Ken Boyd (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth John "Ken" Boyd (born 6 March 1938) is a former Australian rules football
er who played with South Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Boyd, a ruckman, made his way up the South Melbourne ranks from the thirds, before starting with seniors in 1957. He spent five seasons in the VFL and developed a reputation for his rough playing style. Often falling foul of the umpires, Boyd missed a total of 30 league games during his VFL career through suspension.`
In his debut season he was involved in two separate scuffles with Mike Delanty
, during South Melbourne's round 15 encounter against Collingwood
. He was suspended for eight matches, two for each of the striking charges and an additional four for abusing the umpire.
He battled through injuries in 1958 to play 10 games and the following season put together another 14 matches. The four games which he missed in 1959 were all as a result of a suspension for striking Essendon's Hugh Mitchell
.
Boyd played 17 of a possible 18 games for South Melbourne in 1960 and then had an eventful season in 1961. In round four, Boyd was reported for striking two Carlton
players in the last quarter, John Heathcote
and John Nicholls. He received a six week suspension, three for each incident. When South Melbourne met Carlton again in round 15 at Princes Park, Boyd was once again competing again Nicholls and the two ruckmen resumed hostilities. After the game, the emergency umpire claimed he had seen Boyd strike Nicholls and as he didn't have the authority to file a report, a VFL investigative committee was set up. During the week, Boyd openly admitted to a newspaper journalist that he threw the punch that had knocked Nicholls to the ground and left the Carlton player with concussion and a lacerated cheek. He claimed that it was in retaliation for Nicholls earlier kicking him during a centre bounce. It was a busy week for the South Melbourne ruckman, with his first child being born on the Monday night.
Until a verdict had been reached, Boyd was available for selection and although he missed the next game through injury, he played in South Melbourne's round 17 fixture against Essendon
. His defense team went to the Supreme Court
, seeking an injunction by questioning the legality of the committee but the case was dismissed by Edmund Herring
, the Chief Justice. He received a 12 week suspension and at the end of the season announced his resignation.
He continued his career in the Ovens & Murray Football League
, with the Wangaratta Rovers
, but had to wait until midway through the season for his debut, as his suspension was carried through from the VFL. Appointed playing coach, he steered the Rovers to premierships in 1964 and 1965. Attempting to make it three premierships in a row in 1966, Wangaratta lost in the preliminary final and Boyd was given an eight week suspension as a result of two striking charges. It wouldn't matter, as Boyd had already announced his retirement, citing his wish to return to Melbourne for work purposes and also his struggle with a back injury. He continued to be involved in football, returning to South Melbourne in 1967 to serve as a selector.
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 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...
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).
Boyd, a ruckman, made his way up the South Melbourne ranks from the thirds, before starting with seniors in 1957. He spent five seasons in the VFL and developed a reputation for his rough playing style. Often falling foul of the umpires, Boyd missed a total of 30 league games during his VFL career through suspension.`
In his debut season he was involved in two separate scuffles with Mike Delanty
Mike Delanty
Michael "Mike" Delanty is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League .A strong marking half back, Delanty came to Collingwood from Tasmania...
, during South Melbourne's round 15 encounter against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. He was suspended for eight matches, two for each of the striking charges and an additional four for abusing the umpire.
He battled through injuries in 1958 to play 10 games and the following season put together another 14 matches. The four games which he missed in 1959 were all as a result of a suspension for striking Essendon's Hugh Mitchell
Hugh Mitchell (footballer)
Hugh Mitchell is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who played for Essendon in the VFL and Dandenong Football Club during the 1950s and 60s.-Early career at Essendon:...
.
Boyd played 17 of a possible 18 games for South Melbourne in 1960 and then had an eventful season in 1961. In round four, Boyd was reported for striking two Carlton
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...
players in the last quarter, John Heathcote
John Heathcote (footballer)
John Heathcote is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.Heathcote made his debut for the Carlton Football Club in the Round 2 of the 1958 season. He left the club at the end of the 1962 season....
and John Nicholls. He received a six week suspension, three for each incident. When South Melbourne met Carlton again in round 15 at Princes Park, Boyd was once again competing again Nicholls and the two ruckmen resumed hostilities. After the game, the emergency umpire claimed he had seen Boyd strike Nicholls and as he didn't have the authority to file a report, a VFL investigative committee was set up. During the week, Boyd openly admitted to a newspaper journalist that he threw the punch that had knocked Nicholls to the ground and left the Carlton player with concussion and a lacerated cheek. He claimed that it was in retaliation for Nicholls earlier kicking him during a centre bounce. It was a busy week for the South Melbourne ruckman, with his first child being born on the Monday night.
Until a verdict had been reached, Boyd was available for selection and although he missed the next game through injury, he played in South Melbourne's round 17 fixture against Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. His defense team went to the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
, seeking an injunction by questioning the legality of the committee but the case was dismissed by Edmund Herring
Edmund Herring
Lieutenant General Sir Edmund Francis Herring, KCMG, KBE, DSO, MC, KStJ, ED, QC was an Australian Army officer during the Second World War, Lieutenant Governor of Victoria, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.A Rhodes scholar, Herring was at New College, Oxford, when the First World...
, the Chief Justice. He received a 12 week suspension and at the end of the season announced his resignation.
He continued his career in the Ovens & Murray Football League
Ovens & Murray Football League
The Ovens and Murray Football League, often referred to locally as the O&M, is a semi-professional Australian rules football league based around ten clubs in north-eastern Victoria and the southern Riverina region of New South Wales, and affiliated with the Victorian Country Football League...
, with the Wangaratta Rovers
Wangaratta Rovers Football Club
The Wangaratta Rovers, officially known as the Wangaratta Rovers Football & Netball Club are an Australian rules football club based in Wangaratta, Victoria. They play in the Ovens & Murray Football League, which they joined in 1950. Their nickname is the Hawks. Their home ground is WJ Findlay Oval...
, but had to wait until midway through the season for his debut, as his suspension was carried through from the VFL. Appointed playing coach, he steered the Rovers to premierships in 1964 and 1965. Attempting to make it three premierships in a row in 1966, Wangaratta lost in the preliminary final and Boyd was given an eight week suspension as a result of two striking charges. It wouldn't matter, as Boyd had already announced his retirement, citing his wish to return to Melbourne for work purposes and also his struggle with a back injury. He continued to be involved in football, returning to South Melbourne in 1967 to serve as a selector.