But the man known as “Mr 5000” also happens to be a lifelong Carlton supporter. Which is why he’s recently taken the liberty of naming his greatest team in Blue and has happily volunteered Alex Jesaulenko as his best Carlton player seen.
A recent recipient of Harness Racing Australia’s Distinguished National Service Award, Gavin put pen to paper and came up with his best 22 at the request of the Editor of Harness Racing International magazine, John Peck.
“John asked me to do it after I drove my 5000th winner in August as a ‘break-the-ice’-type thing,” Gavin said. “In my position in talking to pressmen you tend to be a little bit reserved in what you say, but in this instance I’m only too happy to talk . . . it’s a pleasant distraction.”
Gavin has gone with eight Carlton players not named in the 22-man Team of the 20th Century - Peter Bosustow, Wayne Harmes, Chris Judd, Anthony Koutoufides, Mark Maclure, Andrew McKay, David McKay and Vin Waite (and some are named in unconventional positions for no other reason than Gavin had to find somewhere to accommodate them all).
Making way are Team of the Century members Rod Ashman, Bruce Comben, Bert Deacon, Ken Hands, John James, Trevor Keogh, Sergio Silvagni and Harry Vallence.
“I picked the team based on my earliest memories and on those who made a lasting impression on me,” Gavin said of the recent exercise.
“I know people will sit there and say ‘You’re kidding’ naming that bloke’, but all I can say is ‘Sit down, pick your own team and see how you go’.”
Gavin has his father to thank for his lifelong allegiance to the mighty Blues. He was one of three siblings to join Dad in support, while the other three went with Mum’s fancy, Footscray (Western Bulldogs).
For Gavin, it was Carlton and only Carlton. “When I was a kid of ten I had a pillow case on which I’d written the names of the Carlton team of the time. I don’t have that pillowcase anymore, but I remember that John Goold was in the team,” he said.
He’s further qualified to pass judgment because he chased the leather with some success as a half-back flanker before harness racing eventually took over.
“I wasn’t that good a footballer, but I played for Romsey in the early days and when the family shifted to Melton I played there for five years and three premierships,” Gavin said.
“The highlight of my career was playing on the former St Kilda footballer Greg Burns when we took on North Ballarat. I would have liked to play on, but when I started to get a few more drives I realised football was going to jeopardise my driving, so I suppose I quite literally pulled the right rein.”
Though the late Carlton captain and committeemen Bruce “Bugsy” Comben often supplied Gavin’s father with tickets to Carlton games, circumstance rarely enabled Gavin to tag along.
As he said: “I’m not big on crowds, but I promise to be there for the next Carlton premiership”.
Gavin Lang’s greatest Carlton team
B: Geoff Southby Stephen Silvagni Bruce Doull
HB: Wayne Harmes David McKay Andrew McKay
C: Garry Crane Greg Williams Craig Bradley
HF: Wayne Johnston Stephen Kernahan Peter Bosustow
F: Ken Hunter Anthony Koutoufides Alex Jesaulenko
R: John Nicholls Mike Fitzpatrick Chris Judd
i/c: Robert Walls Adrian Gallagher Mark Maclure Vin Waite
