Geoff Whitton
Encyclopedia
Geoff Whitton is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Whitton played his early football at Tasmanian club Sandy Bay
and he won a William Leitch Medal
while playing for them in 1963. He was then a member of Sandy Bay's 1964 premiership team and represented Tasmania at the 1966 Hobart Carnival
. A ruckman, he spent two seasons at Melbourne but struggled to break into the seniors and could only manage eight appearances.
Later on, Whitton turned to coaching and came out of the wilderness to spend a brief but successful stint in 1990 at Sandy Bay
in the TFL Statewide League
.
He took over a struggling Seagull outfit after the mid-season sacking of Shane Williams
, taking them to the finals and eventually bowing out to eventual premier Hobart
in the First Semi Final after looking particularly dangerous until then. Whitton stood down as coach immediately following that loss and has had no involvement in football since.
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 Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
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).
Whitton played his early football at Tasmanian club Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
and he won a William Leitch Medal
William Leitch Medal
The William Leitch Medal was an annual award which was presented to the Best and Fairest player in the TANFL/TFL Statewide League.At various times prior to 1930 and between 1935 and 1939 the TFL award was known by other names....
while playing for them in 1963. He was then a member of Sandy Bay's 1964 premiership team and represented Tasmania at the 1966 Hobart Carnival
1966 Hobart Carnival
The 1966 Hobart Carnival was the 16th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was the final time that Tasmania hosted a carnival....
. A ruckman, he spent two seasons at Melbourne but struggled to break into the seniors and could only manage eight appearances.
Later on, Whitton turned to coaching and came out of the wilderness to spend a brief but successful stint in 1990 at Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
in the TFL Statewide League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
.
He took over a struggling Seagull outfit after the mid-season sacking of Shane Williams
Shane Williams (Australian footballer)
Shane Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond, Geelong and Footscray in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s....
, taking them to the finals and eventually bowing out to eventual premier Hobart
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
in the First Semi Final after looking particularly dangerous until then. Whitton stood down as coach immediately following that loss and has had no involvement in football since.