Alex Lang
Encyclopedia
Alex 'Bongo' Lang was an Australian rules football
er who played with the Carlton Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). Despite being a three time premiership player, Lang will be remembered by history as the joint record holder for the longest ban received from the tribunal.
Recruited by coach Jack Worrall
in 1905, Lang debuted for Carlton in the opening round of the following season. He played as a rover, winning premierships in his first three years at the club and in 1909 was voted by The Australasian newspaper as the most 'Outstanding player in the VFL'.
During the 1910 final series he became involved in a match fixing
scandal after being dropped from the side for their 2nd semi final against South Melbourne
. It had been alleged that he had accepted a bribe to play poorly, along with teammates Doug Gillespie
and Doug Fraser
. Both Carlton and the VFL launched their own investigations and Lang admitted that an offer had been made to him. He claimed however that he did not intend on accepting it. Regardless of his plea of innocence he was found guilty along with Fraser and both were banned for 99 games, a total of five years. Doug Gillespie was exonerated and played in the club's losing Grand Final.
Lang returned to the game in 1916 and brought up his 100th game for Carlton. He retired the following season after playing only three games.
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 with 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...
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). Despite being a three time premiership player, Lang will be remembered by history as the joint record holder for the longest ban received from the tribunal.
Recruited by coach Jack Worrall
Jack Worrall
John "Jack" Worrall was an Australian rules footballer for Fitzroy in the VFA and a test cricketer, a coach of both sports and a sporting journalist....
in 1905, Lang debuted for Carlton in the opening round of the following season. He played as a rover, winning premierships in his first three years at the club and in 1909 was voted by The Australasian newspaper as the most 'Outstanding player in the VFL'.
During the 1910 final series he became involved in a match fixing
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
scandal after being dropped from the side for their 2nd semi final against 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...
. It had been alleged that he had accepted a bribe to play poorly, along with teammates Doug Gillespie
Doug Gillespie
Doug Gillespie was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the Victorian Football League .Gillespie was discovered by Jack Worrall when the Carlton coach saw him kicking the ball with some friends at Princes Park. He was used at full-back by Carlton and played in premiership teams...
and Doug Fraser
Doug Fraser (Australian footballer)
Doug Fraser was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the Victorian Football League .A Yarraville premiership player, Fraser broke into a strong Carlton team in the 1910 VFL season and established a place in the side as a follower...
. Both Carlton and the VFL launched their own investigations and Lang admitted that an offer had been made to him. He claimed however that he did not intend on accepting it. Regardless of his plea of innocence he was found guilty along with Fraser and both were banned for 99 games, a total of five years. Doug Gillespie was exonerated and played in the club's losing Grand Final.
Lang returned to the game in 1916 and brought up his 100th game for Carlton. He retired the following season after playing only three games.