With September each year being football finals month, The Australian Football Theatre Company has re-created some VFL Grand Finals from more than 100 years ago.
South Australian Mark Tenny initiated and headed up this new project.
"All games are based on facts and have the crowd, stats, goals, drama and a not to be missed engaged story line as it happened," Mark said.
"Collingwood's Jock McHale and Dick Lee are brought alive in a 13-minute highlights package of the 1910 VFL Carlton v Collingwood grand final, which some say was the bloodiest grand final of all time."
Mark said the Carlton Football Club was in disarray with players suspended for allegedly taking bribes to play poorly on the eve of the finals series.
Roy Cazaly, of "Up there Cazaly", fame, played his first VFL grand final for St Kilda against Fitzroy in 1913.
Minutes to go, the Saints are two points down when the unthinkable happens.
Mark has brought alive the last few minutes of this grand final, which is once you have started listening to, will engage you to the end.
Three quarter time in the 1943 Grand Final saw Dick Reynolds' Essendon five points up over Jack Dyer's Richmond team.
"Reproduced is an 11 minute highlights package of the dramatic last quarter of this war time game," Mark said excitedly.
To experience the champions of the past visit https://www.theaustralianfootballtheatrecompany.com.au/
Meet the man behind the project
Mark Tenny a local Goolwa/Hindmarsh Island resident since 2003 will be known to many of the Fleurieu area after being involved in many community organisations has initiated and headed up this new project.
Mark has been president of the Goolwa Netball Club, is a lifesaver at Port Elliot Surf Lifesaving Club, has been previously Head of the Junior School, Victor Harbor at Investigator College for eight years, has been on Mission Council of the Marion Uniting Church, was part of the educational consultant group for the Fleurieu Aquatic Centre and is a supporter of the Fleurieu Foundation working to alleviate the homelessness in the Fleurieu.
Mark's wife Caroline works in the local community and their eldest of their three children Georgina, is the Head Girl/School Captain of Loreto College in 2022. Mark also volunteered his services for the St Kilda Football Club for nearly 20 years, including being their property steward in Adelaide when the Saints played at Football Park or Adelaide Oval.
Mark also facilitated the apology between ex St.Kilda player Robert Muir, who was racially abused during his VFL football career and the St.Kilda Football Club, leading to an apology also from the AFL.
