In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', on great players from the past, this week he talks to former Swans enforcer, Stewart Gull...
Stewart Gull
Born: June 24, 1951
Played: 1972-78
Games: 87
Goals: 151
Few former players have served the Swans with as much dedication as tough and reliable centre half-forward Gull.
One of the most feared footballers of his era, Gull is now a highly successful business man and farmer who serves the Swans on several fronts.
He is a member of The Swans’ Foundation, which raises money for the longevity of the club, is a member of “The Bloods Brothers” coterie and generally helps the club in whatever capacity he can.
Gull was born to play for the Swans as father Jim played 21 games with South Melbourne over the 1949-50 seasons.
“I grew up barracking for the Swans, but Dad didn’t play the requisite number of games (50) for me to be eligible to play with South under the father-son rules,” Gull explained.
“After playing with North Ballarat, I had a couple of practice matches with St Kilda, but quickly gravitated to South Melbourne, which is where I always had wanted to play.”
The high-marking and agile Gull, who won himself a reputation for “protecting” smaller teammates, also was a professional boxer and hit the headlines when he tangled with Essendon hard-man Ronnie Andrews at Windy Hill.
After knocking Andrews to the ground, the Bomber defender dared Gull to “try it again”. Gull responded by decking Andrews a second time. It was a technical knockout and Andrews never asked Gull to “try it again”, even though there were calls for the two to fight on “TV Ringside”.
Gull was plagued by injuries for much of his career and had to contend with a snapped Achilles tendon and recurring knee problems over his seven seasons with the Swans.
He therefore moved on to Melbourne and played two games with the Demons in 1979, but ran into further injury problems. Indeed, his career ended in bizarre circumstances when he broke a collarbone as he cannoned into a goal post.
On retirement from football, Gull concentrated on a career in real estate in his home town of Ballarat.
Gull now has properties around Australia and, apart from real estate agencies, has various property interests in and around Ballarat and in Queensland.
He also runs the 17,000-acre Banongill Station, near Skipton in central Victoria, famous for its old homestead and magnificent gardens.
Gull describes the 14-acre Banongill walled garden as “one of the best in Australia” and famous for its thousands of daffodils.
“They originally were planted in the early twentieth century and we open the garden to visitors in Spring,” he explained. “The daffodils make quite a show, but the rest of the gardens also are spectacular.
“We employ three full-time gardeners, so it is quite a job to keep the place looking in tip-top condition.”
Gull, naturally, keeps a close eye on the Swans and recently attended the club’s Hall of Fame induction in Sydney. He also gets to as many games as possible, especially in Melbourne.
A Swan through and through, Gull is convinced his old club is on the right track and is hopeful he soon will be able to celebrate another red and white premiership.
