David Rhys-Jones
Encyclopedia
David Rhys-Jones is a former Australian rules football
er who played for the Carlton Football Club
and the Sydney Swans
in the VFL/AFL. The highlight of his 182 game career was winning the Norm Smith Medal
as best on ground in Carlton's 1987 Grand Final
victory. Rhys-Jones played junior football in the same side as Warwick Capper
while at the Oakleigh Dragons.
Rhys-Jones began his career with South Melbourne in 1980 which then relocated becoming the Sydney Swans in 1982. He moved back south to join Carlton Football Club in 1985. Rhys-Jones remained with Carlton until his retirement in 1992. A controversial player, Rhys-Jones stood out on this field with his blond locks and aggressive nature. At the time of his retirement he held the record for the most tribunal appearances with 42. Rhys-Jones was charged 25 times and suspended for a total of 22 matches as well as appearing 17 times as the victim. Current AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou
was once reported for striking Rhys-Jones.
In 1992 Rhys-Jones was appointed captain-coach of the North Launceston Football Club
. After playing his 50th game in the 1995 winning grand final team Rhys-Jones left to coach Frankston
in the Victorian Football Association. After three years of successive finals appearances, including two grand finals, Rhys-Jones quit Frankston to concentrate on media commitments.
In 2000 he was appointed coach of Heidelberg Football Club
. After a run of injuries in 2001 he decided to pull on the boots himself and was quickly suspended by the Diamond Valley league
from playing football until 2003 and fined $3000 after assaulting an opponent. The tribunal ruling that he was not allowed on the field forced Rhys-Jones to give his quarter-time team addresses from behind the boundary line. The following year he announced in his biography that he used cocaine
during his playing career.
Rhys-Jones married his second wife Cheri Donnelly in Queensland
in 2001. They have a son together, Cooper, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome
, and a daughter Madison.Rhys-Jones and wife Cheri took over the Canada Hotel in Lygon Sreet
, Carlton in 2002 renaming it the Plough and Harrow Hotel. That year Rhys-Jones joined a reality show on Channel 7, called The Club
; and was chosen by audience votes to coach a new Australian rules football team in the Western Region Football League
. The team was named Hammerheads which Rhys-Jones coached to a Premiership in its inaugural year. Rhys-Jones has three children from his first marriage, Sharna, Molly, and Dakota. Rhys-Jones currently lives in Melbourne.
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 who played for the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
and the Sydney Swans
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 VFL/AFL. The highlight of his 182 game career was winning the Norm Smith Medal
Norm Smith Medal
The Norm Smith Medal is the award given in the AFL Grand Final to the player adjudged by an independent panel of experts to have been the best player in the match.-History:The Norm Smith Medal is named after former Melbourne player and coach, Norm Smith...
as best on ground in Carlton's 1987 Grand Final
1987 VFL Grand Final
The 1987 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Carlton Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 26 September 1987. It was the 91st annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine...
victory. Rhys-Jones played junior football in the same side as Warwick Capper
Warwick Capper
Warwick Capper is a retired high profile professional Australian rules football full-forward who played with the Sydney Swans with a short stint at the Brisbane Bears in the VFL ....
while at the Oakleigh Dragons.
Rhys-Jones began his career with South Melbourne in 1980 which then relocated becoming the Sydney Swans in 1982. He moved back south to join Carlton Football Club in 1985. Rhys-Jones remained with Carlton until his retirement in 1992. A controversial player, Rhys-Jones stood out on this field with his blond locks and aggressive nature. At the time of his retirement he held the record for the most tribunal appearances with 42. Rhys-Jones was charged 25 times and suspended for a total of 22 matches as well as appearing 17 times as the victim. Current AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou
Andrew Demetriou
Andrew Demetriou is the chief executive officer of the Australian Football League and a former Australian rules footballer. He is the youngest son of Greek-Cypriot immigrants and, before becoming a VFL player, he worked in the dental import industry...
was once reported for striking Rhys-Jones.
In 1992 Rhys-Jones was appointed captain-coach of the North Launceston Football Club
North Launceston Football Club
The North Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Launceston, Tasmania. Australia. Since 2009 they have played in the newly formed Tasmanian State League.-History:...
. After playing his 50th game in the 1995 winning grand final team Rhys-Jones left to coach Frankston
Frankston Football Club
Frankston Football Club, nicknamed The Dolphins, is an Australian rules football club based in Frankston, Victoria and currently playing in the Victorian Football League. The club was formed in 1887. The Dolphins have no alignments to any AFL clubs.-Peninsula Football Association:Frankston was a...
in the Victorian Football Association. After three years of successive finals appearances, including two grand finals, Rhys-Jones quit Frankston to concentrate on media commitments.
In 2000 he was appointed coach of Heidelberg Football Club
Heidelberg Football Club
Heidelberg Football Club is an Australian rules football club in Heidelberg, Victoria, currently competing in the Northern Football League.-History:...
. After a run of injuries in 2001 he decided to pull on the boots himself and was quickly suspended by the Diamond Valley league
Diamond Valley Football League
The Northern Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Diamond Valley region of suburban Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The league changed its name on 1 May 2007. The league was founded in 1922, originally having seven clubs, four of whom are still participating...
from playing football until 2003 and fined $3000 after assaulting an opponent. The tribunal ruling that he was not allowed on the field forced Rhys-Jones to give his quarter-time team addresses from behind the boundary line. The following year he announced in his biography that he used cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
during his playing career.
Rhys-Jones married his second wife Cheri Donnelly in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in 2001. They have a son together, Cooper, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome
Prader–Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which seven genes on chromosome 15 are deleted or unexpressed on the paternal chromosome...
, and a daughter Madison.Rhys-Jones and wife Cheri took over the Canada Hotel in Lygon Sreet
Lygon Street, Melbourne
Lygon Street is a street in inner northern Melbourne, Australia running through the suburbs of Carlton, Carlton North, Princes Hill and Brunswick East. Lygon Street's name has become synonymous with Italian restaurants and cafés located in the Carlton part of the street...
, Carlton in 2002 renaming it the Plough and Harrow Hotel. That year Rhys-Jones joined a reality show on Channel 7, called The Club
The Club (Australian reality show)
The Club was an Australian reality television show about an Australian rules football sporting side, the Hammerheads, which was screened on the Seven Network in 2002 for one series...
; and was chosen by audience votes to coach a new Australian rules football team in the Western Region Football League
Western Region Football League
The Western Region Football League is an Australian rules football semi-professional league, based in the western suburbs of Melbourne, for both seniors and juniors.-History:The league was formed in 1931, as the Footscray District Football League...
. The team was named Hammerheads which Rhys-Jones coached to a Premiership in its inaugural year. Rhys-Jones has three children from his first marriage, Sharna, Molly, and Dakota. Rhys-Jones currently lives in Melbourne.