Discussion Players with interesting/impressive/bizarre off-field stories

[SpareTowel]

Who is there besides Tom Wills and George Coulthard? I love learning about old footy players who act as a sort of symbolic relation to their time period - a window into social history as much as footy history.

 

[Michael Riley]

Doug Nicholls has an amazing life story. ...definitely in the impressive category..and a great icon fom the 1930's

Harry Beitzal...not a player, but....interesting and iconic

 

[Michael Riley]

Ambrose Palmer - Boxer
Laurie Nash, Clem Hill - Cricket
Ray Groom - Politics
Ted Hopkins - Stats
Phil Cleary, Rex Hunt

Not Bizzarre - But have a look at people related to football who made it into the Australian Dictionary of Biography
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=23

 

[35Daicos]

Lindsay Fox
Keith Miller
Max Walker
Simon O'Donnell

 

[CHBenchwarmer]

Adam Goodes for being Australian of the year

 

[killer]

Robert Tudawali

 

[Plugger46]

Joel Macdonald from Brisbane and Melbourne i believe
Made fortunes more then footy

 

[RogerDean]

Ambrose Palmer - Boxer
Laurie Nash, Clem Hill - Cricket
Ray Groom - Politics
Ted Hopkins - Stats
Phil Cleary, Rex Hunt

Not Bizzarre - But have a look at people related to football who made it into the Australian Dictionary of Biography
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=23

Ted Hopkins also had a long career printing rock gig posters in Melbourne!

 

[kick it to tim]

Essendon's first VFL captain George Stuckey not only led his team to the 1897 premiership but he also won that year's Stawelll Gift in 12.2 seconds, off a handicap of 12 yards. On top of this he also played first class cricket for Victoria!

 

[WhiteHartLane23]

Ambrose Palmer - Boxer
Not Bizzarre - But have a look at people related to football who made it into the Australian Dictionary of Biography
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=23

Victor Hurley is another one - noted surgeon, decorated service record in both World Wars

Michael Riley - should be added to the Boyle's list (ADB entry is linked on his wikipedia page)

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Was it Daniel Cross and Tom Williams who saved someone in Hong Kong last decade?

 

[Todman]

IIRC a player in the Mid Gippsland League was (Yinnar?) was watching the reserves game and got shot in the neck by a stray bullet. It occurred sometime between 1985-1995 and I think it was at Boolarra.

The 22 calibre bullet still had enough force to graze him and broke skin before lodging in his clothing. It didn't stop him from playing seniors that afternoon.

 

[the croucher]

Was it Daniel Cross and Tom Williams who saved someone in Hong Kong last decade?

Yep, spot on.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vi...8aae30d5b?sv=3b2b15535c5d37d0666e7f73641c393b

 

[sherbrook]

Brian Dixon.... Member of Parliament
Rev. Dennis Oakley (St K)

 

[Snidely Whiplash]

Jack Denning played 2 games for Collingwood in 1899, and was known as the "Overland Cyclist".

In 1898 he completed a cycling trip from Fremantle to Brisbane (via Melbourne and Sydney) in 58 days, beating the old record by 2 days, despite having a bad accident just before reaching Sydney and losing 4 days whilst unconscious and needing bike repairs. Unfortunately he was in a race with his nemesis, H A White, riding a competitors bicycle model, who was able to overtake Denning just before Brisbane.

His nephew was Clen Denning who played over 170 games with Carlton and Fitzroy in the 30s and 40s, and whose claim to fame was kicking 6 goals with his first 6 kicks in VFL footy.

 

[worbod]

Major General Alan Stretton. Played 16 games for St Kilda (1946-47). He was a senior officer in the Australian Army. He came to public prominence through his work in charge of cleanup efforts at Darwin in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and was Australian of the Year in 1975.

 

[35Daicos]

Jack Denning played 2 games for Collingwood in 1899, and was known as the "Overland Cyclist".

In 1898 he completed a cycling trip from Fremantle to Brisbane (via Melbourne and Sydney) in 58 days, beating the old record by 2 days, despite having a bad accident just before reaching Sydney and losing 4 days whilst unconscious and needing bike repairs. Unfortunately he was in a race with his nemesis, H A White, riding a competitors bicycle model, who was able to overtake Denning just before Brisbane.

His nephew was Clen Denning who played over 170 games with Carlton and Fitzroy in the 30s and 40s, and whose claim to fame was kicking 6 goals with his first 6 kicks in VFL footy.

A new look, Snidely?! You have lots to offer mate, so more posts from you would be a good thing!

 

[sherbrook]

Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls played for Fitzroy/Carlton and became Governor of SA

 

[worbod]

Ashley Fernee played 2 games for Adelaide in 1996 and is now known as Ash Vegas in his guise as a professional magician.

 

[Supermercado]

Three of Melbourne's 1964 list became politicians - Brian Dixon and Robert Miller in Victoria, and Ray Groom in Tasmania, first as a federal MP then a state MP and premier.

Dixon entered parliament in 1964, serving one term with Alex Fraser - who had played for Melbourne in 1914/1915.

 

[jle101]

After being delisted by Essendon in the early 90's, Brett Montgomery played a fair bit of cricket in England before returning to Australia & breaking into the Port side in '97.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

After being delisted by Essendon in the early 90's, Brett Montgomery played a fair bit of cricket in England before returning to Australia & breaking into the Port side in '97.

He started at Footscray in 1997 and was traded to Port Adelaide at the end of 1999 in exchange for Nathan Eagleton.

 

[Damon_3388]

Ted Hopkins also had a long career printing rock gig posters in Melbourne!

He was also one of the founders of Champion Data too.