MELBOURNE CAPTAIN TO RETIRE - Football Coach Sought - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) - 24 Jan 1945 (original) (raw)

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Wed 24 Jan 1945 - The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)
Page 7 - MELBOURNE CAPTAIN TO RETIRE

Percy Beames, captain-coach , of

Melbourne Football Club, and an

interstate player, has announced his

retirement after 14 years of League

football, during which he has played

in 213 games and kicked 299 goals.

One of the finest rovers in the game,

in the last year or two he-has played

in various positions, frequently being

in a back pocket. In the wet he

handles the ball better, probably,

than any player in the game. Sev-

eral years ago he wanted to retire,

but with so many men on active ser-

vice he was persuaded to remain with

the club, He followed Alan La Fon-

taine as captain and became coach

when "Checker" Hughes retired.

Beames is just as well known in

cricket circles. He is captain of Mel-

bourne and has played for Victoria.

One of the most dashing batsmen in

the State, he is also a most prolific

run-getter. Last season he just

missed scoring 1,000 runs for the

season, and this year he has made

several centuries. He can be re-

garded as one of the outstanding

The decision of Beames to retire has

not yet been communicated to the

committee, which also has not con-

sidered his successor. It is known,

however, that unofficial overtures

have been made to "Checker"

Hughes, who, at the next meeting

of the committee, is likely to be

asked to take over the position in

which he was so successful.