The Hawks Museum is constantly surprised by the amazing generosity of many of our ‘Friends of the Hawks Museum.’ Darren Allsop is one of them. Darren recently donated two highly significant guernseys, worn by former players Ken Judge and Michael McCarthy.

Darren is the son of a former player, Tom Allsop, who played on the wing with the Hawks from 1949 to 1953, registering 58 games and 42 goals. Tom, a man of many stories, was a stalwart of the Past Players for many years.  He was a major source of inspiration when we published the book, ‘We are Hawthorn: The Pictorial History of the Hawthorn Football Club’ in 2000. Tom, in some ways, set a growing Allsop family tradition when he donated his first Hawthorn blazer to the Club Collection. He first wore this blazer in 1947 when he played in the 3^rd 18 (Under 19s).  It includes the HFC initial logo on the breast pocket and can be seen on permanent display in the museum.  The Hawk logo, although introduced in 1943, didn’t appear on the club blazer pocket until circa 1952.

It is in the Past Player Rooms, situated in the Dr Ferguson Stand at Glenferrie, where Darren Allsop’s ownership of both Ken Judge’s and Michael McCarthy’s guernseys was realised. He won both in raffles that were held on Grand Final nights in 1983 and then 1984. In a club tradition that started in 1976 and continued through to 1991, the PP&OA rooms were thrown open to all to celebrate the highs or lows of premierships won or lost. Most players who played that day would make an appearance to mix with their faithful fans. 

Five youngsters with game-high stats against North

The ever-popular former player, then Property Steward, Andy Angwin would donate a guernsey worn in these grand finals - whether the Hawks won or lost. This makes Darren Allsop’s donation of the two guernseys even more significant. They were worn in the grand finals held the day of the raffle. Michael McCarthy’s guernsey was worn in the 1983 premiership win over Essendon and Ken Judge’s guernsey, worn the following year when Essendon reversed the results.

Prior to his passing in 2016, Ken Judge was hoping to place one of his guernseys for display in the museum and now, through the wonderful generosity of Darren, Ken Judge’s wishes are now realised. Many club members will have fond memories of the courageous high making ability of Judge and of his accurate kicking for goal whilst wearing his preferred long-sleeved guernsey with the famed number one.

The popular Michael McCarthy was recruited from Frankston YCW and played from 1978 to 1986. He played 99 games and kicked 65 goals wearing guernsey number 20. In his first season, he was named as an interchange player in the 1978 premiership side. McCarthy played in a second premiership as an effective centre half back in 1983. This was followed with two losing grand finals in 1984 and 1985. In 1987 he moved to the Brisbane Bears where he played a further 27 games and kicked 9 goals in two seasons. In later years McCarthy taught Physical Education and Health Education at Brighton Grammar School.

Ken Judge, recruited from East Fremantle, was a highly skilled half-forward flanker who made an immediate impact, playing in a premiership and winning the Best First Year Player Award in 1983. Judge also played in the two losing grand finals to Essendon in 1984 and 1985. He then returned home to WA before being recruited by the Brisbane Bears. He played 17 games and kicked 18 goals over two seasons.

In 1995 Judge was appointed as an assistant coach at Carlton, joining David Parkin, the former Hawthorn captain and premiership coach. On Parkin’s recommendation, Judge was appointed coach of Hawthorn in 1996, finishing 8th and therefore reaching the finals in his first year. However, in following years Hawthorn struggled and finished 15th and 13th before just missing out on the finals in 1999, finishing 9th.  Judge then resigned as Hawthorn coach, with a year to run on his contract. He returned to Western Australia and was coach of the West Coast Eagles for 2000 and 2001.

Following the end of his coaching career, Judge worked as a sports commentator for ABC Radio Grandstand. Judge died on his 58th birthday on 15 January 2016 in Perth, Western Australia.

The Hawks Museum offers a big thank you to Darren Allsop. Darren, like his late father, Tom, firmly believes that, where possible, guernseys worn by our former players can be enjoyed by a much wider audience if they are on display in the museum. The guernseys also provide a lasting recognition to the players who proudly wore the brown and gold.