Oldest verified person to have attended an AFL/SANFL/VFL game

[megadeth86]

We will probably just have to trust each other's honesty here, but here goes...

My late grandfather H.A.A. (born 17 March 1906) attended the WAFL match with me between Perth and East Fremantle on Saturday, 8th August 1998 aged 92 years, 4 months.

He attended the first Fremantle Dockers practice game versus Essendon at East Fremantle Oval in February 1995 aged 88 years, 11 months (and stood up on the scoreboard wing for the whole game).

I saw Jack Sheedy (born 28 September 1926) at an East Fremantle game in July 2019, so that would be 92 years, 10 months. Apparently, he is still going strong.

Can anyone match these?

 

[RedmanWasHere]

To somewhat counter this, who's the earliest born person to attend a footy game?

 

[killer]

There was a lady named Sheila Clarke who never missed a St Marys game (Darwin)
Attended till 89 according to this

St Marys (Icon)

 

[Bucking Bronco]

Anyone know if a centenarian has ever attended a AFL/ VFL game?

 

[35Daicos]

Ray Jones Tosses the Coin on ANZAC Day (collingwoodfc.com.au)


He turns 96 on Sunday (18 July).

 

[35Daicos]

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson

Brenton Sanderson

Age

50

Ht

185cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.7

4star

K

11.0

4star

HB

4.6

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

22.4

5star

K

16.0

5star

HB

6.4

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

picks up fan Dorothy Harris, 100, on way to Geelong match | The Advertiser (adelaidenow.com.au)

 

[terrybull]

How old is that South Melbourne/Sydney bloke that sits in the front behind the goals in all of the Swans games. Remembered reading he was at the 1933 Grand Final.
Is he still alive, still goes to games?

 

[RedmanWasHere]

How old is that South Melbourne/Sydney bloke that sits in the front behind the goals in all of the Swans games. Remembered reading he was at the 1933 Grand Final.
Is he still alive, still goes to games?

Kenny Williams?

He's still kicking.

 

[terrybull]

Kenny Williams?

He's still kicking.

and goes to the games still?
How old is he?

 

[Pistol Night]

Anyone know if a centenarian has ever attended a AFL/ VFL game?

Half the Geelong side most weeks

 

[35Daicos]

and goes to the games still?
How old is he?

He'd be 92 now: Swans-crazed Kenny hits 90 (sydneyswans.com.au)

I don't know if he still goes to the games, but fair chance he does!

 

[SugarShane]

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson picks up fan Dorothy Harris, 100, on way to Geelong match | The Advertiser (adelaidenow.com.au)
View attachment 1175960

Dorothy's still around too by the looks. 107 at last mention in the media but now living closer to family in Tumby Bay.

107yo mum of 11 who survived world wars, Spanish flu, Great Depression, isn't too worried about coronavirus

Dorothy Harris flew with Charles Kingsford Smith as a teen, trapped rabbits to feed her family and has been to the South Pole three times. She's taking the pandemic in her stride.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pickitt]

My great grandpa is 95 and attends geelong games

 

[HairyO]

To somewhat counter this, who's the earliest born person to attend a footy game?

Jordan Lewis' son was 3 or 4 days old when he went to the 2015 Grand Final.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Jordan Lewis' son was 3 or 4 days old when he went to the 2015 Grand Final.

That's not what I'm after.

Let's use the 1900 VFL GF as an example.

Would there have been someone in attendance born in, say, 1810?

 

[HairyO]

That's not what I'm after.

Let's use the 1900 VFL GF as an example.

Would there have been someone in attendance born in, say, 1810?

You would have zero chance. Not even Ron the Bear was alive then.

 

[ioppolo]

Jordan Lewis' son was 3 or 4 days old when he went to the 2015 Grand Final.

That would've been one nervous wait for the birth

 

[ioppolo]

That's not what I'm after.

Let's use the 1900 VFL GF as an example.

Would there have been someone in attendance born in, say, 1810?

Would be interesting to find out but near on impossible to verify.

 

[Spiritof82]

My great grandpa is 95 and attends geelong games

If he enters the AFL draft he's odds on to be picked up by Geelong at the end of the year

 

[Pistol Night]

That would've been one nervous wait for the birth

Yep. Would of been hard to tell the wife to record the birth and you'll watch it after Mad Monday

 

[Occidental]

Bill Strickland was 32 when the VFL played its first round in 1897. He was born in 1864

 

[Kingpin]

I knew an elderly Hobart supporter named Lloyd Griggs who passed away around 6-7 years ago at age 99 who, as a youngster attended the first ever TFL match at North Hobart Oval in 1921 and was at Hobart's final ever TSL match at the TCA Ground in 2013.
He also told me that he'd been to a number of matches in Melbourne over the years including the one where Bluey Truscott made a special guest appearance on leave from the RAAF to captain Melbourne against Richmond at Punt Road in 1942, he said both clubs were sharing the ground tbat year as the MCG was comandeered by the military.
Said Jack Dyer, Skinny Titus and Bernie Waldron (who later played for Hobart in the late 40s and early 50s) were playing for the Tigers and Fred Fanning, Norm Smith etc were playing for Melbourne. Reckoned it was a great match to be a part of, Richmond won pretty èasily, he said.
A very spritely old gentleman who only looked in his mid-70s and not close to 100. Still drove everywhere too.

 

[evsy58]

Love this. The person who's the oldest should get themselves in the Guinness world records.

 

[Kingpin]

My great grandpa is 95 and attends geelong games

Does he still attend matches? He would've been stoked with their flag last season I'm sure.
Hope he got to see it

 

[Pickitt]

Does he still attend matches? He would've been stoked with their flag last season I'm sure.
Hope he got to see it

Sure did mate, was very happy