We were deeply saddened to learn in grand final week of the passing of former Australian cricketer, Melbourne footballer and much-loved MCC member, Max Walker AM, due to illness. He was 68.
A larger-than-life figure, Max played 34 Tests for Australia between 1972 and 1977, taking 138 wickets at 27.47, with a best of 8/143 among his six five-wicket hauls. Six of those Tests, including his debut, were at the MCG, where he was a crowd favourite.His right-arm hooping inswingers bowled with an awkward style, earning him the nickname ‘Tangles’, were a perfect foil for the pace duo of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. He also played 17 one-day internationals for Australia, either side of his two years with Kerry Packer’s World Series Cricket.
Max relocated from North Hobart to Melbourne in 1966 initially to play Australian football for the Melbourne Football Club, lured to the mainland at the urgings of MCC icon Clive Fairbairn.
As an architect student, he worked at the MCG as a maintenance man and scoreboard operator and spent winter playing football and summer cricket. A lanky ruckman, he played 94 senior VFL games (1967-72), and was part of the Demons’ 1971 night premiership team.
On the cricket field, Max played 68 MCC First XI matches in 11 seasons from 1966-67 to 1976-77 alongside the likes of Paul Sheahan, Graeme Watson, Jeff Moss and Peter Bedford. In that time, in amongst his Victoria and Australia representative duties, he took 200 First XI wickets at 16.82, including best figures of 8/34 in the 1968-69 semi final win over St Kilda.
Upon his return from World Series Cricket, he played four seasons with South Melbourne Cricket Club, before hanging up the bowling boots in 1982.
Indeed it was life after playing sport where Max truly made his name. A story teller, author, TV host, broadcaster, entrepreneur and popular corporate speaker, the lover of gadgets connected with sports fans and the community like few before him, with an ability to tell a tale and see humour in any situation.
He was a cricket commentator with the ABC, and was also part of the commercial radio cricket coverage run by 2UE and 3AK. After a brief stint as a cricket expert on Channel 7's World of Sport, he joined Channel 9 where he read sports reports on National Nine News Melbourne with Brian Naylor.
He also hosted the Nine Network's The Sunday Footy Show from 1993-1998, Nine's Wide World of Sports program until 1999 and was a cricket commentator for Channel 9 between 1986 and 1991.
An MCC member since 1971, he was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2011 for “service to cricket at a national and international level as a player and commentator, and to the community through a range of youth and social welfare organisations.”
Many MCC members will recall Max's appearance on stage at The Bradman Luncheon in 2012 and the MCC 175th Anniversary Gala the following year. At the former, Max had the audience in stitches with his recollections of World Series Cricket, which was especially topical because of the mini-series “Howzat!” screening at the time.
MCC president Steven Smith, whose own Melbourne FC playing career began the year after Max's football days at the Demons ended, said the lovable larrikin would be sorely missed.
“Max Walker has left an indelible mark on the sporting community over many decades,” said Mr Smith. “A tireless contributor on the sporting field, we admired his passion for everything he put his mind to and enjoyed his many talents as an entertainer.
“On behalf of the MCC Committee and members of our club, I pass on my sincere condolences to Max’s family. He will be sadly missed."
Read a tribute by former MCC president Paul Sheahan here.