Roy Park | Demonwiki (original) (raw)

DOB: 30 July <1892>
Died: 23 January <1947>

MFC Debut: Round 1, 1915 against at
Last Game: Round 16, 1915 against South Melbourne at

From: Wesley College/University

Number: 16 (1915)

Games: 13 (57 total)
Goals: 35 (146 total)
Career Statistics

Park was a goalkicking superstar for in an era where they struggled to win games. Despite leading the league goalkicking in <1913> the 5ft 5in forward lost all 44 of his matches for The Students. It mirrored his schoolboy days where he topped the goalkicking while playing at Wesley in a team that didn't win a match.

Initially planning to retire after the <1914> season when he'd finished his medical studies, Park crossed to Melbourne after folded. In <1915> he played 12 games before he was reported for striking. He played one more game before the hearing, and despite three witnesses vouching that he hadn't attacked the player in question he was suspended for three matches. Park retired from the VFL immediately after the verdict.

During the war, Park served in Europe as part of the 5th Field Ambulance Unit, and when he returned late in the <1919> season there was speculation that he would rejoin Melbourne, but he opted out of football that year and played cricket. He returned to football midway through <1920> when he signed for side Footscray, remaining there for two seasons and a premiership.

After his football career ended Park threw himself into a cricket career and earned a test call-up for Australia against England at the MCG during the 1920-21. He was dismissed for a golden duck in his first innings and urban legend has it that his wife dropped her knitting as he faced his first ball and therefore missed his entire test batting career.

He attempted to win a clearance from Footscray to South Melbourne in <1922> but the comeback bid was dropped before Melbourne could be asked to provide him a clearance to play with the Swans.

His son-in-law Ian Johnson became the secretary of the MCC in the 1950s.

Tribunal record

Lists
Players who served during war

Media
Argus - 06/07/1914, 01/04/1915, 02/07/1920
Sporting Judge - 21/08/1915
Football Record - R9 1922

Links
Cricinfo profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Discussion on his last match
Melbourne University profiles
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile