Perth Personality of the Month

It has been a season of fluctuating fortunes for big Vic Melville. Perth's latest recruit came to the club by West Adelaide and Claremont.

Vic Melville in action

But his debut with the Demons had to wait until the final round.  And when the season was nearing its end, Vic was starting to play the brand of football that made him a regular with West Adelaide.
To reach Lathlain Park, he made history by being the first player in Australia to go before the National Football League appeals board in Melbourne.
It all started when Claremont wanted Vic back from West Adelaide where he had played the 1977 and 1978 seasons.

West Adelaide would not grant him a clearance back to Claremont, so Claremont issued an appeal on his behalf. When the appeal was disallowed by the tribunal, West Adelaide in Claremont settled the dispute afterward lengthy negotiations.

The result was that Vick missed all of the first round of football back in his home state.
"I was out of condition and had done no preseason work," he says. rushed into the Claremont side, he started the Australian football championship game against Hawthorn  at VFL Park and then was dropped after the Tigers were given a mauling by Subiaco.

After that it was back to the reserves the Claremont for Vic Melville. Vic rebelled and asked for a clearance to Perth. Long negotiations between Claremont in Perth saw Vic again sidelined until Claremont  leased him to Perth. He played the last six games of the season in a variety of positions from fullback to center half forward.

Vic Melville was born on January 6, 1955, and educated at Hollywood Senior high school. As a youngster he did not begin to play football until the Claremont junior football clubs under 12 competition and he continued to play through the grades to under 18.
Vick went to Claremont force as a rock them and move through the reserves to the leagues where he played 25 league games with Claremont.

In 1977 he went to South Australia to try his luck and was an immediate success with West's. Over two seasons he played  in all of the leagues games as a ruckman or fullback.
his career had been plagued with shoulder trouble and this flared up again in Adelaide where he dislocated a shoulder. On a trip to Singapore, he was successfully treated by an acupuncturist and it was through acupuncture that he came to the Perth football club. Following further shoulder trouble when he was playing with Claremont this year, he attended an acupuncturist who was an avid Demon supporter.

Vic was refused permission by Claremont to train with Perth until the two clubs finally agreed on a lease arrangement for the giant utility player.

Already Vic Melville is planning his preseason program with director of football, Ken Armstrong.
"I am really keen to prove myself to Perth," he says.
he wants to add a meter to his pace by Sprint training over the summer period.
"I know that my best football is ahead of me and I am really looking forward to 1980," he told us.
Vick will be playing cricket as well during the summer. He is a former Midlands pace bowler. Since he left school, Vic has been involved with insurance.  His office is at 36 Hammersley Rd., Subiaco, telephone 381-4149, where he specializes in superannuation, workers compensation, fire and accident and life insurance. Perth members should ring Vick for expert insurance advice.

For the statisticians, Vic Melville is 15 stone and 6 feet 4 1/2 inches tall.

He currently resides in Perth, Australia.

Old News Article about Claremont's Melville

Vic Melville, 24, 6'4" and 15 stone is big enough to make a hefty impression. Two seasons and South Australian football has matured his approach to the game and he is returned much more dedicated player. The can help solve one of Claremont's key positional placings of the shows early-season form because during his 21 games with West Adelaide last season he was often uses a center half forward, where his big bulk and his ab that use of the hand pass set up many scoring opportunities.

Successor Vic would make it a good family double it Claremont. Rodney Melville has developed into one of the USA's top defenders after a spell in the doldrums and it would be an interesting situation with the two brothers holding down the key center halfback and center half forward roles.

"It was a different type of football in South Australia; more physical and more demanding on the smaller grounds. I think it up and up a lot and a more aggressive in my approach to the game."

Claremont Tigers memories

Victor Melville, Ruckman, born June 1, 1955, made his league debut in 1974 having come from the Claremont juniors whilst occupied as an insurance consultant.at 6 feet four and 15 stone, he was big enough to make a hefty impression. Two seasons in South Australian football matured his approach to the game and  he returned a much more dedicated player. "I really believe that I can establish myself as a league footballer with Claremont," says Vic.

He was brought into help solve one of Claremont's key positional placings.  during his 21 games with West Adelaide he was often used as center half forward where his size and is adept use of the hand pass set up many scoring opportunities. Claremont have talented forwards available to play but Melville  is such a versatile player that he could easily be used around the field.
"I have a vastly different approach to the game now. My approach to training is different."

His role at Claremont before going to South Australia was basically as a Rockman. His big frame is naturally associated with rock work in his four league games were in that role. But he discovered that he really enjoyed the center half forward roll with less data gleaned and felt that he played some of his best football and attack. Melville was quite happy to receive  an approach from Claremont officials late last season about his returning home to Perth. He broke into league at 18 years of age but his first year was plagued with injury.

Vic opened his own insurance broking business since returning to Perth and was confident that he could successfully mix the two careers together, which he did.

West Adelaide's Melville relives rugby days in West Adelaide

Defender Vic Melville is nearly 100% confident of taking his place in the West Adelaide 20 for the first time today. The former Claremont forward gave officials some hope two weeks ago when he grabbed 15 marks and 27 kicks and a great display in the reserves.

The 22-year-old Melville who is 1.93 m tall ( 6'4"), has played for league games with Claremont in the last two seasons. Melville, who was not yet fully fit, impressed with his marketing in general ability at center half forward according to Graham Fischer.

having served also as a Robin with Claremont, Melville signed with West Adelaide and hopes to play in South Australia for the remainder of the season. he said last night that his inclusion in the 25th first semi final against South Adelaide football Park depended largely on the fitness of Rockman Mark Whittington.  West named a 22 man squad on Thursday night. A former Claremont forward, Melville faces a torrid introduction to South Australia football. With just 13 reserve games at center half back under his belt, he will jump several classes of football if he warms the West bench today.
Melville, who said his form had been good, rates West a good thing..

"The ground should be heavy, which will suit West rather than South.", said Melville. "Football Park is a Mecca for South only on a dry day when it can run the ball."

Excerpted from  Sunday Mail, 1977

Victor Melville - Australian Businessman

Company chairman, Victor Melville

Perth-based financial advisory group London Partners has always had a close affinity with the agricultural industry. Victor Melville, the company's chairman, stated that London Partners  was founded on a "comprehensive client service philosophy". in the past, the company has underwritten public floats like that of Agro Holdings Limited, which initially represented the Group of Eight for machinery and motor vehicle dealerships.

Mr. Melville, who also comes from an agricultural background and still has ties with a family beef cattle and sheep enterprise, stated "our aim is to maximize client wealth through professional administration and management of their assets".

London Partners  is comprised of various entities each specializing in providing particular services to clients, including financial planning,  stockbroking, succession planning, portfolio administration and self managed superannuation.

This strategy has put London Partners at the leading edge of the industry and provides clients with access to a large range of innovative investment products in addition to those normally used.
The broader aim of the group is to build an organization, which can address and provide solutions to the major financial and investment needs of its clients.

London Partners is neither owned nor influenced by any institution and therefore focuses solely on assisting and improving the financial position of the individual client.

According to Victor Melville, there is increasing focus on retirement savings and investments with many people preferring to control their funds rather than  invest into port funds, offered by big institutions.

"There is a lot of interest and self managed superannuation funds, for example, but the responsibilities and complexities can be onerous," Mr. Melville said.

"It is increasingly an area for experts, particularly in relation to taxation matters."

that is why we are very keen to provide all the advice, assistance and ongoing administration to ensure the clients fully comply and maximize the potential of this important form of investment.

Clients can choose full or partial service to meet their individual needs and London Partners can interface with accountants or other advisors to complement the particular services they may be providing their clients.