As I was scrolling through old newspapers on microfilm at the library for past footy scores and news, I was thinking to myself "How many of our politicians have played junior or senior football?"
So I thought it'd be interesting if I set up a thread dedicated to politicians who have played this great game of ours in this beautiful island home.
Obviously the late and great Darrel "Doc" Baldock who pretty much everyone knows as St Kilda's only premiership captain in 1966, and also played for and coached East Devonport and Latrobe, the latter to four flags in a row in the NWFU, as well as having a very brief coaching stint at New Norfolk in the TFL, was a Labor MHA from 1972 to 1987 as well as a minister from 1975 to 1982, and in his own words "could have been the premier of Tasmania".
Other names that spring to mind include current Liberal Shadow Treasurer Peter Gutwein who played for East Launceston in the old NTFA, Ray Groom (former Liberal premier) initially played for Cooee before playing 96 games for Melbourne from 1963 to 1968 (given the honour of wearing No. 31 after Ron Barassi defected to Carlton), Jim Wilkinson (current Labor MLC I think) who played for South Melbourne from 1970 to 1972 and I think played for Sandy Bay as well, plus being an ABC TV commentator for TFL matches in the 80s and 90s, and Bob Cheek (former Liberal leader) who played for Clarence in his heyday as well as being a commentator for the TANFL broadcasts and expert panellist on the TVT-6 World Of Sport program.
Any other politicians that have played footy here in Tassie?
So I thought it'd be interesting if I set up a thread dedicated to politicians who have played this great game of ours in this beautiful island home.
Obviously the late and great Darrel "Doc" Baldock who pretty much everyone knows as St Kilda's only premiership captain in 1966, and also played for and coached East Devonport and Latrobe, the latter to four flags in a row in the NWFU, as well as having a very brief coaching stint at New Norfolk in the TFL, was a Labor MHA from 1972 to 1987 as well as a minister from 1975 to 1982, and in his own words "could have been the premier of Tasmania".
Other names that spring to mind include current Liberal Shadow Treasurer Peter Gutwein who played for East Launceston in the old NTFA, Ray Groom (former Liberal premier) initially played for Cooee before playing 96 games for Melbourne from 1963 to 1968 (given the honour of wearing No. 31 after Ron Barassi defected to Carlton), Jim Wilkinson (current Labor MLC I think) who played for South Melbourne from 1970 to 1972 and I think played for Sandy Bay as well, plus being an ABC TV commentator for TFL matches in the 80s and 90s, and Bob Cheek (former Liberal leader) who played for Clarence in his heyday as well as being a commentator for the TANFL broadcasts and expert panellist on the TVT-6 World Of Sport program.
Any other politicians that have played footy here in Tassie?