THE WIZ

Round 8, 1986, Sydney v Richmond S.C.G. Attendance: 25,219

Sydney 16.15.(111) defeated by Richmond 16.16.(112)

When it comes to human highlight reels in the world of the AFL, it simply doesn’t get any better than former Sydney Swans and Brisbane Bears megastar Full-Forward, Warwick Capper.

A brilliant, enigmatic footballer, with a larger than life personality to match - on and off the field - Capper would provide some of the most amazing memories and eye-popping highlights this game has ever seen.

Whilst often maligned for his eccentric antics and left of centre personality, Capper remains one of the most brilliant and colourful, yet divisive and insufferable characters in a wonderful VFL/AFL era in the mid to late 1980’s saturated with superstars of similar ilk.

A naturally gifted footballer with an astonishing leap and unrivalled aerial timing, Warwick Capper quickly evolved into the equivalent of a Hollywood rock-star via the inception of the Sydney Swans following the move of South Melbourne to the Harbour City, almost singlehandedly putting a struggling club on the map and becoming a marketing department’s dream simultaneously in the process.

Known for his high-flying marks and ability to kick big bags of goals, Capper dominated the VFL/AFL landscape in Sydney - and competition more broadly - with his brilliant performances on the field and colourful lifestyle off it, prompting many so called 'analysts' at the time to question his attitude, professionalism and work ethic, often unfairly, and particularly early in his outstanding career.

“Contrary to what people believe I was actually trained very hard,” Capper says openly.

“I was a very good high jumper at school which gave me the timing to take the marks I did, and I always has great self-belief and confidence that I was going to make it,” he adds.

In what would become one of the most exciting and colourful careers of any player of his generation, Warwick Capper was in many respects the total package – flushed with natural talent, a poster boy for not only the Sydney Swans but the entire competition, and with the extremely rare ability to almost exclusively bring tens of thousands of people through the turnstiles each and every week throughout his illustrious tenure at both Sydney and the Brisbane Bears.

At the peak of his powers in 1986/87 (kicking 92 and 103 goals respectively) Capper’s dominance and public profile more broadly prompted fellow teammate, Brownlow Medallist and genuine superstar in his own right, Gerard Healy to categorically state that Warwick Capper was clearly the most popular and decorated Australian sportsperson in the country behind only Greg Norman – an enormous compliment in anyone’s language.

As a former player myself, I would go as far as saying that in a similar fashion to Tony Modra for the Adelaide Crows in South Australia, never has there been a more influential and powerful football figure in one city with regards to what they individually brought to their respective states – on and off the field - than Warwick Capper.

124 games (90 with Sydney Swans, 34 with Brisbane Bears), 388 goals, 4 × Sydney Swans leading goal kicker: (1984, 1985, 1986, 1987), Brisbane Bears leading goal kicker: (1988), Mark of the Year 1987.

An excitement machine of the highest calibre, and with a larger then life personality to match.

So which game of Warwick Capper’s illustrious career would he 'TOTALLY RECALL' as his absolute finest?

He would boot seven of more goals on eight separate occasions with a career best of 10, including a bag of nine against a talent stacked Collingwood in 1987 and hauls of eight against Essendon and North Melbourne within the same period.

But it would be a game in 1986 against Richmond – ironically the very team he supported as a kid growing up, that Warwick Capper would recount as the greatest game he ever played.

“It’s a funny story and I remember this game very well,” Capper says.

“My entire family were Richmond supporters and had come up to Sydney for the weekend for this game against the Tigers.”

“I remember a reporter asking my old man on the morning of the game how he felt about his son playing against the team the whole family supported (Richmond).”

“Dad simply said – I hope my son kicks 10 but the Tigers win by a point.”

Well as fate would have it, that is precisely how the game played out.

In an amazing game of football in front of a packed house at the SCG, both sides were neck and neck all day with the Tigers only just getting across the line by the barest of margins in a frenetic final quarter, and despite the result, one man, Warwick Capper, providing one of the all time great performances up front for the Sydney Swans.

12 kicks, 8 marks, 2 Handballs, 9 contested possessions, 3 free kicks, 10 goals – and best on ground by the length of Oxford Street.

“I remember the game well, and it was certainly, along with the Collingwood game in Round One of 1987 when I kicked 9, probably the greatest game of my career,” Capper says.

“I always had the self belief I could beat anyone I played on, and when I had the delivery up the ground from teammates like Greg Williams, Gerard Healy, Mark Bayes and David Murphy, I always knew exactly where they were going to put the ball which gave me the opportunities to take the marks and kick the goals I ultimately did.”

Equally as fascinating is who Capper considers his toughest ever opponents.

“Rick Kennedy was always very hard to play on – he had 15 kilos on me and would make you earn every kick,” Capper says.

“Jimmy Jess and Rod Carter were also very tough opponents – Rod obviously knew my game very well as a former teammate so when I moved to Brisbane he would always come to me whenever we played the Swans,” he adds.

Warwick Capper was a brilliant footballer who brought colour, excitement, flamboyance and flair to a Sydney Swans outfit desperate for exactly that.

His value to Sydney was immeasurable - if his performances on the field weren’t outstanding enough - what he did for the club’s profile, membership, marketing and popularity for a then struggling sport in a rugby dominated state was categorically unprecedented and simply off the charts.

While he may be considered a fraction left of centre and a little misunderstood, to me that is in-fact one of his most endearing qualities.

Never short of an opinion, he is a person who absolutely wears his heart on his sleeve and is as honest is the day is long.

“Most people don’t really say what they think - I am probably the complete opposite,” Capper laughs.

“I have no regrets for anything I have done in life, I am proud of the career I had and even though I have made some bad decisions and mistakes along the way like everyone else, I never look back and only look forward,” he adds.

Profound words from a mega-star of the competition, who provided some of the greatest memories ever seen on a football field, and was an absolute pleasure to write about.

Thank you ‘The Wiz’, for 'TOTALLY RECALLING' the greatest game you ever played.

Aaron Lord