Milestone - Tony Lavars 100 Seniors Games - 27/07/2008By Ziggy Arness
As part of our ongoing aim to build more content on this website, especially with regard to club history and the personalities that make it, this is the first in a series of articles featuring players who have reached milestones during the season.
This is a somewhat belated recognition of Tony Lavars’ achievement in attaining 100 senior appearances against Moorabbin Kangaroos in Round 14. Add this to well in excess of a hundred junior games and it becomes plain why this home-grown hero is so universally admired.
Every club at some particular stage of its history has an icon, a revered club legend upon whom not enough superlatives can be bestowed. At this point Tony is IT, and he’s only 24!
Tony debuted in 1992 in what was the first of two years in U9s. His junior career then continued unabated through the ranks until the U16 year. His early tutors included such luminaries as Russell Walsh, Rob Donsen, Trevor Little, Peter Lavars and Jimmy Lees. I wonder if Walshy intends to claim any credit for the fact that Tony kicks well with both feet? Or if Peter knew he was paving the way towards future fame?
I can’t make informed comment as to whether Tony’s early junior years were stellar ones, as I cannot personally recall having the pleasure of watching him play until he was coached by Robbie Stewart at the 15's level. Certainly by then there was no shortage of adjectives or phrases that could be used in describing his style. Nuggetty, gutsy, pacy, tough, courageous, strong mark, terrific tackler, uncanny goal sense and sure ball handling were traits that epitomised his efforts then, just as they do now.
After completing his second year under Crusty in U16s, taking the B&F in the process, Tony’s football was forced into a 2-year hiatus as a lack of numbers precluded the club from fielding seventeens and eighteens.
A keen, fit and raring to go 19-year-old adult resumed in 2003 in Mullo’s Nepean campaign and was almost immediately called into senior football, making his debut against Keysborough and going on to play 17 games that year. This was followed by 18 games in the next season, culminating in a preliminary final appearance and his first senior B&F.
The subsequent 2-year dark period spent in Casey – Cardinia never dulled Tony’s enthusiasm. In 2005 his dedication was rewarded with the Deputy Vice-Captain role under Coach Justin Woodman and Brett Gniel. He did however have to be content with runner-up in the Best and Fairest behind Heath Barnes, and in a bleak season the seniors managed only two wins.
The second year in the Casey was even worse as under new Coach Barnesy the club went winless. By this stage the 22 year old had been elevated to the captaincy and carried it with distinction, once again taking out the B&F.
A new era dawned on the DFC in 2007 with our transfer into the Southern Football League. With it came a new committee and a new coach. Quinny was perspicacious enough to ascertain that there was no need to meddle with the leadership structure, and was happy to step into a playing coach situation whilst leaving the man who had served with such aplomb as captain in that role. Again Tony played all games, again he was Club Champion, and this time he landed the League’s ultimate accolade as well. A couple of remarkable facts emerged from my brief interview, leading me to ask two questions: How can someone who puts his body on the line and cops plenty in the manner he does manage to play six seasons without missing a single game through injury? And secondly, how can anyone play sixteen years of footy without earning a nickname!
As we can gleam from the aforementioned, there is no paucity of silverware in his personal trophy cabinet. I suspect he now longs to share in an honour more along team lines, and in about five weeks time he may get his chance to fulfil that wish.
The younger of the Lavars boys has joined his brother in a new vocational pursuit this year, and as a result of priorities reached his landmark 100 at a later stage of the season than otherwise would have been the case. Which leads me to an obvious summation – for the rest of this year and for the remainder of his career – may the FORCE be with him!
(Click on a photo to enlarge and scroll.)
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