Best Amateur Footballers: Des Tuck (Assumption OC)

Last week, Brian ‘Benny’ Goodman spoke to VAFA Media about the greatest players he’s seen during his 55 years associated with the Amateurs – Ian Cordner (Uni Blacks and Old Melburnians), Bruce Bourne (Ormond), Rick Pisarski (Old Melburnians), Roger Paul (Old Haileybury), and Russell Barnes (Ormond).

Naturally, this created great discussion, so we’re reaching out to VAFA Life Members and asking our most qualified and experienced personnel for their take on the best Amateur players they’ve seen.

The criteria for selection dictates that the individual played the majority of their career in the Amateurs. For example, Alan La Fontaine (Old Paradians and Uni Blacks) stunned the football fraternity with his goal kicking prowess (143 in his debut season for the Raiders in 1929) but only played five seasons as a youngster before being recruited to Melbourne FC and becoming an all-time great with three premierships and four best & fairest awards from 171 games. Despite his incredible contribution to Parade and Uni Blacks over a short period, La Fontaine, and players with careers at VFL/AFL level, are ineligible for selection here.

Life Member: Norm Nugent (2000)

Best Player Selection: Des Tuck (Assumption Old Collegians)

Tuck was a Marist Brother at Marcellin College and only debuted in the VAFA at the age of 30 when the Brothers relaxed rules that forbade competitive sport outside of school. These rules were initially implemented because of the chance of injury keeping them from the classroom.

His career at Assumption may have been short-lived and his game tally reduced due to school coaching commitments, but Tuck’s influence was lasting, kicking 195 goals and winning three B&F Awards in 40 games from the three seasons he played in the early 70’s. He was the Premier C leading goal kicker in 1972 with 87 and was runner-up in the competition B&F all three years.

“Des was a prodigious kick with raking drop kicks,” Norm said.

“A big man, he could compete with smaller players and out-mark bigger opponents.”

Tuck grew up in a sporting family in Bendigo with his brother Frank playing 131 games for Collingwood, including two years as captain from 1958-59.

He made the decision to become a Marist brother at the age of 13 and, after moving to Champagnat for his training, dominated football, cricket, tennis, athletics and high jumping, until he was denied permission to play from the age of 16.

Taking the name Brother Bernardine, he continued to play cricket until he was finally allowed to engage in footy again with Assumption OC.

Photo: Des Tuck pictured far right