Stuart Spencer (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Stuart Spencer was an Australian rules football
er in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and Tasmanian Football League
(TFL) in the 1950s and 1960s.
, Spencer started his football career with the Portland
Football Club, playing 45 games. He then came to the attention of Geelong
in the VFL, where he commenced pre-season trialling in 1949. The Geelong coach, Reg Hickey, moved Spencer on after only two weeks, and he settled at Melbourne
.
Spencer made his League debut in 1950, but his career really took off with the arrival of Norm Smith
as coach of Melbourne for the 1952 season. Spencer is quoted as saying that Smith told him:"'Stuey, there is time for you to go back to back pocket
when you're 35', so he launched me into my role as rover.http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=feature&spg=display&articleid=207648"
Spencer became an integral part of what was to become the most highly successful part of the history of the Melbourne club. His contemporaries included prominent players of that era – Ron Barassi
, Brian Dixon, (Frank) 'Bluey' Adams, Johnny Beckwith.
He was recognised as an outstanding player, winning back-to-back best and fairest awards for Melbourne in the premiership years of 1955 and 1956, as well as being the club leading goalkicker in 1955. In the 1956 Grand Final
he kicked five goals in a best on ground performance.
in the Tasmanian Football League
in 1957. Although several sources say that he moved due to business reasons, Spencer has stated that the primary reasons for his move was that his wife Fay was eight months pregnant with their first child and wanted to move to her native Tasmania for family support http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=feature&spg=display&articleid=207648.
Spencer brought a tough and disciplined style of football to Tasmania. He won two TFL best and fairest awards (William Leitch Medal
) and also twice won the Lefroy medal for best and fairest Tasmanian player (there being more than one League in Tasmania at the time). He is credited with bringing Clarence up to a standard where they would eventually go on to be one of the most successful of Tasmanian clubs.
His Tasmanian playing career reached its peak when he captained the Tasmanian State side to its first ever victory over arch-rival Victoria in 1960 at Launceston
. That he was adjudged best on ground and kicked the game sealing score were a personal bonus.
Spencer was president of the Clarence club for two terms and a member of the board of management in 1979.
Spencer was president of the Melbourne Football Club from 1986 to 1991, overseeing their first Grand Final appearance for 24 years in 1988.
At age 74 Spencer still worked as the managing director of the Greens Group, a Hobart
removals and storage company.
Spencer died in Tasmania aged 79.
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 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) and Tasmanian Football 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...
(TFL) in the 1950s and 1960s.
VFL
Born in the small country town of Digby, VictoriaDigby, Victoria
Digby is a town in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. The town is in the Shire of Glenelg, west of the state capital, Melbourne on Stokes River, a tributary of the Glenelg. At the 2006 census, Digby and the surrounding area had a population of 369...
, Spencer started his football career with the Portland
Portland, Victoria
The city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
Football Club, playing 45 games. He then came to the attention of Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
in the VFL, where he commenced pre-season trialling in 1949. The Geelong coach, Reg Hickey, moved Spencer on after only two weeks, and he settled at 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....
.
Spencer made his League debut in 1950, but his career really took off with the arrival of Norm Smith
Norm Smith
Norman Walter "Norm" Smith was an Australian rules football player and coach in the Victorian Football League. After 200 games as a player with Melbourne and Fitzroy, Smith began a twenty year coaching career, including a fifteen year stint at Melbourne...
as coach of Melbourne for the 1952 season. Spencer is quoted as saying that Smith told him:"'Stuey, there is time for you to go back to back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
when you're 35', so he launched me into my role as rover.http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=feature&spg=display&articleid=207648"
Spencer became an integral part of what was to become the most highly successful part of the history of the Melbourne club. His contemporaries included prominent players of that era – Ron Barassi
Ron Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
, Brian Dixon, (Frank) 'Bluey' Adams, Johnny Beckwith.
He was recognised as an outstanding player, winning back-to-back best and fairest awards for Melbourne in the premiership years of 1955 and 1956, as well as being the club leading goalkicker in 1955. In the 1956 Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
he kicked five goals in a best on ground performance.
TFL
It was thus highly surprising that, at the peak of his VFL career, Spencer moved to Tasmania and commenced as captain-coach of ClarenceClarence Football Club
The Clarence Football Club, nicknamed the Kangaroos , is an Australian rules football club playing in the Tasmanian State League, based in Bellerive, Tasmania.Before 1903, they existed as Bellerive Football Club....
in the Tasmanian Football 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...
in 1957. Although several sources say that he moved due to business reasons, Spencer has stated that the primary reasons for his move was that his wife Fay was eight months pregnant with their first child and wanted to move to her native Tasmania for family support http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=feature&spg=display&articleid=207648.
Spencer brought a tough and disciplined style of football to Tasmania. He won two TFL best and fairest awards (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....
) and also twice won the Lefroy medal for best and fairest Tasmanian player (there being more than one League in Tasmania at the time). He is credited with bringing Clarence up to a standard where they would eventually go on to be one of the most successful of Tasmanian clubs.
His Tasmanian playing career reached its peak when he captained the Tasmanian State side to its first ever victory over arch-rival Victoria in 1960 at Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
. That he was adjudged best on ground and kicked the game sealing score were a personal bonus.
Other
Spencer's coaching did not stop with Clarence, he also coached St. Virgil's College to three successive State independent school's premierships.Spencer was president of the Clarence club for two terms and a member of the board of management in 1979.
Spencer was president of the Melbourne Football Club from 1986 to 1991, overseeing their first Grand Final appearance for 24 years in 1988.
At age 74 Spencer still worked as the managing director of the Greens Group, a Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
removals and storage company.
Spencer died in Tasmania aged 79.