucking but he had an uncanny ability to win the clearance and make me look a bit better than what I was.

BG: Have you got any memories of your debut?

CT: It wasn't my debut but I played a practice match before my debut against Shepparton. Anyhow I was seeing stars after being on the receiving end of a hit behind the play.

BG: Did you play much football for Finley?

CT: I played two seasons including the grand final against Berrigan in 1968 which we unfortunately lost.

BG: For people who didn't see you play, how would you describe yourself as a footballer?

CT: I was an undersized ruckman but was fortunate enough to have a fairly big leap. I was only 185cm (6ft 1) so I had to use my leap to help combat bigger opponents.

BG: You were also a strong contested mark?

CT: As a kid growing up on the farm, the neighbours would come over and we would kick the ball end to end and spend countless hours practicing contesting marking.

BG: Your son Tony also boasts a massive leap on him?

CT: Tony is a lot taller than me and used to get up a lot higher than I ever did.

BG: You were good enough to attract the attention of the talent scouts at Geelong?

CT: I relocated to Melbourne and played a handful of matches for Geelong in the reserves. I tore my groin fairly badly and struggled to play my best.

BG: You had two seasons with Geelong West in the VFA?

CT: Looking back I wasn't really cut out for the city and was a country boy at heart. But I wanted to have a crack at playing the highest level of football that I could.

BG: Did you get to rub shoulders with the Geelong players?

CT: I was good mates with Hughie Strachan who was centre half-back for the Cats. I also used to play a bit of golf with Doug Wade and Sam Newman.

BG: The opposition crowds could be fairly hostile in the VFA?

CT: It wasn't unusual to be spat on by the opposition crowd as you walked down the players' race. Prahran supporters were probably the worst during that era.

BG: It had the potential to get ugly sometimes?

CT: I remember one particular match where things threatened to get out of control with the crowd. We thought it would be in our best interests if we hopped straight on the bus and didn't have a beer with the opposition.

BG: After two seasons in the VFA you decided to accept the coaching position of Canberra based club Acton in 1972?

CT: Acton was on the bottom of the ladder and I was only 22 when I arrived as coach.

BG: You were able to turn around the fortunes of Acton in your two years at the helm?

CT: We made finals and won the elimination final in my second year in charge.

BG: You coached some well-known locals at Acton?

CT: Both Tom Doolan and Ray Treblecock were at Acton with Tom later going on to coach Albury to a flag. Ray also had a stint as coach of Osborne.

BG: After two years at Acton you arrived as coach of Leeton in 1974?

CT: Both Tom and Ray also played under me at Leeton. Tom was a school teacher and had been transferred to Narrandera and played centre half-forward for us.

BG: Leeton played in the South West league back during that era?

CT: There were some more than handy players running around in the competition. Ricky Quade was playing for Ariah Park alongside a young Terry Daniher.

BG: You tried to recruit Daniher to Leeton?

CT: South Melbourne were thinking of recruiting Daniher and wanted him to have a season under Quade at Ariah Park. Obviously South Melbourne could pull a few more strings then me.

BG: You led Leeton to the flag in 1975?

CT: That was the first flag of my career as a player as well as a coach.

BG: After three seasons at Leeton you joined Shepparton as coach in 1977?

CT: I was lucky enough to win my second flag in 1978. We played Seymour who was coached by Bernie McCarthy who previously played for North Melbourne in the VFL/AFL.

BG: It was a bit of an upset?

CT: Seymour beat us twice during the season fairly comfortably in the home and away but we were able to peak at the right time.

BG: During your time at Shepparton you were also studying to become an osteopath?

CT: I did my degree at Monash University.

BG: After winning the flag at Shepparton you relocated to Albury to start your business?

CT: I felt Albury would be an ideal location to live and raise a family.

BG: You decided to join North Albury in 1979 who were coached by John Smith?

CT: I knew Vern Drake and 'Doggie' Rowland who were heavily involved with the Hoppers.

BG: Did any other O&M clubs show any interest in you?

CT: Lavington and Albury made contact with me but the Hoppers were the only club I really spoke to in depth.

BG: You and Smith became close mates?

CT: John and I got along well both on and off the field.

BG: You replaced Smith as coach of the Hoppers in 1980?

CT: John was happy for me to take over as coach and remain as a player at Bunton Park.

BG: Smith and yourself represented the O&M on numerous occasions?

CT: I remember one year we had to play the Gippsland league in the final which was being played at Sale.

BG: John suggested that he would drive and that you go via Omeo?

CT: I was a bit wary because it was the middle of winter and you have to travel over the mountain. John threw in a set of snow chains just in case we copped some snow. Warren Stanlake was in the car with us as well.

BG: Lucky Smith packed some snow chains?

CT: Sure enough it started snowing and before long the car just started sliding so we had to stop to put the snow chains on.

BG: You had your fair share of drama?

CT: For whatever reason the snow chains kept slipping off and we had to keep stopping every couple of minutes. Warren had to get out and push the car as well which wasn't the ideal preparation for a game of footy.

BG: You had to innovate?

CT: John had some wire holding his car grill after he hit a wombat. So we used the wire to attach the snow chains.

BG: It did the trick?

CT: We finally got there and Warren hardly got a kick because he had used all his energy pushing the car.

BG: Were you able to land many recruits when you were appointed coach of the Hoppers in 1980?

CT: We landed quite a few and it probably took the first-half of the season before we clicked as a side.

BG: A few of the committee who appointed you as coach quit after the Hoppers struggled early.

CT: One was the chairman of selectors and the other was a committeeman who resigned after we had lost our first five matches.

BG: You were able to turn around the club's fortunes?

CT: We started winning and kept building momentum and just scraped into finals to finish fifth.

BG: The Hoppers weren't simply making up the numbers and went on a giant killing run throughout September?

CT: History says it's tough to win the flag from outside the top-three but I knew we had the side capable of going all-the-way if we didn't cop too many injuries.

BG: You faced Wangaratta Rovers in the decider who were striving for a fourth consecutive flag?

CT: The Hawks were a powerhouse going through a golden era and were a kick in front at half-time.

BG: The Hoppers set up the win during the third-quarter booting six goals to none with Smith, Dallas Kotzur, Alan Curtis, David Elsbury, Peter Clayton and yourself leading the charge?

CT: It proved to be the difference in the end. The victory sparked some massive celebrations with the Hoppers breaking a premiership drought stretching back to 1955.

BG: What are your memories of the celebrations?

CT: The Boomerang sponsored the club during that era so we spent a lot of time there celebrating as well as going on a massive pub crawl.

BG: In 1981 you were appointed playing coach of the O&M?

CT: I used to love playing alongside all the opposition players and getting to know them better. I'm not too sure how many times I would have represented the league.

BG: There was a fair amount of travel involved during that era?

CT: I wasn't coaching but one year we had to play in Mildura. I went and saw a therapist in Mildura and I missed the team meeting which I was a bit embarrassed about.

BG: In 1983 you decided to head bush as coach of Brocklesby?

CT: I was carrying a bit of a knee injury and knew my time in the O&M was drawing to a close. I had an operation on my knee that season which helped.

BG: You led Brocklesby into the grand final against Walla?

CT: We had more scoring shots than the Hoppers but got beat by six goals.

BG: The following season in 1984 you dropped a bombshell and decided to join Wodonga as coach?

CT: Wodonga offered me its coaching job and at the time I struggling for motivation. I thought a new challenge might be what I needed, so I accepted the offer.

BG: You were involved in one of the biggest stories in O&M history when John Smith quit North Albury before the clearance deadline and joined you at Martin Park?

CT: Obviously it was a massive talking point at the time. John and I were close mates and North Albury were having financial difficulties and couldn't afford to pay their players. Alan Curtis and Peter Clayton also followed me to Wodonga.

BG: No doubt the Hoppers would have been fuming to lose a player the calibre of Smith to one of their fiercest rivals?

CT: From memory there was a fair bit of media coverage at the time which is probably fair enough because it was certainly a controversial decision at the time.

BG: What was it like playing against the Hoppers?

CT: After spending a year in the bush with Brocklelsby, I was fairly motivated for a big season and prove I could still have an impact in the O&M. But it was tough playing against the Hoppers because I had so many fantastic memories of my time at Bunton Park.

BG: As fate would have it, you met North Albury in the grand final?

CT: Obviously because of what had happened with John earlier in the season there was a lot of tension between the two clubs.

BG: Neither side was prepared to give an inch?

CT: I had an argument with Hoppers skipper Peter Westland on who was going to call the toss of the coin. Peter said he was going to call the toss because the Hoppers were the first side into the grand final and I said 'we were minor premiers, so I will be calling it.'

BG: It sparked an all in brawl?

CT: It was never going to take much for a fight to erupt with the tension between the two clubs at boiling point.

BG: You found out Tim Taylor had a hard head?

CT: Tim and I exchanged a few punches when the brawl broke out and I broke my thumb.

BG: No doubt a painful injury?

CT: I got it strapped up but it did cause me a fair bit of grief during the match.

BG: You got reported for the incident?

CT: I did but was found not guilty after the tribunal deemed there was sufficient provocation.

BG: The Hoppers scored one of their most famous victories after Rudy Yonson bobbed up with the match winning goal in the dying minutes?

CT: We were in front most of the match but the Hoppers hit the front when it mattered most.

BG: The grand final was meant to be the final match of your career?

CT: I agreed to be non-playing coach of Wodonga the following season in 1985 but we had a bit of a player exodus including John Smith who joined Mitta United.

BG: What do you rate as the highlight of your career?

CT: I guess any grand final victory is hard to beat as the highlight. Team success is what motivated me most throughout my career.

BG: Any regrets?

CT: Probably getting reported a few times throughout my career is not my proudest moment. I tangled with 'Buster' Fairman from Ariah Park when I was coach of Leeton and broke my thumb on his head. Funnily enough both times I got reported I broke my thumb.

BG: No doubt it would have been a proud moment to watch your son Tony follow in your footsteps and win a flag with North Albury in 1999?

CT: Tony had a successful career and also represented the O&M on numerous occasions and won several Victorian Country Championships.

BG: Your son-in-law Corey Lambert also coached the Hoppers to a flag in 2002?

CT: Corey obviously had a decorated career in the O&M after also winning a Morris medal. It was a bit disappointing to see Tony miss the 2002 grand final with a knee injury.

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

CT: Not a lot but I do go occasionally.

BG: Who do you consider to be your home club?

CT: It would have to be North Albury.

BG: Were you a fan of footy trips away throughout your playing career?

CT: I was and have been on some memorable trips to Tasmania, New Zealand and the Gold Coast.