Murray Weideman
Encyclopedia
Murray Weideman is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL)
.
's 'enforcer' of the late 1950s and early 1960s, loved by the club's supporters, and loathed by those of the opposition.
He made his VFL debut in 1953, and was on the bench for that year's grand final, in which the Magpies defeated Geelong
.
When regular Collingwood
skipper Frank Tuck
was injured and unavailable for the 1958 Grand Final
against Melbourne
, Weideman's deliberate and continuous intimidation of his star Melbourne
opponent Ron Barassi
was a major factor in the Magpies eking out an unexpected three goal win.
for Collingwood
's best and fairest player in 1957, 1961 and 1962, and was regularly among the Magpies' best players in important games. He retired in 1963.
With his selection as centre half forward in Collingwood
's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Weideman will continue to be remembered as one of Collingwood's greatest players.
Weideman made a brief return to his old club Collingwood
in 1975 as coach. After a solid debut season which spawned an 11–9 record and fifth place on the ladder, things quickly went bad in 1976 as the club plummeted to its first ever wooden spoon. Weideman was quickly replaced by former multiple time Richmond
premiership coach Tom Hafey
for the 1977 season.
promotion of the day, International Wrestling. While recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during 1962 season, Weideman was induced to enter the wrestling ring
in a bid to draw publicity to the ailing promotion. He was paired with Italian-American veteran Salvatore Savoldi as his tag team
partner, and generally put over by his opponents. While briefly serving its purpose in attracting publicity, it ultimately resulted in little benefit to either Weideman or International Wrestling.
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Playing career
Weideman is probably best remembered today as CollingwoodCollingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
's 'enforcer' of the late 1950s and early 1960s, loved by the club's supporters, and loathed by those of the opposition.
He made his VFL debut in 1953, and was on the bench for that year's grand final, in which the Magpies defeated Geelong
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...
.
When regular Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
skipper Frank Tuck
Frank Tuck
Frank Tuck is a former Australian rules footballer, who played in the Victorian Football League .After VFL football he coached Corowa Football Club in the Ovens and Murray Football League then he bought a butcher business in Birchip, Victoria.-External links:*-References:*...
was injured and unavailable for the 1958 Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
against Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
, Weideman's deliberate and continuous intimidation of his star Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
opponent Ron Barassi
Ron Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
was a major factor in the Magpies eking out an unexpected three goal win.
Awards
Weideman was much more than just the football equivalent of a hit man. He won the Copeland TrophyCopeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
for Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
's best and fairest player in 1957, 1961 and 1962, and was regularly among the Magpies' best players in important games. He retired in 1963.
With his selection as centre half forward in Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Weideman will continue to be remembered as one of Collingwood's greatest players.
Coaching career
Murray Wiedeman coached West Adelaide in the SANFL from 1968 to 1971, taking The Bloods to the Preliminary Final in 1969.Weideman made a brief return to his old club Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 1975 as coach. After a solid debut season which spawned an 11–9 record and fifth place on the ladder, things quickly went bad in 1976 as the club plummeted to its first ever wooden spoon. Weideman was quickly replaced by former multiple time Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
premiership coach Tom Hafey
Tom Hafey
Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey is a former Australian rules football Victorian Football League player and coach. Hafey played for Richmond between 1953 and 1958, and coached four clubs—Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney—between 1966 and 1988, leading teams to a total of four premierships...
for the 1977 season.
Wrestling
Weideman's reputation as a football 'hard man' was utilised by the Australian professional wrestlingProfessional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
promotion of the day, International Wrestling. While recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during 1962 season, Weideman was induced to enter the wrestling ring
Wrestling ring
A wrestling ring is the ring stage on which professional wrestlers wrestle.-Configuration and construction:The configuration and construction of the "traditional" ring is very similar to that of a boxing ring, though the wrestling version has three ring ropes...
in a bid to draw publicity to the ailing promotion. He was paired with Italian-American veteran Salvatore Savoldi as his tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
partner, and generally put over by his opponents. While briefly serving its purpose in attracting publicity, it ultimately resulted in little benefit to either Weideman or International Wrestling.