John Fidge
Encyclopedia
John Fidge is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Melbourne
and the Brisbane Bears
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1980s. He also played for Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
Fidge made his VFL debut as a 17 year old centre half forward in 1984, starring with four goals and 23 disposals in a loss to Essendon
. He finished his first season with 27 goals from 12 appearances, missing games mid year with a knee injury. Recruited from St Peters East Bentleigh, he played 16 times in 1985 and booted six goals against North Melbourne
at the MCG
, his best return for Melbourne. It was also the first year where he played games with his brother Ted at Melbourne. He suffered from stress fractures in his foot during 1986 but kicked 12 goals from his four games.
He was one of many VFL players to join the new Brisbane Bears
team for their inaugural season in 1987 and played in every one of their first eight games. Late in the season he kicked six goals against Fitzroy
to equal his career best and followed it up the following week with five goals and six behinds against his former club. Injuries returned in 1988 and Fidge, who had an icy relationship with coach Peter Knights
, was sacked a few games into the 1989 season.
For the rest of 1989, Fidge played with Glenelg in the SANFL. He was selected by the Sydney Swans
in the 1989 VFL Draft
but chose to remain in South Australia. His decision to stay at Glenelg in 1990 paid off, as he kicked 124 goals for the year, five of them in the Grand Final loss
to Port Adelaide. Despite his large goal tally for the season he didn't take home the Ken Farmer Medal
, which went to Scott Hodges
of Port Adelaide
who kicked 153 goals.
Fidge was picked up by Essendon with the 24th pick of the 1990 AFL Draft
, but he didn't play a VFL game for them and returned to Glenelg.
He again topped Glenelg's goal-kicking in 1992 with 92 goals and once more finished second in the league. Glenelg made the Grand Final
once again, but Fidge's four goals weren't enough to get them over the line. The following year he kicked a more modest 56 goals but it saw him top his club's goal-kicking for the third and final time. He retired after 69 games and 316 goals in the SANFL.
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 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....
and the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
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) during the 1980s. He also played for Glenelg in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL).
Fidge made his VFL debut as a 17 year old centre half forward in 1984, starring with four goals and 23 disposals in a loss to Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. He finished his first season with 27 goals from 12 appearances, missing games mid year with a knee injury. Recruited from St Peters East Bentleigh, he played 16 times in 1985 and booted six goals against North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, his best return for Melbourne. It was also the first year where he played games with his brother Ted at Melbourne. He suffered from stress fractures in his foot during 1986 but kicked 12 goals from his four games.
He was one of many VFL players to join the new Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
team for their inaugural season in 1987 and played in every one of their first eight games. Late in the season he kicked six goals 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...
to equal his career best and followed it up the following week with five goals and six behinds against his former club. Injuries returned in 1988 and Fidge, who had an icy relationship with coach Peter Knights
Peter Knights
Peter Knights is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. He is widely regarded as one of the finest centre half-backs to have played the game, despite suffering numerous injuries...
, was sacked a few games into the 1989 season.
For the rest of 1989, Fidge played with Glenelg in the SANFL. He was selected by the Sydney Swans
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 1989 VFL Draft
1989 VFL Draft
The 1989 VFL Draft was the fourth annual National Draft held by the Victorian Football League as the main method for the 14 teams to recruit players for the 1990 season. It consisted of a trading period, pre-draft selections, the main national draft and the 1990 pre-season draft and a...
but chose to remain in South Australia. His decision to stay at Glenelg in 1990 paid off, as he kicked 124 goals for the year, five of them in the Grand Final loss
1990 SANFL Grand Final
The 1990 SANFL Grand Final saw the Port Adelaide Magpies defeat the Glenelg Tigers by 15 points. The match was played on Sunday 7 October 1990 at Football Park in front of a crowd of 50,589 .-Quarter by Quarter Scores:...
to Port Adelaide. Despite his large goal tally for the season he didn't take home the Ken Farmer Medal
Ken Farmer Medal
The Ken Farmer Medal is named in honour of the Australian rules footballer , North Adelaide Football Club full forward Ken Farmer. The medal is awarded to the SANFL's top goalkicker at the end of the minor round of matches each season and was instigated in 1981.- Ken Farmer Medallists :- Leading...
, which went to Scott Hodges
Scott Hodges
Scott Lyall Hodges is a former Australian rules footballer and champion goal kicker who holds the SANFL record for most goals kicked in a league season when he kicked 153 goals in 1990...
of Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
who kicked 153 goals.
Fidge was picked up by Essendon with the 24th pick of the 1990 AFL Draft
1990 AFL Draft
The 1990 AFL Draft was the 5th annual draft of Australian rules footballers to the 14 clubs in the Australian Football League. It consisted of the national draft held at the end of the 1990 season, the pre-season draft, held before 1991 AFL season and a mid-season draft.Clubs receive picks based...
, but he didn't play a VFL game for them and returned to Glenelg.
He again topped Glenelg's goal-kicking in 1992 with 92 goals and once more finished second in the league. Glenelg made the Grand Final
1992 SANFL Grand Final
The 1992 SANFL Grand Final saw the Port Adelaide Magpies defeat the Glenelg Tigers by 56 points. The match was played on Saturday 3 October 1992 at Football Park in wet weather in front of a crowd of 42,242 ....
once again, but Fidge's four goals weren't enough to get them over the line. The following year he kicked a more modest 56 goals but it saw him top his club's goal-kicking for the third and final time. He retired after 69 games and 316 goals in the SANFL.