Dave Allday was an enigma. Standing almost 2m tall he was the gentlest, quietest footballer I have ever met. As a ruckman for Werribee over 4 years he won a Premiership, a Norm Goss medal, a B&F and helped guide the club to a minor premiership in 1991….all pretty much on his own in the ruck and in his own understated manner.
After 20 odd games of AFL with Melbourne and Footscray, Dave landed at Werribee just the way he liked it…with no fanfare. Having had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of Dave’s ruckwork, I can speak for Mixer, Ritchie, Rocket and all the other short people over that period when I say it was a privilege to play with him.
Greg and I clearly had no dirt on Dave but were determined to give a loving tribute of some form to this work horse who never spoke. I nicknamed him the “Chief” after the character in “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” but it didn’t suit a song. We ended up writing 2 songs, the first sung at Point Lonsdale. Former giant Fitzroy and Sydney ruckman John Ironmonger turned up to pre-season 1992 but ended up not playing due to injury. We wrote this heartfelt ode to Dave to not leave us! Pathetic… but it had to be done. Enter “Dave Allday” sung to the Beatles, “Yesterday”.
Verse 1
Dave Allday
Looks like Ironmonger’s here to stay
Now he’s in the VFA
Oh Dave Allday
He’s here to stay
Verse 2
Dave Allday
Oh what was that we heard you say?
That you’d sacrifice half your pay
To staaay in the VFA
Chorus
Will you have to go?
We don’t know, you just won’t say
You’ve rucked just so strong
For so long
Oh Dave Alldaaay
Repeat Verse 1 and Chorus
So 6 months later and whilst thinking of new songs for the “Cold August Morning” show this song came pretty quickly, focused more directly at this great man’s shyness. A personal favourite of the False Idols. Enter “David” sung to Elton John’s “Daniel”.
Verse 1
David you’re driving us all insane
How you manage to guard yourself
And shy away from fame
Oh and, I did see David talking it seemed
God it looked like David,
Must have been in my dreams
Chorus
Oohhh David our brother, he’s a ruckman you see
Just watch him tap the ball
And contest so tirelessly
But who knows why?
It could make you cry
David just don’t talk, he’s just too shyyyy
Verse 2
He hovers around like he’s just not there
Sometimes the silence is, more than we can bare
Oh but David, your rucking is superb
It’s just that David, God we miss all your words
On behalf of all the Werribee midfielders 1990-1993, thanks for making us look better than we were Dave!
Cheers
Willow
