Australian Football

Nicknamed 'Dolly', Frank Aked commenced his senior career with Preston while that club was a member of the VJFA. In 1925 he was recruited by Footscray, which had just joined theVFL. Tall, strong and angular, he quickly developed into a useful ruckman whose wholehearted attitude compensated to a certain extent for any skill deficiencies.

Aked was competent in general field play in addition to being a good knock ruckman, and was the sort of player who inspired others to greater heights because of the way he wore his dedication to the club cause on his sleeve. Aked played 108 VFL games and kicked 57 goals for the Tricolours between 1925 and 1932. He then spent a season with Hawthorn, where he added a final eight games and two goals, but his name will forever be associated with Footscray whose reserves he later coached, and where he also served for many years as a trainer. His son, Frank Aked junior, played four games for Footscray in 1951-2.

Author - John Devaney