Garry Hocking
Encyclopedia
Garry Andrew "Buddha" Hocking (born 8 October 1968), is a former Australian rules football
er and currently an assistant coach with the Port Adelaide Football Club
in the Australian Football League
.
's mass recruiting drive which also netted players such as Gavin Exell
, Bruce Lindner
, Dwayne Russell
, Mark Bairstow
and Anthony "Billy" Brownless
in the mid-1980s.
Hocking represented Victoria on numerous occasions in the State of Origin
series and played in four losing Grand Final sides (1989, 1992, 1994, 1995).
Hocking was considered unlucky not to win the Brownlow Medal
, due to his many close finishes, finishing in the top four on many occasions. Hocking's consistency over a period was recognised by the club in 1995 when after former-captain Bairstow's departure at the end of 1994, Hocking was given the captaincy role for the 1995 season. However early in the season, he stated his intentions to give up the captaincy to concentrate purely on playing. The role would be shared between three players; Ken Hinkley
, Barry Stoneham
and Gary Ablett.
Hocking's tenacity, hardness, consistency and quality was rewarded in 2001 when he was named ruck-rover in Geelong's Team of the Century; a great honour given the fact there have been other quality ruck-rovers in Geelong's history.
In the late 1990s (1998) Hocking was part of a promotion with cat-food company Whiskas
, where for a short period of time he changed his name by deed-poll to "Whiskas". He announced this on The Footy Show
. This was to help lessen the financial burden that the Geelong Football Club
was facing at the time.
Hocking retired at the end of the 2001 AFL season after playing 274 games, at the time the 3rd highest amount of games for Geelong (currently 5th). He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
on 8 March 2008.
in the WAFL
, a team which was struggling and managed to win just 4 games for the year in 2005. In one match, Hocking employed a tactic where every player on the Peel
team was stationed in defense for a centre-bounce. Known as a "full-flood", this was viewed as a farcical situation, and one that Hocking wanted to use with his team down by a massive margin. Hocking has promised never to use the tactic again, and has said that in this one instance, it was appropriate for the circumstance.
In 2006, Hocking has taken up the coaching reins at Geelong Falcons
Under 18s.
At the end of the 2009 AFL season, it was announced that Hocking would join the coaching staff at Port Adelaide
.
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...
er and currently an assistant coach with the Port Adelaide Football Club
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Early Years
Garry was nicknamed "Buddha" by his father who came home one day when Garry was very young and saw him sitting in a chair watching television. Garry was a fat kid and Garry's father Les thought that Garry sitting on the chair resembled the porcelain statues of Buddha that Garry's mother Pam kept around the house. The nickname stuck.Playing Career
Hailing from Cobram, Hocking was part of then Geelong coach John DevineJohn Devine (Australian rules footballer)
John Devine is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the VFL during the 1960s, and Tasmanian Football League side North Hobart between 1967 & 1973....
's mass recruiting drive which also netted players such as Gavin Exell
Gavin Exell
Gavin Exell is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and Fitzroy in the VFL/AFL.Exell started his career at Carlton where he played reserves football but after being unable to break into the seniors he joined Geelong. He played as a forward and when Gary Ablett was not...
, Bruce Lindner
Bruce Lindner
Bruce Norman Lindner is a former Australian Rules footballer who played for Geelong and Adelaide in the AFL and for West Adelaide in the SANFL.-SANFL Career:...
, Dwayne Russell
Dwayne Russell
Dwayne John Russell is a former Australian rules footballer and currently a commentator of the sport. He played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the SANFL, before crossing over to VFL club Geelong in 1987...
, Mark Bairstow
Mark bairstow
Mark Bairstow is a former Australian rules footballer who played in both the Australian Football League and the West Australian Football League .-WAFL career:...
and Anthony "Billy" Brownless
Billy Brownless
Anthony William "Billy" Brownless is a former Australian rules footballer with the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League and media personality.- Football career :...
in the mid-1980s.
Hocking represented Victoria on numerous occasions in the State of Origin
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
series and played in four losing Grand Final sides (1989, 1992, 1994, 1995).
Hocking was considered unlucky not to win the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
, due to his many close finishes, finishing in the top four on many occasions. Hocking's consistency over a period was recognised by the club in 1995 when after former-captain Bairstow's departure at the end of 1994, Hocking was given the captaincy role for the 1995 season. However early in the season, he stated his intentions to give up the captaincy to concentrate purely on playing. The role would be shared between three players; Ken Hinkley
Ken Hinkley
Ken Hinkley is a former Australian rules footballer with the Geelong Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club, a former assistant coach of the St Kilda Football Club and the Geelong Football Club, and now an assistant coach at the Gold Coast Suns.Hinkley, recruited from Camperdown, started his...
, Barry Stoneham
Barry Stoneham
Barry Stoneham is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club between 1986 and 2000.Originally from St Joseph's, Stoneham appeared 241 times for Geelong in the AFL and kicked 223 goals....
and Gary Ablett.
Hocking's tenacity, hardness, consistency and quality was rewarded in 2001 when he was named ruck-rover in Geelong's Team of the Century; a great honour given the fact there have been other quality ruck-rovers in Geelong's history.
In the late 1990s (1998) Hocking was part of a promotion with cat-food company Whiskas
Whiskas
Whiskas is a brand of cat food sold throughout the world. It is owned by the American group Mars, Incorporated. It is available either as meat-like pieces in cans, pouches, or dry biscuits. Most packaging is a recognisable purple colour.-History:...
, where for a short period of time he changed his name by deed-poll to "Whiskas". He announced this on The Footy Show
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
. This was to help lessen the financial burden that the Geelong Football Club
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
was facing at the time.
Hocking retired at the end of the 2001 AFL season after playing 274 games, at the time the 3rd highest amount of games for Geelong (currently 5th). He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
on 8 March 2008.
Coaching Career
After his playing career, which ended in 2001, Hocking moved into the coaching arena. In 2005, he coached Peel Thunder Football ClubPeel Thunder Football Club
The Peel Thunder Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team is based in Mandurah, Western Australia, with their home ground being Rushton Park...
in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
, a team which was struggling and managed to win just 4 games for the year in 2005. In one match, Hocking employed a tactic where every player on the Peel
Peel Thunder Football Club
The Peel Thunder Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team is based in Mandurah, Western Australia, with their home ground being Rushton Park...
team was stationed in defense for a centre-bounce. Known as a "full-flood", this was viewed as a farcical situation, and one that Hocking wanted to use with his team down by a massive margin. Hocking has promised never to use the tactic again, and has said that in this one instance, it was appropriate for the circumstance.
In 2006, Hocking has taken up the coaching reins at Geelong Falcons
Geelong Falcons
The Geelong Falcons are a junior Australian rules football representative club in the TAC Cup competition, Victoria, Australia.The club takes in talented junior players from the Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool regions in order to groom them for AFL selection...
Under 18s.
At the end of the 2009 AFL season, it was announced that Hocking would join the coaching staff at Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
.
Honours
- Inducted into AFL Hall of Fame in 2008
- All-Australian TeamAll-Australian TeamThe All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. It represents a complete team, including interchange players and a coach, of the best performed during the season....
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1996) - GeelongGeelong Football ClubThe Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
Team of the Century (Ruck-Rover) - Carji Greeves MedalCarji Greeves MedalThe Carji Greeves Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for the Geelong Football Club for the season....
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1996) (club record) - Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
top 3 (2nd 1993; 3rd 1991, 1994, 1995) - Brownlow MedalBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
most votes for GeelongGeelong Football ClubThe Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
(1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998) - 5th all-time in games played for GeelongGeelong Football ClubThe Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...