Garry Foulds

Last updated

Garry Foulds
Personal information
Date of birth (1956-05-13) 13 May 1956 (age 67)
Original team(s) St Bernards / West Essendon
Debut Round 8, 1974, Essendon  vs. Fitzroy, at Lake Oval
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Position(s) Utility
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1974–1989 Essendon 300 (140)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1989.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Garry Foulds (born 13 May 1956) is a former Australian rules footballer who played 300 games for the Essendon Football Club between 1974 and 1989. Described as "a ball magnet", Foulds spent the majority of his career playing on the wing or floating across the half-back line. He made his Victorian Football League (VFL) debut against Fitzroy in round 8 1974, after playing in the Essendon under–19s. He struggled to hold his place in the side before becoming a regular in 1977. Foulds was part of Essendon's Grand Final winning sides over Hawthorn in 1984 and 1985, along with playing in the 1983 Grand Final loss against the same opposition.

Contents

Biography

While he attended St Bernard's College [college of fellow VFL/AFL 300 gamers, Simon and Justin Madden [1] in Melbourne, Foulds played with West Essendon juniors in the Essendon District Football League. Then Essendon senior Victorian Football League [now AFL] captain, Des Tuddenham convinced Foulds to train with Essendon. "I was playing under-17s at the time and had just got home from training. My brother told me Des Tuddenham was at the door but I didn't believe him so I didn't bother to check. He came again and said he was waiting for me — I thought I would play along and went out to check and got the biggest shock of my life," Foulds said. By the end of the week he was training with Essendon and was playing in the under–19s. [2]

He spent two years playing reserves and under–19s football before he made his senior debut in round 8 1974, against Fitzroy at Lake Oval. He struggled to hold his place in the side in the coming seasons, until he had a breakout season in 1977. The year saw him often win the ball across half-back or the midfield. Some experts said that Foulds would often have an "uncanny ability to be in the right play at the right time," and was a "dangerous player when he had the ball." [2] His teammate Robert Shaw said that Foulds had "one of the best kicks you would ever see. He was over six feet tall and had real pace so he could carry the ball." [2] In response, Foulds said: "I just used to try and sum up situations and if I thought my opponent was running to the wrong place I would go the other way." [2] His last Australia Football League [AFL] coach Kevin Sheedy, was full of praise for Foulds: "He was a very accomplished footballer. I put him to full-forward and against Richmond in 1981 and he kicked seven goals on Francis Bourke," Sheedy said. "He was a very smart footballer — not a crash and bang type of player but very calculating. He was unselfish, a good team man." [2]

Despite being only one of five players to play 300 matches for the Essendon Football Club, [3] Foulds says the 1984 Grand Final victory over Hawthorn was "probably his greatest memory," and was "more satisfying than playing 300 games." [2] Commenting further on the 1984 victory he said: "After being at Essendon for 10 years, it was a pretty big achievement to know that we had won a Grand Final." [2] Foulds was also a part of Essendon's 1983 Grand Final loss to Hawthorn and their 1985 victory over the same opposition. [2]

Though Foulds played 300 games, he was not an iconic figure at the club. "When I played at Essendon I wasn't in the media much and it suited me and enabled me to concentrate on football. I was happy playing the game. I enjoyed playing and the people I played with and the friends I made out of football," said Foulds. [2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Sheedy (2008), p. 223.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Matthews (2002), p. 219.
  3. ↑ Sheahan, Mike. "Stats show that Adelaide Crows' Tyson Edwards is overworked, underrated". Fox Sports. Retrieved 6 June 2009.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essendon Football Club</span> Australian rules football club

The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the game's premier competition. The club was formed by the McCracken family in their Ascot Vale home "Alisa", and while the exact date is unknown, it is generally accepted to have been in 1872. The club's first recorded game took place on 7 June 1873 against a Carlton Second 20. From 1878 until 1896, the club played in the Victorian Football Association, then joined seven other clubs in October 1896 to form the breakaway Victorian Football League. Headquartered at the Essendon Recreation Ground, known as Windy Hill, from 1922 to 2013, the club moved to The Hangar in near Tullamarine in late 2013 on land owned by the Melbourne Airport. The club currently plays its home games at either Docklands Stadium or the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Zach Merrett is the current club captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leigh Matthews</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1952)

Leigh Raymond Matthews is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and coached Collingwood and the Brisbane Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Watson</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1961

Timothy Michael Watson is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). After retiring from the game, he has continued working in the Australian football industry as a coach, sports journalist and media personality.

Joe Misiti is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Knights</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1970

Matthew Knights is an Australian rules football coach and former player who is currently serving as an assistant coach with the West Coast Eagles. Knights played in the midfield for the Richmond Football Club from 1988 to 2002, before going on to forge a coaching career, most notably as head coach of the Essendon Football Club from 2008 to 2010. He later became the head coach of the Geelong VFL Football Club from 2012 to 2014, guiding the Cats to the 2012 VFL Premiership and the 2013 VFL Grand Final.

Rivalries in the Australian Football League exist between many teams, most of which typically draw large crowds and interest regardless of both teams' positions on the ladder. The AFL encourages the building of such rivalries, as a method of increasing publicity for the league, to the point of designating one round each year as "Rivalry Round" when many of these match-ups are held on the one weekend. Whilst some rivalries, such as between teams from adjacent areas, are still strong, the designation of an entire round of fixtures as a Rivalry Round is often criticised due to some arbitrary match-ups, or ignoring stronger and more recent rivalries.

The 1990 AFL season was the 94th season of the Australian Football League (AFL) and the first under this name, having been known as the Victorian Football League until 1989. It was the highest level senior Australian rules football competition and administrative body in Victoria; and, as it featured clubs from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, it was the de facto highest level senior competition in Australia. The season featured fourteen clubs, ran from 31 March until 6 October, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.

The 1995 AFL season was the 99th season of the Australian Football League (AFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Australia, which was known as the Victorian Football League until 1989.

The 1989 VFL season was the 93rd season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition and administrative body in Victoria and, by reason of it featuring clubs from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, the de facto highest level senior competition in Australia. The season featured fourteen clubs, ran from 31 March until 30 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.

The 1983 VFL season was the 87th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria.

The 1971 VFL season was the 75th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 3 April until 25 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top four clubs.

The 1975 VFL season was the 79th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 5 April until 27 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs.

Paul Vander Haar is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1990 AFL Grand Final</span> Grand final of the 1990 Australian Football League season

The 1990 AFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and the Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 6 October 1990. It was the 94th annual grand final of the Australian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1990 AFL season. The match, attended by 98,944 spectators, was won by Collingwood by a margin of 48 points, marking that club's 14th premiership victory.

The 1966 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and St Kilda Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 1966. It was the 69th annual grand final of the Victorian Football League (VFL), staged to determine the premiers for the 1966 VFL season. The match, attended by 101,655 spectators, was won by St Kilda by a margin of one point, marking that club's first and only premiership victory to date.

The 1983 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and Essendon Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 1983. It was the 87th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1983 VFL season. The match, attended by 110,332 spectators, was won by Hawthorn by a margin of 83 points, marking that club's fifth premiership victory.

The 1984 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 29 September 1984. It was the 88th annual grand final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1984 VFL season. The match, attended by 92,685 spectators, was won by Essendon by a margin of 24 points, marking that club's 13th premiership victory.

The 1985 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Essendon Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 28 September 1985. It was the 89th annual grand final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers for the 1985 VFL season. The match, attended by 100,042 spectators, was won by Essendon by a margin of 78 points, marking that club's 14th premiership victory.

The AFL Australian Football League is the top professional Australian rules football league in the world. The league consists of eighteen teams: nine based in the city of Melbourne, one from regional Victoria, and eight based in other Australian states. The reason for this unbalanced geographic distribution lies in the history of the league, which was based solely within Victoria from the time it was established in 1897, until the time the league expanded through the addition of clubs from interstate to the existing teams starting in the 1980s; until this expansion, the league was known as the VFL (Victorian Football League).

The 1989 Victorian Football League finals series was the 93rd annual edition of the VFL/AFL final series, the Australian rules football tournament staged to determine the winner of the 1989 VFL Premiership season. The series ran over four weekends in September 1989, culminating with the 1989 VFL Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September 1989.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.