Len Fitzgerald
Encyclopedia
Len Fitzgerald was a former Australian rules football
er of exceptional talent in the VFL
and SANFL. At various time he played in the key positions of centre half-forward
, centre half-back
and ruck-rover.
at the age of 15, in 1945. By 1950 he was an established key player with arguably the country's most illustrious sporting club.
in the South Australian competition.
Fitzgerald was clearly attracted to the offer of better paying employment proferred by Sturt. One source has suggested however that the move was engineered by Collingwood powerbroker John Wren
at the behest of a political ally in South Australia.
as the "fairest and most brilliant" player in the League. He was to win two more in 1954 and 1959.
Despite Fitzgerald's brilliance, Sturt was unable to secure a premiership. In 1955 Fitzgerald managed to get Sturt to the preliminary final, but the club failed to honour a promise of a bonus. Fitzgerald took himself to the Ovens and Murray League
for the next three seasons, coaching and playing for Benalla
.
When Fitzgerald returned to Sturt in 1959, he helped them to make the finals that year, the first time since his departure. Injuries began to take their toll on his playing and Fitzgerald finished his playing career in 1962 after playing 127 games for Sturt, kicking 201 goals and winning the club's best and fairest award three times. He represented his adopted State of South Australia
20 times and was named an All Australian in the 1953 Adelaide Carnival
.
Fitzgerald coached Glenelg for three seasons after his retirement as a player, but with little success.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 1996 and the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2002, as one of the inaugural inductees in each.
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 of exceptional talent in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and SANFL. At various time he played in the key positions of centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
, centre half-back
Centre half-back
In Australian rules football, the centre half-back refers to a position in the half-back line of a football field.Centre half back is considered a key position in defence. Examples of centre half-backs include Glen Jakovich, Darren Mead, Tom Harley and Chris Tarrant....
and ruck-rover.
VFL career
Fitzgerald started his career at CollingwoodCollingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at the age of 15, in 1945. By 1950 he was an established key player with arguably the country's most illustrious sporting club.
Move to SANFL
It was thus surprising that in 1951 he was lured to the Sturt Football ClubSturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
in the South Australian competition.
Fitzgerald was clearly attracted to the offer of better paying employment proferred by Sturt. One source has suggested however that the move was engineered by Collingwood powerbroker John Wren
John Wren
John Wren was an Australian businessman. He has become a legendary figure thanks mainly to a fictionalised account of his life in Frank Hardy's novel Power Without Glory, which was also made into a television series...
at the behest of a political ally in South Australia.
SANFL career
Arriving at Sturt in 1951, Fitzgerald quickly made an impression, being appointed captain after three games, and took over the coaching role mid-season. In 1952 Fitzgerald dominated the League, winning his first Magarey MedalMagarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
as the "fairest and most brilliant" player in the League. He was to win two more in 1954 and 1959.
Despite Fitzgerald's brilliance, Sturt was unable to secure a premiership. In 1955 Fitzgerald managed to get Sturt to the preliminary final, but the club failed to honour a promise of a bonus. Fitzgerald took himself to the Ovens and Murray League
Ovens & Murray Football League
The Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
for the next three seasons, coaching and playing for Benalla
Benalla Football Club
The Benalla Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Goulburn Valley Football League.The club is based in Benalla, Victoria....
.
When Fitzgerald returned to Sturt in 1959, he helped them to make the finals that year, the first time since his departure. Injuries began to take their toll on his playing and Fitzgerald finished his playing career in 1962 after playing 127 games for Sturt, kicking 201 goals and winning the club's best and fairest award three times. He represented his adopted State of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
20 times and was named an All Australian in the 1953 Adelaide Carnival
1953 Adelaide Carnival
The 1953 Adelaide Carnival was the 12th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition...
.
Fitzgerald coached Glenelg for three seasons after his retirement as a player, but with little success.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 1996 and the SANFL Hall of Fame in 2002, as one of the inaugural inductees in each.