4 August 2001
One of the most frustrating things about car travel is stop-start. As the fuel gauge hovers around empty the temperature heads towards the red zone. You think of wear and tear. All your car needs is a hundred kilometres non-stop on a smooth freeway. Blow out the cobwebs. Blast out the carbon build-up.
One footballer made the transition from tagger and stopper to attacking all-go player. He went from a club of first and second gear tasks to another team that allowed him to max out the revs. The guy is Jon Hassall.
JH was from Warrandyte, a heartland of Colligwood support. Hassall impressed in Warrandyte's red and white colours at that boggy little ground with the creek and saw mill on its eastern side. Jono played some reserves games with the Magpies during 1992. They selected him with 1992 mid season pick 47. Vic Park heavies gave the 'dyter number 15 of course immortalised by Ted Potter and Wes Fellowes.
Hassall was 173 centimetres and 75 kilograms. He made his senior debut in 1994. Played top games in the back pocket that season. In fact earned a Norwich Rising Star nomination. The J man was a discliplined tagger with great concentration. A graduate from Gayfer college. His 1995 pre season generated a high level of fitness. Coach Tony Shaw resolved to put him in the midfield. The Hassall brief was to slow down blokes like Bradley and increase their carbon deposits.
One five got the opportunity to do just that in 1995 round 1. Early in the opening term he ran back with the flight of the ball, controlled it and with that trademark hunched run closed on 40 and slotted a major. Then it was back to more important work; burning out the Braddles engine. Scores close all day. But the Blues broke away in the last to win 14.11 to 9.12.
The round 5 debacle against Hawthorn at the Park. Craig Kelly's 100th game. Jon had the job of keeping Crawford in the strait jacket. Did pretty well. Late in the second sonnet he marked under pressure and played on to goal from 45. No use though. The Hawks harvested the four points 14.12 to a skeletal 4.13. But Hassall scored 25 per cent of his side's goal total. Yet 1995 was a difficult year for the Maggie. Injury and form problems. Dropped as well.
JoH was capable of asserting himself physically. 1996 Round 1. The old enemy Carlton. The Blues unfurled their 1995 premiership flag. Hassall shadowed Camporeale. It was a tough encounter. A lot of physical pressure on Williams. And in the meantime some football was played. During the last quarter Jono was reported for crunching Campo. Carlton won 16.13 to 12.15. But the Pies won all the donnybrooks. The midfielder received a week's holiday for charging. He returned for the next few games but ripped a hamstring and missed weeks. Hassall booted a nice running goal in round 11 versus West Coast that won 16.19 to 9.8.
Collingwood released Jon Hassall at the end of '96. 50 games for 12 goals. Hawthorn threw him a lifebuoy with 1997 pre season selection 7. The Hawks gave the ex Pie number 13 previously worn by Alan Joyce and Leon Rice. The match committee wanted JH to play all out attacking footy. He performed like it was his last game. Linked up nicely with hand and foot even though the kicking style remained awkward. He was dropped in round 12 but fought back for senior selection in round 17. Then suffered a groin injury that reduced his work rate. Hawthorn dropped H off their list at the end of 1999. 17 games at Glenferrie. Hassall then blasted across the border to Adelaide where he joined SANFL club South Adelaide. He starred with the Panthers week after week.
Jon Hassall; a stop and go footballer.