Fifty-seven years ago today, on 25 April 1963, John Rantall played his second AFL game and his first at Lake Oval.
It was the 47th official celebration of ANZAC Day, officially declared in 1916 and marked by a series of ceremonies and services in Australia, New Zealand and London.
And it was start of a Rantall connection with Lake Oval that lasted for more than 16 years until the champion half back flanker played his 122nd and last game at Lake Oval on 18 August 1979.
Even today, it is a connection that holds a special place in the ground’s history.
Why? Because Rantall played more VFL/AFL games at Lake Oval than anyone else.
Despite playing three years at North Melbourne in 1973-74-75, when he played only three times at Lake Oval as a member of the visiting team, Rantall retired in 1980 holding a Lake Oval games record that was never beaten.
It is a very special honour that puts him in very special company with the likes of Ted Whitten, games record-holder at Western Oval, now Whitten Oval, Jack Dyer, games record-holder at Punt Road, and Dick Reynolds, games record-holder at Windy Hill.
In an era where the old suburban grounds are confined to history, it is something that will never be taken away from club legends who gave their fans so much homeground joy so often.
Likewise with Michael Tuck at Princes Park, Gordon Coventry at Victoria Park, Garry Wilson and Harry Laver at Junction Oval, Graham Arthur at Glenferrie Oval, Chris Langford at Waverley, Frank Curcio at Brunswick Street Oval, Ian Nankervis at Kardinia Park, John Dugdale at Arden Street, and Barry Breen at Moorabbin.
While Kevin Bartlett’s 200-game record at the MCG is set to be overtaken by Scott Pendlebury, who sits at 195, the Rantall record at Lake Oval is locked in stone forever.
The top 10 games list at Lake Oval is:
122 – John Rantall
115 – Bob Skilton
104 – Vic Belcher
99 – Ron Clegg
97 – Mark Tandy
93 – Len Thomas
86 – David McLeish
85 – Arthur Hiskins
80 – Peter Reville
78 – Peter Bedford
