Ted Whitfield
Encyclopedia
Edward Carlyle "Ted" Whitfield (13 June 1916 - 1993) was a former Australian rules footballer, playing with South Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Born in North Melbourne
, Whitfield was recruited by South Melbourne from Victorian Football Association
(VFA) side Coburg Football Club and made his VFL debut in Round 12, 1939
against Carlton
at Lake Oval
, South Melbourne's home ground.
A wingman, Whitfield was considered a live wire, both on the ground and off, who appeared "to march to a different drum." Part of his match preparation was to drink six beers every Saturday morning before a game, followed by another at half-time, a habit he had been following since he was sixteen and as it had served him well thus far, Whitfield was in no mood to change it.
Whitfield was also in the habit of wearing his football gear under his street clothes to the ground to save time getting changed before the game, although one time when he was particularly late he explained to the coach he had been entertaining a lady friend and had let time slip away. He was forced to change in the back of a taxi on the way to the ground but claimed that the lady friend was able to greatly assist him as she had plenty of experience removing his clothes in the back seat of a car.
Whitfield enlisted in the Australian Army
on 28 August 1941, gaining the rank of Gunner
and serving with 115 Australian General Hospital until his discharge from the services on 19 June 1942. This led to his absence from VFL football for the best part of three seasons, until his return to South Melbourne in 1944
.
Never one to shy away from a fight, Whitfield was reported a number of times throughout his career, including in three separate matches in 1945
. However, Whitfield was one of South Melbourne's leading players in 1945 and was a key reason for South Melbourne's dominance of the competition throughout the season.
In the 1945 VFL Grand Final
, a spiteful match known as The Bloodbath, Whitfield was reported for attempting to strike a goal umpire, using abusive language and for kicking the ball away after a free kick was given against him. When the umpire attempted to report Whitfield, he pulled his jumper over his head and ran down the other end of the field to stop the umpire taking his number, later claiming he thought he had heard the final siren and was running off to swap guernseys with his opponent.
Whitfield, who declined to attend the tribunal hearing because he had already bought a ticket to a Cabaret Ball held the same night, was suspended for twelve months plus two games and then informed by South Melbourne that not only was he no longer required as a player, but he was barred from the Lake Oval as a spectator; Whitfield was eventually welcomed back to South Melbourne, becoming a member of the Past Players' Association in the 1960s.
With his VFL career finished after 54 games and 11 goals, Whitfield played and coached in country Victoria, including a stint with Ararat
from 1949 to 1951, playing 54 games, winning the club Best and Fairest in 1949 and being the competition Leading Goalkicker in 1951. He was later named in Ararat's "Team of the Century". Whitfield then captain-coached Yarram in the Alberton Football League, leading Yarram to a premiership in 1954. Whitfield's playing days were ended in 1958 when he ruptured a spleen
.
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).
Born in North Melbourne
North Melbourne, Victoria
North Melbourne is a large inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. It is bounded by the CityLink freeway to the west, Victoria Street to the south, O'Connell and Peel Streets to the east and Flemington Road to the north. Its...
, Whitfield was recruited by South Melbourne from Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA) side Coburg Football Club and made his VFL debut in Round 12, 1939
1939 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1939.-Premiership season:In 1939, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
against 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...
at Lake Oval
Lake Oval
The Lake Oval was an Australian rules football and cricket stadium located in Albert Park, Victoria. It was the home of the South Melbourne Football Club from 1878 until their relocation to Sydney in 1982 , and also of the South Melbourne Cricket Club...
, South Melbourne's home ground.
A wingman, Whitfield was considered a live wire, both on the ground and off, who appeared "to march to a different drum." Part of his match preparation was to drink six beers every Saturday morning before a game, followed by another at half-time, a habit he had been following since he was sixteen and as it had served him well thus far, Whitfield was in no mood to change it.
Whitfield was also in the habit of wearing his football gear under his street clothes to the ground to save time getting changed before the game, although one time when he was particularly late he explained to the coach he had been entertaining a lady friend and had let time slip away. He was forced to change in the back of a taxi on the way to the ground but claimed that the lady friend was able to greatly assist him as she had plenty of experience removing his clothes in the back seat of a car.
Whitfield enlisted in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
on 28 August 1941, gaining the rank of Gunner
Gunner (rank)
Gunner is a rank equivalent to Private in the British Army Royal Artillery and the artillery corps of other Commonwealth armies. The next highest rank is usually Lance-Bombardier, although in the Royal Canadian Artillery it is Bombardier....
and serving with 115 Australian General Hospital until his discharge from the services on 19 June 1942. This led to his absence from VFL football for the best part of three seasons, until his return to South Melbourne in 1944
1944 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1944.-Influence of World War II:The wartime travel restrictions that had forced Geelong into recess the previous two years were relaxed, and Geelong rejoined the competition....
.
Never one to shy away from a fight, Whitfield was reported a number of times throughout his career, including in three separate matches in 1945
1945 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1945.-Premiership season:In 1945, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
. However, Whitfield was one of South Melbourne's leading players in 1945 and was a key reason for South Melbourne's dominance of the competition throughout the season.
In the 1945 VFL Grand Final
1945 VFL Grand Final
The 1945 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the South Melbourne Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at Princes Park in Melbourne on 29 September 1945. It was the 49th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers...
, a spiteful match known as The Bloodbath, Whitfield was reported for attempting to strike a goal umpire, using abusive language and for kicking the ball away after a free kick was given against him. When the umpire attempted to report Whitfield, he pulled his jumper over his head and ran down the other end of the field to stop the umpire taking his number, later claiming he thought he had heard the final siren and was running off to swap guernseys with his opponent.
Whitfield, who declined to attend the tribunal hearing because he had already bought a ticket to a Cabaret Ball held the same night, was suspended for twelve months plus two games and then informed by South Melbourne that not only was he no longer required as a player, but he was barred from the Lake Oval as a spectator; Whitfield was eventually welcomed back to South Melbourne, becoming a member of the Past Players' Association in the 1960s.
With his VFL career finished after 54 games and 11 goals, Whitfield played and coached in country Victoria, including a stint with Ararat
Ararat Football Club
The Ararat Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Wimmera Football League . They are based in the city of Ararat, Victoria....
from 1949 to 1951, playing 54 games, winning the club Best and Fairest in 1949 and being the competition Leading Goalkicker in 1951. He was later named in Ararat's "Team of the Century". Whitfield then captain-coached Yarram in the Alberton Football League, leading Yarram to a premiership in 1954. Whitfield's playing days were ended in 1958 when he ruptured a spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
.