Those who have more than their fair share of sporting ability are often not content to stick with the one variety, diversifying into and from their main game into new and different opportunities and challenges.  Melbourne has more than its fair share of those who have branched into and from multiple sports. From Jim Stynes and Sean Wight in the Gaelic game, to Brad Green’s venture into soccer, there are many other amazing stories of sporting success.

Corrie Gardner
Gardner started out at Essendon with 12 games in 1898, before playing 48 games with Melbourne between 1900 and 1905.  A pacy wingman, he played in the 1900 premiership side, and went on to hold the Australian hurdles title.  Gardner’s presence as the only Australian at the 1904 St Louis Olympics was invaluable, as it means that – to this day – Australia has had at least one representative at every Olympics.  Gardner took part in the hurdles and long jump, but was eliminated in his heats.

Percy Beames
One of Melbourne’s most legendary figures, the star rover of the 1930s and 1940s also played cricket for Victoria 18 times – and could, according to all accounts, have played for Australia. His cricket career crossed World War Two, and he scored 1186 runs, at an average of 51.56.  He achieved a career best of 226 not out against Tasmania in 1938-39.   This was one of Beames’ three centuries, and at the same time, he played in Melbourne’s 1939, 1940 and 1941 premierships.  After Beames retired from playing both sports in 1945, he went on to excel as chief football and cricket writer for The Age.   

Frank ‘Bluey’ Adams
A heat winner and finalist in the 1956 Stawell Gift, as well as the holder of a number of regional ‘Gift’ titles, including Bendigo, Canberra, South Melbourne and Ararat, Adams held the title of Australian professional sprint champion and, in the same year – 1959 – was hailed by the Club.  It was written that:  ‘This fiery player’s electrifying dashes created havoc among his opponents and delighted his vast army of supporters.  Special mention must also be made of Frank’s very valuable contribution to the success of our Club in his coaching of our summer sprinting classes.’  A never say die rover, Adams played in six premierships with Melbourne – 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964 – a Club record jointly held with Ron Barassi, and only exceeded by Hawthorn legend Michael Tuck with seven.

Max Walker
With 34 Tests for Australia, and 85 games for Melbourne to his credit, Walker was the quintessential sportsman of the late 1960s and 1970s.  Although cross-footed in his bowling run up – hence the nickname ‘Tangles’ – Walker became a fine ruckman/defender, and a fearsome fast bowler.  From the Friends School in Hobart, Walker made his senior debut for Melbourne in Round 12, 1967.  He hung up his football boots at the end of 1972 season, by this time well and truly entrenched in the cricketing landscape, and made his Test debut on 29 December 1972, against Pakistan.  He was quite capable of leading Australia’s bowling attack, and during the Ashes Series of 1974-75, took 8 for 143 in the sixth Test.  Others to make their mark on the international and local cricket scene who also wore red and blue included Roy Park, Harry Graham and Graeme Watson, continuing the ties between winter and summer sports over many decades.

James Tomkins
Taken by Melbourne at No. 27 in the 1989 pre-season draft, Tomkins had also just sailed in the eights for Australia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, finishing fifth.  While he had been chosen as a ruckman who could take a turn up forward, Tomkins had the challenge of an entrenched Jim Stynes. So, rowing won out.  In the process, Tomkins became the only rower in history to win World Championships in every sweep oar event, along with being part of three Olympic gold and one bronze medal victory.  Part of the ‘Oarsome Foursome’, and one of only four people in the world to have rowed at six Olympic Games, Tomkins was recognised with an Order of Australia in 1997, and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2012.

Darren Bennett
After four games at West Coast in 1987, Darren Bennett headed east, delighting Melbourne crowds for 74 games between 1989 and 1993, during which he kicked 215 goals.  But this was not the end for ‘Billy’ Bennett.  Taking the chance while on honeymoon, he tried out with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL, and was placed on their practice squad. Making it to the active roster in 1995, he made a lasting impact in his role as a punter, adding an Australian Rules flavour to the game.  Bennett still holds almost every team punting record, including most punts in a career – 771 – and a season - 95.  He stands at joint first place for highest punting average in a game, and ranks second in the highest punting average for a career and season. Bennett had just one punt blocked in his career, which stretched from 1995-2005, including his final two seasons, spent with the Minnesota Vikings.

Todd Viney
While tennis was an infiltrator for Todd Viney, and he holds a recorded ATP ranking of 735 for 1984 to this day, Melbourne was always his first love.  Talented as he was as a junior (and as the urban myth of his having defeated Boris Becker shows), Viney was bound to spend more time chasing down opposition players than he did as fitness coach to Australian star Mark Philippoussis in the early months of 1996.  However (as the photo also shows), tennis always remained a charm, and part of the Viney story, which includes 233 games, captaincy, the 1993 and 1998 Best and Fairest wins, and holding the post of interim coach in 2011.  The Viney story has now headed into a new and different chapter, with the recruitment and senior debut of son Jack.

Robert Hickmott
Part of the ‘sport of kings’, Hickmott once wore red and blue, with the No. 36 on his back, following a stint in Essendon’s reserves.  This was back in 1990, when the former Wangaratta Rover played two games for Melbourne.  However, this was only a brief sojourn for Hickmott, as future successes would show.  With his father John and brother Michael also horse trainers, Hickmott has made an impact in recent years, taking over at Lloyd Williams’ Mt Macedon stables and becoming the first V/AFL player to train a Group 1 winner with Zipping’s win in the 2010 Australia Cup, followed by Turnbull Stakes and fourth straight Sandown Classic.  Green Moon then took Hickmott to even greater success in 2012, first winning the Turnbull Stakes, before taking out the 2012 Melbourne Cup.
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