The recent 2011 AFL Hall of Fame induction saw Horrie Gorringe inducted. Gorringe played for a Tasmanian club by the name of Canamore from 1914-30. He is described as a champion of his era, though he never played in the then VFL.
His credentials are impressive, although few in the VFL/AFL would have known anything of him. “Nuts” Coventry once suggested that Gorringe could have been a “star” in the VFL.
Gorringe never crossed Bass Strait.
In comparison, Keith Forbes continues to be overlooked by the Hall of Fame committee, even though Forbes played both with and against the best players in the VFL, and aruably Australia, for over 12 years.
He played for Essendon from 1928 -1937. Forbes was a champion rover and a prolific goal scorer, the first Essendon player to reach 200, 300,and 400 goals.
He still ranks in the top ten Essendon goalkickers, though he was never a permanent forward. He captained Essendon for three years, won their best and fairest twice, and was runner-up twice.
He was runner-up in the Brownlow twice, first in 1930, and then in 1935 to Haydn Bunton. He never averaged less than 2 goals per match in his ten years with Essendon, averaging 2.54 by the end of his career.
He left Essendon at the end of 1937 to captain/coach North Melbourne for two years.
He represented Victoria for six years,commecing in his second year, and ending in 1937. Recognised in the Essendon Hall of Fame, he was also a member of the Essendon Team of the Century.
He booted 475 goals in his VFL career,at the aforementioned average. It appears his sin is that he never played in a successful team, never once playing in a final.
If conjecture is now permissible, it begs the question: what would he have achieved in a successful era at Essendon?
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