There couldn't possibly be anyone in Geelong football who hates losing more than Gordon Hynes.
                 The man is possessed !
Winning is the only word Hynes wanted to hear and he did everything humanely possible to ensure the North Shore Foot-  
ball Club had success.His critics branded him arrogant, pig headed, even fascist in his approach to football."Totally everything i do is for North Shore" is his response. This, from a man who is or has been the clubs coach, captain, president, barman, cook, glass collector, cleaner, doorman, bouncer and maintenance man is difficult to doubt. Simply, if there is anything to be done around Windsor Park, the buck stops with Hynesy. Of course there are many other loyal helpers, but there is nothing they have done that G.Hynes hasn't had a go at himself. The result, the transformation of North Shore from being the Geelong Football League chopping block to being the most successful and respected club around. 'Shore has won six division one premierships in the last ten season, runner-up three times and third once. This has not been achieved by buying 'big name' recruits like many other clubs, but by sticking with the local lads (magnificently prepared by John Bligh)- and the leadership, coaching and inspiration from Hynes. In his 12th season at the helm, Hynes is still hungry for success and sees no reason why a seventh flag can't be won during his reign. "The opportunity is there, irrespective of who we lose. The challenge is there for other players to realise what they can do", he said. His belief that the seagulls can be eternally successful with the right application is inshakable, but this certainly wasn't his frame of mind during the summer of 1973. Hynes was initially reluctant to come to North Shore. "They had so many loose heads, i thought i'd end up a nut case if i tried to control them," he explained. "It was only because of North Shore president, Billy Nicholls, that i bothered to apply.

Gordon Hynes' VFL career never reached the dizzy heights of his '63' rookie year again, his career with Geelong spanned from 1962 - 1969 where he played in 68 senior games before retiring at the tender age of 24. Like many gifted young players his potentially bright league career fell short. A combination of bad luck, stupidity and self-destruction prevented him from achieving further VFL glory. Injuries, including a broken arm and collarbone- along with suspensions forced him to miss more than 25 matches in his first four seasons. During his final three years his form, confidence and attitude were down, when he left the VFL he intended to play one year in local football to regain his confidence and composure, before returning to the top league. "I regret not going back," he admitted. "When i look back at the time i wasted, i could have had my best football in front of me, providing i knuckled down and put everything into it. "I never appreciated playing league football, and i didn't put my mind to the nitty gritty of getting the best out of myself". Hynes regards Graham Farmer as the best player he seen in league football, he said "Farmer made me realise what football was all about. If Polly's skills were down on a saturday, he'd be out practicing next morning until he got them right." "While i was at Geelong i was slack, but then 80 percent of the team was slack compared to farmer. He names former Essendon and North Melbourne great Barry Davis, as the best opposition player he played against. "Everytime i played on him i got a bath, he had everything: a good six footer who could run, mark and kick a ball." Back to the Seagull story, Hynes' biggest disappointment came immediately after the triumph of 74- a one kick loss to arch rival St Mary's in 1975. Hot favorites to win back-to-back flags after trouncing Geelong West in the second semi final, Whale Dwyer sealed the flag for the Saints after taking a disputed mark. The Hynes hate of losing could be heard in the rooms after the game amid crying players with heads bowed, no sorrow for Woofa, just a bitter determination not to let it happen again. Another best and fairest was added to the shelf as he reached the height of his playing capabilities, a standard maintained for years. During the Geelong West second semi final he was accredited with an amazing 45 kicks (and probably not too many handballs). Number 21 tearing away from the packs brushing the opposition aside with one arm with the ball tucked under the other, then sending raking drop kicks downfield was a familiar sight. Uncanny reading of the game and sure ball handling, constant talking, non-stop running and deft or penetrative disposal were the traits of Hynes' playing style. The number of bad games he played during his Seagull career could almost be counted on one hand, many played with injuries which would have sidelined lesser men. He has received and copped sweet more than his share of rough treatment from the opposition- and he has had many stitches in the face to prove it. 1976 and 1977 were the club's golden years of Hynes' era, premierships were won in imperious style. The opposition were blasted off the field each week and only one team ever looked like winning the premiership come September. Hynes rates those sides as the most skilful seen at Seagull-land, they were the sides he was hoping could achieve his ultimate dream winning a senior championship. Still dominating from his customary centre position, Woofa claimed two more best and fairest awards in '76 and '77, leaving great players in John Albon, Alan Floyd, Barry Smith, Mick Mc Manus and Leo King behind. At that stage with three flags in five years, offers were coming thick and fast to go elsewhere. Hynes declined, but could have been having second thoughts after the next two years. Two grand final losses in 1978 and 1979 were hard to take for a man who hated losing so much, but they served to refuel the desire to come back. Hynes regarded winning the 1980 grand final as crucial to the club's future. he said at the time, "We have to take the attitude that if we don't win this one we may not never win one again." 'Shore duly won the flag, comfortably accounting for St Mary's. 1980 also marked the decline of Hynes as a playing force, after club best and fairests in 1978 and 1979, taking his tally to a record seven awards for the Seagulls and a decade of wins counting his North Geelong trophies, Mick McManus dared to win the B&F. At 35 Woofa had lost a couple of metres and injuries were taking toll on his legs. He could still get to the ball as much as anybody, but was increasingly forced to kick under pressure, nevertheless he was still an outstanding player in a premiership side. During 1981 he played several games from the interchange bench, including the grand final. 'Shore was rank outsiders to win the flag in '81 after being trounced by Newtown in the second semi final, however the Seagull fighting spirit emerged when all appeared lost in the final quarter to steal an amazing win. Hynes ended his playing career as coach of his sixth premiership side - a fitting high, but the urge to coach was still there and the 'Shore mentor led from the box in '82. He had to adjust from providing leadership off the field, instead of doing it himself. After 20 years of meticulously preparing his gear each S Saturday morning, there was nothing. He misses not getting up on a Sunday morning feeling sore: "There were times when i practically had to crawl out of bed, but if i wasn't sore i thought i must have taken things too easy on the Saturday. Hynes believes he probably could have kept playing again but was advised by the doctors he couldn't afford to cop another blow to the face. "They said i would have to get plastic put where the cheekbone is," he said. Hynes said one of the hardest parts of making the transition from being a playing coach to just coach was the delay in messages received from the runner.