Deverick John Cronin
Encyclopedia
Deverick John 'Mick' Cronin (born 18 March 1911 at Wagin, died 1 September 1979 at Perth) was an Australian rules football
player, umpire and television commentator in Western Australia
.
In 1930 he was recruited by East Perth Football Club
which found him a job with a grocer in Perth. Cronin was later employed at Whitty's lottery agency and at Boans Ltd department store. In the 1930s he was also a middle-order batsman with the Subiaco Cricket Club.
On 6 April 1940 Cronin had married a stenographer Roma Chipper at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Perth. That year he opened a confectionery shop at the Hurlingham Picture Theatre, South Perth.
Mobilized in the Citizen Military Forces in January 1942, he served at home in the Australian Imperial Force for the duration of the war, engaged mostly in anti-aircraft activities. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant in October 1945, after which he ran snack shops in central Perth.
He was a successful agent for the Scottish Amicable Insurance Co. in 1966-79.
A man of natural wit and bubbly charm, sincere, honest and forthright in his manner, Cronin was popular in sporting circles and esteemed for his community work. He was a Freemason, and a lifelong non-smoker and teetotaller; he enjoyed punting on the horses and liked a game of golf. Cronin died suddenly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm on 1 September 1979 at Royal Perth Hospital and was cremated; his wife and son survived him.
In 1936 Cronin was made Captain - a role he would hold until the end of the 1940 season.
A forceful, energetically dynamic performer, Cronin was just as much at home on the half forward line as in the centre, and it was as a half forward flanker that he represented the Royals in their winning grand final team of 1936.
Cronin earned his first Western Australia cap against South Australia in 1933 after being selected as part of the squad for the Sydney Carnival
and went on to play 12 games for his state.
He was then at the peak of his form during the 1937 interstate football carnival
in Perth when he put in two near best on ground performances in helping Western Australia to annihilate South Australia by 19 goals, and get to within 8 points of an all powerful 'Big V' combination. His performance earned him the inaugural Tassie Medal
.
In 1939, he took over as coach of the club from Jerry Dolan
, steering his side to the finals. Herb Screaigh took over in 1940, but Cronin was again coaching in 1941 after a series of bad leg injuries limited his playing appearances, and adversely affected his form when he was able to front up.
He was made a life member of the club in 1941.
to umpire in the first post-war Australian interstate championship series.
Well known for his didactic style, he taught football to juniors in Perth colleges and the South Perth district.
Cronin again coached East Perth from 1951 to 1955 - with his best successes coming in 1952 and 1953 when East Perth made it to the 1st semi final but lost. He also coached the state in 1951.
His coaching may not have reaped much for the Royals, in fact his final stint came at the end of a prolonged era of frustration for the club. However under Cronin the calibre of such players as Ted Kilmurray
, Paul Seal
, Kevin McGill, John Watts
, Ray Webster and most notable of all Graham 'Polly' Farmer
joined the club. From this one would suggest that he helped lay the foundations for the East Perth golden era that would begin when Jack Sheedy
took over in 1956.
Benefiting from a football boom in Perth, Cronin became a dominant figure on TVW-7
's weekly 'World of Football' television programme from 1965 until his death; he earned respect for his sincerity and knowledge, but aroused controversy by his frankness and dogmatism. Meanwhile, he also broadcast football matches over radio 6IX and contributed through a ghost writer to a weekly column, 'On the Back Page', in Sports Review.
He was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in March 2006.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player, umpire and television commentator in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Private life
He was the son of native-born parents Michael Henry Cronin, farmer, and his wife Nellie Agatha, née Dawson. Although of Methodist background, Mick completed his primary education at a convent-run boarding-school at Toodyay, then worked as a delivery-boy and as an apprentice to a butcher at Harvey.In 1930 he was recruited by East Perth Football Club
East Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
which found him a job with a grocer in Perth. Cronin was later employed at Whitty's lottery agency and at Boans Ltd department store. In the 1930s he was also a middle-order batsman with the Subiaco Cricket Club.
On 6 April 1940 Cronin had married a stenographer Roma Chipper at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Perth. That year he opened a confectionery shop at the Hurlingham Picture Theatre, South Perth.
Mobilized in the Citizen Military Forces in January 1942, he served at home in the Australian Imperial Force for the duration of the war, engaged mostly in anti-aircraft activities. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant in October 1945, after which he ran snack shops in central Perth.
He was a successful agent for the Scottish Amicable Insurance Co. in 1966-79.
A man of natural wit and bubbly charm, sincere, honest and forthright in his manner, Cronin was popular in sporting circles and esteemed for his community work. He was a Freemason, and a lifelong non-smoker and teetotaller; he enjoyed punting on the horses and liked a game of golf. Cronin died suddenly of a ruptured aortic aneurysm on 1 September 1979 at Royal Perth Hospital and was cremated; his wife and son survived him.
Playing career
He played 164 games for East Perth from 1930-41 winning the club's fairest and best award in 1931.In 1936 Cronin was made Captain - a role he would hold until the end of the 1940 season.
A forceful, energetically dynamic performer, Cronin was just as much at home on the half forward line as in the centre, and it was as a half forward flanker that he represented the Royals in their winning grand final team of 1936.
Cronin earned his first Western Australia cap against South Australia in 1933 after being selected as part of the squad for the Sydney Carnival
1933 Sydney Carnival
The 1933 Sydney Carnival was the eighth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition....
and went on to play 12 games for his state.
He was then at the peak of his form during the 1937 interstate football carnival
1937 Perth Carnival
The 1937 Perth Carnival was the ninth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition.-Overview:...
in Perth when he put in two near best on ground performances in helping Western Australia to annihilate South Australia by 19 goals, and get to within 8 points of an all powerful 'Big V' combination. His performance earned him the inaugural Tassie Medal
Tassie Medal
The Tassie Medal was awarded to the outstanding player at each Australian rules football Interstate Carnival or Australian interstate championship series held between 1937 and 1988 with the exception of the 1975 knock-out series....
.
In 1939, he took over as coach of the club from Jerry Dolan
Jerry Dolan
John "Jerry" Dolan was an Australian rules footballer and coach in the West Australian Football League before becoming a politician. He played for as well as coached East Fremantle and was also a coach at East Perth...
, steering his side to the finals. Herb Screaigh took over in 1940, but Cronin was again coaching in 1941 after a series of bad leg injuries limited his playing appearances, and adversely affected his form when he was able to front up.
He was made a life member of the club in 1941.
Post-playing
After his playing career he became a league umpire and he umpired the entire 1947 WANFL finals series (in those days there was only one field umpire during a game). It was also 1947 that saw him venture to HobartHobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
to umpire in the first post-war Australian interstate championship series.
Well known for his didactic style, he taught football to juniors in Perth colleges and the South Perth district.
Cronin again coached East Perth from 1951 to 1955 - with his best successes coming in 1952 and 1953 when East Perth made it to the 1st semi final but lost. He also coached the state in 1951.
His coaching may not have reaped much for the Royals, in fact his final stint came at the end of a prolonged era of frustration for the club. However under Cronin the calibre of such players as Ted Kilmurray
Ted Kilmurray
Ted Kilmurray is a former Australian rules footballer who played with East Perth in the West Australian National Football League between 1953 and 1966 for a total of 257 games....
, Paul Seal
Paul Seal
Paul Nathan Seal is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
, Kevin McGill, John Watts
John Watts (Australian rules footballer)
John Albert Watts is a retired Australian rules football player and former radio broadcaster.-Personal life:...
, Ray Webster and most notable of all Graham 'Polly' Farmer
Graham Farmer
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer, MBE is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. Born in Western Australia, he joined the East Perth Football Club as a ruckman in 1953, where he won several awards and contributed to the team winning three premierships...
joined the club. From this one would suggest that he helped lay the foundations for the East Perth golden era that would begin when Jack Sheedy
Jack Sheedy (Australian rules footballer)
John Cameron "Jack" Sheedy is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for and in the Western Australian National Football League and in the Victorian Football League . Sheedy is considered one of the greatest ever footballers from Western Australia, and is a member of both...
took over in 1956.
Benefiting from a football boom in Perth, Cronin became a dominant figure on TVW-7
TVW-7
TVW is a television station broadcasting in Perth, Western Australia, wholly owned by the Seven Network. It was the first television station in Western Australia, commencing service on 16 October 1959. It broadcasts analogue on VHF 7 and digital on VHF 6 from Bickley located in the Perth Hills...
's weekly 'World of Football' television programme from 1965 until his death; he earned respect for his sincerity and knowledge, but aroused controversy by his frankness and dogmatism. Meanwhile, he also broadcast football matches over radio 6IX and contributed through a ghost writer to a weekly column, 'On the Back Page', in Sports Review.
Football highlights
- 1930-1941 176 Games (164 East Perth; 12 WA)
- Coached: East Perth 1941, 1951–55; Western Australia 1951
- Premiership Captain for East Perth 1936
- Inaugural Tassie Medallist 1937
- East Perth Captain 1936-50
- East Perth Fairest and Best 1931
- WAFL umpire 1947-48
- Umpired 1947 Grand Final; 1947 Hobart Carnival1947 Hobart CarnivalThe 1947 Hobart Carnival was the tenth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition.North Hobart Oval hosted the matches during the carnival, most of them under heavy rain...
Other
The West Australian Football Commission now presents the 'Mick Cronin Best Feature Story or Program' award to the best author/producer/presenter of a television feature story, documentary or program based on the WAFL or the AFL.He was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in March 2006.