Australian Football

'Titch' Bailes' league career began at Perth, where he played in a losing grand final team in 1904. The following year he transferred to Fitzroy, where he was a tremendous fan favourite throughout his five-season, 79-game VFL career, which included a best afield performance on the wing in the 1905 challenge final defeat of Collingwood, after which it was said that "every spectator at the match was charmed by his brilliance"¹. Bailes also played superbly in the following year's decisive match, but could not prevent a sizeable loss to Carlton.

In addition to his popular nickname of 'Titch', Bailes was also sometimes referred to as 'Bendigo'. He was a key player for the VFL at the inaugural interstate championship series in Melbourne. Bailes transferred to Brighton in 1910, but his VFA career was cut short when he sustained a serious facial injury in 1915. He played 97 VFA games for the club and registered 40 goals.

Author - John Devaney