the end of the ball game." During 1974 he surprised the footballing community by returning to the VFL, gathering 24 possessions in his comeback game. He managed just a further two games for the season and a total of six games during 1975 and 1976 before leaving Collingwood. "I made the comeback just to prove that I could do it and that was about all. Then I sort of stepped back." Greening then continued his football career for a few years, playing with a number of other senior clubs in Victoria and Tasmania. These included Port Melbourne in the VFA, Cooee in the NWFU and City-South in the NTFA. Fellow Magpie Len Thompson described Greening in 2006, "Now we can say he was of the style we see today – with that great running skill... I think he was probably like a Robert Harvey ... he had magnificent balance, he used both sides of his body and he had this big ticker to run and cover ground." "He was probably the most talented player I ever played with", said brilliant Magpie full-forward, Peter McKenna, who can recall Greening's spectacular return against Richmond 18 months (after his concussive 'hit' behind play), but only for a handful of senior games. During July, 2007, Collingwood Football Club paid tribute to Greening in a tribute to its past Greats of the game. Subsequent to the event, the club released the following as part of its tribute:"Everything about John Greening bore the stamp of a champion – superb skills, sure hands, and an outrageous spring. He was quick, courageous and fair." On 2 July 2007, 35 years after the 'Greening Incident', Collingwood honoured Greening by a tribute prior to their Sunday home game. In 2011, Greening was awarded life membership of the Collingwood Football Club. In March 2011, Greening was inducted into the Collingwood Football Club Hall of Fame. After football, Greening moved to Queensland and worked as a 'bookmaker'. By 2013, he had joined Broadbeach Bowls Club in Queensland and become Vice-chairman of the club. References External links 1950 births Living people Australian rules footballers from Tasmania Collingwood Football Club players Port Melbourne Football Club players Cooee Football Club players Penguin Football Club players East Devonport Football Club players City-South Football Club players People educated at Northcote High School Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame inductees People from Burnie, Tasmania