Garry Foulds
Encyclopedia
Garry Foulds is a former Australian rules football
er 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.
, 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.
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." 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." 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." 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."
Despite being only one of five players to play 300 matches for the Essendon Football Club, Foulds says the 1984 Grand Final victory over Hawthorn
was "probably his greatest memory," and was "more satisfying than playing 300 games." 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." Foulds was also a part of Essendon's 1983 Grand Final loss to Hawthorn and their 1985 victory over the same opposition.
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.
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 300 games for the Essendon Football Club
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
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
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
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
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in 1984 and 1985, along with playing in the 1983 Grand Final loss against the same opposition.
Biography
While he attended St Bernard's College [college of fellow VFL/AFL 300 gamers, Simon and Justin Madden in MelbourneMelbourne
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...
, Foulds played with West Essendon juniors in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
. Then Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
senior 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...
[now AFL] captain, Des Tuddenham
Des Tuddenham
Desmond Vincent Tuddenham is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a half forward flanker....
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.
He spent two years playing reserves and under–19s football before he made his senior debut in round 8 1974, against Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
at Lake Oval
Lake Oval
The Lake Oval was an Australian rules football and cricket stadium located in Albert Park, Victoria. It was the home of the South Melbourne Football Club from 1878 until their relocation to Sydney in 1982 , and also of the South Melbourne Cricket Club...
. 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
Half-back line
In the sport of Australian rules football, the half-back line refers to the positions of the 3 players on the field that occupy the centre-half back and left and right half-back flank positions....
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." His teammate Robert Shaw
Robert Shaw
-Arts and humanities:* Bob Shaw , Irish science fiction writer* Bob Shaw , co-writer for Seinfeld, A Bugs Life and others* Robert J...
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." 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." 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
Francis Bourke
Francis William Bourke is a former Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League between 1967 and 1981 for the Richmond Football Club and coached the club between 1982 and 1983. One of the most respected Australian footballers of any era, Bourke was nicknamed "St...
," 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."
Despite being only one of five players to play 300 matches for the Essendon Football Club, Foulds says the 1984 Grand Final victory over Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
was "probably his greatest memory," and was "more satisfying than playing 300 games." 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." Foulds was also a part of Essendon's 1983 Grand Final loss to Hawthorn and their 1985 victory over the same opposition.
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.