Charlie Ricketts
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Ricketts (born 3 July 1885) was a former Australian rules football
er and coach in the Victorian Football League.
Ricketts was a champion rover for the Richmond Football Club
in the Victorian Football Association from 1903 to 1905. Winning the club's 1904 Best and Fairest
award, he represented the VFA twice in 1905 and kicked two goals in the Richmond
premiership side.
The next season he crossed to the South Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League. He was considered a highly-skilled player noted for his accuracy, particularly with his passes. By 1908 he had earned a reputation as one of the premier players in the VFL and the following season he led South Melbourne
to their first League premiership as captain-coach. Despite this success he was replaced as captain-coach for 1910 by William Thomas
, but he regained his position for 1912, leading South Melbourne
to a (losing) VFL Grand Final
. For 1913 he was again denied the opportunity to captain the side by the disapproving South
committee (despite winning the vote).
Ricketts moved back to Richmond
, who were now in the VFL, for the 1913 and 1914 seasons before taking the rein
s as a non-playing coach for 1915 and 1916. After a hiatus from the VFL due to World War I
, Ricketts coached St Kilda for the 1920 season and was playing coach in 1921. Following this, he retired from VFL football.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er and coach in the Victorian Football League.
Ricketts was a champion rover for the Richmond Football Club
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the Victorian Football Association from 1903 to 1905. Winning the club's 1904 Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award, he represented the VFA twice in 1905 and kicked two goals in the Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
premiership side.
The next season he crossed to the South Melbourne Football Club
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the Victorian Football League. He was considered a highly-skilled player noted for his accuracy, particularly with his passes. By 1908 he had earned a reputation as one of the premier players in the VFL and the following season he led South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
to their first League premiership as captain-coach. Despite this success he was replaced as captain-coach for 1910 by William Thomas
William Thomas (footballer)
William 'Bill' Thomas was a former Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the VFL between 1906 and 1913 and then for the Richmond Football Club from 1914 to 1916 and again in 1919...
, but he regained his position for 1912, leading South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
to a (losing) VFL Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
. For 1913 he was again denied the opportunity to captain the side by the disapproving South
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
committee (despite winning the vote).
Ricketts moved back to Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
, who were now in the VFL, for the 1913 and 1914 seasons before taking the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s as a non-playing coach for 1915 and 1916. After a hiatus from the VFL due to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Ricketts coached St Kilda for the 1920 season and was playing coach in 1921. Following this, he retired from VFL football.