VFL/AFL players who died young

[TheFourPillars]

He was playing VFA Under 19s at age 14. Absolutely remarkable in itself.

Coach Terry Wheeler picked him to play in the SENIOR grand final, where he made his debut. 14 years old, in a senior state league GF. Unbelievable.

Thanks for sharing this mate. I had tears.

 

[Billy ray]

now Adam Hunter too (former west coast)

 

[Butters and Pepper]

Very delicate subject matter and I don't really know to make the point I'm trying to, but with 2 relatively recent players dying so close together, it would be very sad if the media publicity (Im not putting any blame on media) about the first, somehow triggered the second to follow in a "copy cat" manner.

 

[Hawksboy72]

The VFA GF appearance is one of the most incredible stories in football history, and not that well known.

1985 ( i think) 1st division GF.

On SM-S918B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Occidental]

One of the greatest players of all time, Bill Morris died tragically young at age 38.
Morris won Richmond’s Best & Fairest 3 times, captained the club, captained Victoria, won the Brownlow in 1948, came second in the Brownlow in 1946 and third in 1950. He was selected in Richmond’s Team of the Century. Morris is also a member of the AFL Hall of Fame.
Morris and his wife had split early in 1960. Sadly his body was found at his home in East Malvern in May 1960.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

John Reeves died in 1970 at just 41 years old.

There's a Reid who died in 1955 and a Gilmore (Brian, FOOT) who died years before grandson Daniel Gilmore, who'd debut for the Dockers in 2004, was born.

 

[Sphynx]

Another who died tragically young was Michael Kekovich, youngest brother of Sam and Brian.

Michael had played reserves games and a senior night premiership game for North Melbourne when he was hit and killed by a car while on a training run (on his own, not club training) aged 17 in June 1971.

Who by all reports was an amazing young player with superstar potential. Even better than Sam and Sam could have been anything really if he wasn't a lunatic.

He debuted in that night game in the North seniors as a 16 year old (as a ruck/forward to boot...).

He was killed running home following playing in a game for Trinity Grammar, he wanted to play school football and u/19's instead of senior VFL football until he finished school that year. He was crowned North's best young player in their u19's as both a 15 and 16 year old I believe.

Allan Aylett was on record as saying he only had a few months left of school, following which he would have been an immediate inclusion in the senior North VFL side from then on. Barassi joined North 18 months later.

Given the strength of the looming North side in the 70's, it's fair to say he's definitely a name that was lost to that era.

 

[Todman]

 

[Todman]

 

[Todman]

I did not create the two spreadsheets above, it popped up on my facebook

VFL Footy in the 1980s​

 

[RedmanWasHere]

Looking at it now.

No doubt more will be added.

 

[Todman]

There was a former Carlton player (Bob Lane) who was a policeman was murdered in in NSW. He was stationed at Swan Hill. Died mid 1970s.

Bob Lane: Blues Honour Policeman | Blueseum - History of the Carlton Football Club

First published: 2006

www.blueseum.org

 

[Todman]

Unfortunately we can add Andrew Krakouer, a heart attack at 42.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I don't know if this guy has been mentioned, but back in 1970, Essendon had a player named Doug Tassell who I think was killed in a car accident. He had played the week before I believe.

 

[manureid]

Not VFL obviously, but both brothers played, Anthony Williams, brother of Mark and Stephen Williams, played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL and was killed when a brick wall fell on him. He was 29

 

[windyhill]

Merv Neagle in a truck rollover. My all time idol.

 

[Glorfindel]

Colin Sylvia
Shane Yarran
Harley Balic
Shane Tuck
Danny Frawley (young-ish)

 

[Todman]

Bill Hutchison - Essendon dual Brownlow medalist 28/4/1923 to 18/6/ 1982 after a short illness.

Graeme Reichman - Collingwood wingman - 4/11/1951 - 11/11/2001 murder - suicide

 

[Magma]

another sanfl one is nick lowden, norwood premiership player who took his own life in 2023 at age 23

 

[Glorfindel]

Colin Sylvia
Shane Yarran
Harley Balic
Shane Tuck
Danny Frawley (young-ish)

Forgot former Hawk rookie Shaun Bergin.
Died after being struck by an opposition player during a match in 2011.
Don’t think he’s in the lists posted by Todman

 

[harper2bastinac]

Only north ones I can think of are Garry Dhurrkay in 2005 and Red Og Murphy, young Irish kid who was on the list in 2019 and then went back to Ireland, then died in 2022 from something covid related

 

[kane249]

Only north ones I can think of are Garry Dhurrkay in 2005 and Red Og Murphy, young Irish kid who was on the list in 2019 and then went back to Ireland, then died in 2022 from something covid related

Wasn't COVID related, another victim of the black dog sadly

The life and death of Red Óg Murphy: ‘We had no reason to believe anything was wrong’

The family of the young Sligo footballer who died by suicide in April implores young people to talk about their problems

www.irishtimes.com

 

[harper2bastinac]

Wasn't COVID related, another victim of the black dog sadly

The life and death of Red Óg Murphy: ‘We had no reason to believe anything was wrong’

The family of the young Sligo footballer who died by suicide in April implores young people to talk about their problems

www.irishtimes.com

Sorry I had no idea about that one

 

[Todman]

Forgot former Hawk rookie Shaun Bergin.
Died after being struck by an opposition player during a match in 2011.
Don’t think he’s in the lists posted by Todman

Footballer Shaun Bergin loved life

The family of Balwyn footballer Shaun Bergin says he died doing what he loved - playing footy.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[Todman]

I don't know if this guy has been mentioned, but back in 1970, Essendon had a player named Doug Tassell who I think was killed in a car accident. He had played the week before I believe.

Doug Tassell was a promising solid half-back flanker from Ararat. He played nine consecutive games from Round 7 to Round 15 in 1969 before returning to Ararat at the end of the season. He had built a home there for his wife and son, and was undecided about continuing his football career.

However, he returned in 1970 and played eleven games from Round 1 to Round 11 before being injured in the game against St Kilda. Being unable to play the next game, he was returning to Ararat to visit his family with two friends when their car ran off the road and hit a tree, killing all three.

His death shocked the football world and supporters wept when a minute's silence was held for him before the game at Windy Hill that afternoon.

The 1970 Annual Report reported that the Committee had sponsored a Benefit Fund for his wife and child and appointed Clive Ward, Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds as organisers. Collections were taken up at matches and many functions were organised, eventually raising $5319.49.

Tassell died on 26th June, 1970.