Players who passed away during their playing days?

[MotleyOne]

Watching a replay of the Port V Melbourne game last night i suddenly had this memory of Troy Broadbridge playing for Melbourne.

I must admit that i felt a little guilty that i had almost forgotten about him. And wondered what happened to his wife. It makes you realise how life goes on without you once you are gone.

Can anyone bring up some names of players from the past that have passed away during their playing days. I dont mean this to be morbid, but more of a way of remembering them.

I can think of Troy Broadbridge for Melbourne, and Darren Milane from collingwood.

I remember in the SANFL with Mark Williams brother Anthony was killed in a building accident.

And when Peter Motley was nearly killed before he even had a chance to show the VFL just how good he was.

Im sure there has to be others out there that have probably been forgotten by us supporters, but not their families.

 

[JUBJUB]

Ron James from Footscray was killed in the early 90's while water skiing during the off season.

 

[sherb]

Crimmo.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

Peter Crimmins and Darren Millane are two of the most famous names you'll see on this rather sad list.

Fortunately there havent been too many taken down in their prime since the War years.

 

[sherb]

Maurie Sankey from Carlton.

 

[cmat26]

Ron James from Footscray was killed in the early 90's while water skiing during the off season.

Very young too. From all reports was going to be a very good footballer. My local club's Best Clubman award is named in his honour.

 

[Sedat!]

Very young too. From all reports was going to be a very good footballer. My local club's Best Clubman award is named in his honour.

This tragic accident happened on New Year's Day 1990, he was only 19yo and in the middle of a fantastic pre-season under Terry Wheeler - Wheeler was the coach of Williamstown at the time who picked young Ron from obscrutiy as a 14yo to play in the 1985 VFL Grand Final. Martin Flanagan wrote a fantastic piece on Ron a couple of years ago:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=268129

He would have been a very good AFL player had he had the opportunity. Was a perfect build for a mid-90's inside midfielder.

 

[ericpascoe]

I believe former Carlton ruckman Rhett Baynes committed suicide not long after his playing days ended

 

[BLPC08]

Jamie Tape died in a car accident a couple of years after he was de-listed by Collingwood. I think he was playing in the SANFL at the time. Another to die shortly after his career finished was Gary Dhurkkay. And I guess if you want to get technical, there were plenty that die during WWI and WWII

 

[Monkey King]

My Uncle, Denis Strauch, passed away from a cancer related illness a few years after he finished playing with the Blues. He was only 28yo and still playing with Port Melbourne.

I stayed in a hotel down in Tassie a number of years ago that was owned by an ex-Blue who had played with Uncle Denis. The owner and his wife told me a few stories about him and my Aunt, which was great a great pleasure.

An article from Blueseum lists the Carlton players taken in their prime.

http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=26

 

[Monkey King]

Another to die shortly after his career finished was Gary Dhurkkay.

s**t! Really!

What happened to him?

 

[sherb]

s**t! Really!

What happened to him?

Car accident I think.

 

[Monkey King]

Car accident I think.

Yeah, you're right.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Gary-Dhurrkay

On the 21st of August, 2005, Dhurkkay was involved in a car accident on the Melville Bay Road at 5am where his car was rolled and he was thrown from his vehicle. He was 31 years of age.

Damn!

 

[Ebert80]

Jamie Tape died in a car accident a couple of years after he was de-listed by Collingwood.

I dont think it was a car accident that killed Jamie Tape, i think it was cancer, may have even been leukaemia.

 

[JUBJUB]

I dont think it was a car accident that killed Jamie Tape, i think it was cancer, may have even been leukaemia.

It was a car accident
Link

 

[tribey]

I dont think it was a car accident that killed Jamie Tape, i think it was cancer, may have even been leukaemia.

He was over that and back in training with WWT.

He suffered a heart attack or some other acute failure while at the wheel.

 

[Doormat Flying]

According to Wikipedia, Jamie Tape died of a suspected brain aneurysm while at the wheel of his car. He had been suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma, but had overcome the disease.

 

[Jonnos Right Foot]

Essendon half back flanker Doug Tassell died in a car accident on QB weekend 1970.

Geelong youngster Edgar Gunn died in a car accident in August 1979.

Someone already mentioned Maurie Sankey of Carlton dying in a car accident at the end of the 1965 season.

Collingwood winger Graeme Reichman who played 11 games in 1973 committed suicide 5 or 6 years ago in the country.

Collingwood Reserves ruckman Walter Amadio died of cardiomyopathy after getting a virus in 1981 or 1982.

 

[The old campaigner]

According to Wikipedia, Jamie Tape died of a suspected brain aneurysm while at the wheel of his car. He had been suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma, but had overcome the disease.

Crikey, his time must have been well and truly up.

 

[The_ General]

Anthony Stevens came within less then 1mm of dying when broken glass, that fell from the second story of a hotel, slit his neck open a few years ago. Has he scars to prove.

 

[tribey]

Anthony Stevens came within less then 1mm of dying when broken glass, that fell from the second story of a hotel, slit his neck open a few years ago. Has he scars to prove.

Not to mention the inside of Shagga's older brother's car. Can't even imagine how harrowing the whole thing would've been for everyone.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Anthony Stevens came within less then 1mm of dying when broken glass, that fell from the second story of a hotel, slit his neck open a few years ago. Has he scars to prove.

That was in 2002 wasn't it? Shortly before the Carey saga if I remember correctly. Wasn't a good time for Stevo.

 

[damochandler]

the only one i can think of is millane and crimmo. but there would have been players during ww1 and ww2. alot of players server for australia furing there careers

 

[SkankDanker]

Essendon half back flanker Doug Tassell died in a car accident on QB weekend 1970.

Geelong youngster Edgar Gunn died in a car accident in August 1979.

Someone already mentioned Maurie Sankey of Carlton dying in a car accident at the end of the 1965 season.

Collingwood winger Graeme Reichman who played 11 games in 1973 committed suicide 5 or 6 years ago in the country.

Collingwood Reserves ruckman Walter Amadio died of cardiomyopathy after getting a virus in 1981 or 1982.

I know this thread is about during playing days but if you mean he committed suicide in rural Australia (presume you do) it is very similar to Jeff Fehring from the Saints (he of the long goal fame) who cmitted suicide recently.

There is a thread on the Saints Board. Not sure how to insert the thread, but I have posted a very emotional poem re: rural suicide. If any one is interested I will post it here.

 

[SkankDanker]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=470486&highlight=vale+jeff

Hopefully that works. Rural suicide is a very serious issue in Australia and one we should all be aware of. When it happens to someone who has been an AFL footballer it seems to show that it can strike anyone (not suggesting they are different, but they have had different opportunities).

Read the poem in the Saints thread, it will affect you and open your eyes, I guarantee it.

Many ex-footy players also suffer depression, a terrible problem in our society.