Ray Gabelich
Encyclopedia
Ray Gabelich was an Australian rules football
er who played with Collingwood
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
He came to Collingwood from Western Australia as a centre half-forward in 1954 too late to be listed. He played with Parkside Amateurs for the remainder of the 1954 season.
When working as a fitter and turner in Melbourne, he lost the top of his middle finger in an industrial accident in 1955, before he had played his first game for Collingwood.
He played as a back-pocket resting ruckman for the combined VFL and VFA team against the VAFA in the demonstration match of Australian rules football
, during the Melbourne Olympic Games, on Friday, 7 December 1956.
Gabelich was a premiership player with Collingwood in 1958. He won the Copeland Trophy
for being Collingwood's best and fairest
in 1960 having finished third in the Brownlow
the previous season. In 1961 he returned to Western Australia where spent a season with West Perth
as well as representing his state at the Brisbane Carnival
where he earned All-Australian selection. He returned to Collingwood and captained the club for the entire 1964 season and part of 1965.
Gabelich is perhaps best known for his goal in the dying minutes of the 1964 Grand Final
. He had gathered the ball from his forward 50 and run in to kick what looked like being the match winning goal. It was not to be, however, and Melbourne defender Neil Crompton
replied with a goal to give his side victory by four points.
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 Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
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).
He came to Collingwood from Western Australia as a centre half-forward in 1954 too late to be listed. He played with Parkside Amateurs for the remainder of the 1954 season.
When working as a fitter and turner in Melbourne, he lost the top of his middle finger in an industrial accident in 1955, before he had played his first game for Collingwood.
He played as a back-pocket resting ruckman for the combined VFL and VFA team against the VAFA in the demonstration match of Australian rules football
Australian football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Australian football was one of two demonstration sports at the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia. The rules stated that the hosts must organize both a native game and a sport foreign to the organizing country as "demonstration sports"....
, during the Melbourne Olympic Games, on Friday, 7 December 1956.
Gabelich was a premiership player with Collingwood in 1958. He won the Copeland Trophy
Copeland Trophy
The E.W. Copeland Trophy is an Australian rules football award given by the Collingwood Football Club to the player adjudged Best and Fairest for Collingwood during the year....
for being Collingwood's best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
in 1960 having finished third in the Brownlow
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
the previous season. In 1961 he returned to Western Australia where spent a season with West Perth
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
as well as representing his state at the Brisbane Carnival
1961 Brisbane Carnival
The 1961 Brisbane Carnival was the 15th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was the last carnival to be held in Queensland....
where he earned All-Australian selection. He returned to Collingwood and captained the club for the entire 1964 season and part of 1965.
Gabelich is perhaps best known for his goal in the dying minutes of the 1964 Grand Final
1964 VFL Grand Final
The 1964 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Collingwood Football Club and Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 19 September 1964. It was the 68th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
. He had gathered the ball from his forward 50 and run in to kick what looked like being the match winning goal. It was not to be, however, and Melbourne defender Neil Crompton
Neil Crompton (footballer)
Colin Neil Crompton was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
replied with a goal to give his side victory by four points.