Three Sydney football legends to feature at History Society annual lunch

Three Sydney football legends, Rod Carter, Steven Taubert and David Murphy, will feature at this year’s NSW Australian Football History Society lunch on Friday, 6 October at Magpies Sports Club from 12 noon.

All three had illustrious careers at the Sydney Swans followed by coaching local clubs in the Sydney football league.

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Rod “Rocket” Carter (pictured main), after 293 VFL/AFL games with Fitzroy and the Swans and one goal, retired in 1990 and took on coaching Sydney University in 1992 leading the Students to their first senior grade premiership in his first year at the helm.

Following his retirement from the game he took on the Development Manager’s role with NSW AFL as well as coaching state junior representative teams. His perpetual legacy is the Paul Kelly Cup, the biggest schools-based sporting competition in NSW for boys and girls.

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Steven “Taubo” Taubert had a colourful 123-game career with Richmond, Essendon, and the Swans, including fourth-place in the 1984 Brownlow medal and like his great mate, Rocket, moved to Sydney in 1982, and never left.

He was appointed coach of St George in 1987 and led them into the tumultuous grand final against Campbelltown.

Following the establishment of his sports store network “Taubo” took on the ruck coaching role at the Swans in 1999 until 2017; his influence became so profound he became known as the “Ruck Whisperer”. His star pupil was former Canadian international rugby player Mike Pyke who under Taubo’s tutoring became a premiership winning ruckman.

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David Murphy was recruited to the Swans from Turvey Park in 1984, where he been transferred as a bank clerk from his hometown, Finley. He played 156 games for the Swans and booted 92 goals.

Representing NSW at the 1988 national carnival in Adelaide “Murph” was named on the wing in the last-ever genuine All-Australian team based on players from states and territories.

“Murph” became captain-coach of Campbelltown but due to suspension, the first and only one ever in his career, he had to coach the Blues to the flag from the sidelines.

However, it was his role as head coach of Riverview college senior XVIII in the Sydney Independent Schools Association that has David has really left a stamp on the game. Over a period of fifteen years he has played a significant role raising the status of the game in the private schools.

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Simon Kelly will again be the moderator for the panel discussion.

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