Mick Sibun
Encyclopedia
Gray Rothwell "Mick" Sibun (born 12 April, 1929, in Melbourne
, Victoria
; died 1 May, 2011, in Geelong, Victoria
) was an Australian rules football
er who played for South Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) between 1950
and 1956
, mainly as a rover and half-forward flanker. He also played interstate football
for the VFL.
, Victoria
. Along with Bob Giles, Sibun played for South Melbourne Under-19s. He made his debut for South Melbourne in Round 1 of the 1950 season
, kicking two goals on debut in a match the Swans won by 20 points. Sibun played mainly as a half-forward flanker
, kicking 88 goals in his 111-game VFL career, with a best of four goals, which he recorded twice - once in 1953
against , and once in 1954
, against
, Sibun left the VFL to become playing-coach at Rupanyup
in the Wimmera Football League
(WFL). He captained-coached the club to its first premiership in 1961, and to another in 1963.In total he played 133 games for Rupanyup. He is considered by some to be the best footballer to ever play in the WFL.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
; died 1 May, 2011, in Geelong, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
) was an Australian rules 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 who played for 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
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) between 1950
1950 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1950.-Premiership season:In 1950, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
and 1956
1956 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1956.-1956 Summer Olympics:From 22 November to 8 December, the 1956 Summer Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, with a re-configured Melbourne Cricket Ground as its Main Stadium....
, mainly as a rover and half-forward flanker. He also played interstate football
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
for the VFL.
VFL
Sibun grew up in Albert ParkAlbert Park, Victoria
Albert Park is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip. At the 2006 Census, Albert Park had a population of 5827....
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Along with Bob Giles, Sibun played for South Melbourne Under-19s. He made his debut for South Melbourne in Round 1 of the 1950 season
1950 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1950.-Premiership season:In 1950, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
, kicking two goals on debut in a match the Swans won by 20 points. Sibun played mainly as a half-forward flanker
Half-forward line
In the sport of Australian rules football, the half-forward line refers to a position on the field of play.3 players are positioned in the half-forward line, a left and right half-forward flank player, as well as a centre half-forward....
, kicking 88 goals in his 111-game VFL career, with a best of four goals, which he recorded twice - once in 1953
1953 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1953.-Premiership season:In 1953, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
against , and once in 1954
1954 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1954.-Premiership season:In 1954, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus two substitute players, known as the 19th man and the 20th man...
, against
WFL
After the 1956 season1956 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1956.-1956 Summer Olympics:From 22 November to 8 December, the 1956 Summer Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, with a re-configured Melbourne Cricket Ground as its Main Stadium....
, Sibun left the VFL to become playing-coach at Rupanyup
Rupanyup, Victoria
Rupanyup is a small town in rural Victoria, Australia. As of the 2006 census it had a population of 624. The name Rupanyup is an Aboriginal word meaning 'branch hanging over water'....
in the Wimmera Football League
Wimmera Football League
The Wimmera Football League is based in Western Victoria, with clubs located in towns in the Wimmera region. The regional centres along the Western Highway from Ararat to Nhill as well as Minyip-Murtoa and Warracknabeal.The league is a major country league....
(WFL). He captained-coached the club to its first premiership in 1961, and to another in 1963.In total he played 133 games for Rupanyup. He is considered by some to be the best footballer to ever play in the WFL.