It takes a fair helping of subterfuge to catch Max O’Halloran off guard.
The former VFL player thought all he would receive at an AFL Queensland dinner in Brisbane was a free feed until he heard his name called out.
In front of a packed function room, O’Halloran was presented a merit award in recognition of his services to Queensland Football.
The 58 year-old is rarely short of a word, or a speech for that matter, but had no inkling he was in line for the honour.
“I just thought I was going down because someone had pulled out. I was caught completely off guard,” O’Halloran said,
“It was really a wonderful honour to receive.”
O’Halloran played at a top level for Footscray and Carlton football after moving to the Far North in 1978.
After playing a season for South Cairns, O’Halloran was appointed player-coach of Norths in 1979 and led the Tigers to two premierships during his reign.
In 1992, he became assistant coach of the newly formed Cairn Saints before taking over the top job and guiding the club to their second premiership in 1995.
Two years later he was appointed assistant coach of the Queensland Country representative side. O’Halloran also served on the AFL Cairns board from 1998-2007.
