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Full name
Albert Chadwick
Known as
Bert Chadwick
Born
15 November 1897
Died
27 October 1983 (aged 85)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 168d
Last game: 31y 289d
Height and weight
Height: 184 cm
Weight: 86 kg
Senior clubs
Melbourne; Hawthorn
Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 17
Hawthorn: 1
Recruited from
Prahran (1920); Melbourne (1929)
Family links
Bob Chadwick (Son)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne | V/AFL | 1920-1928 | 141 | 45 | 0.32 | 50% | — | — | — | 12 |
Hawthorn | V/AFL | 1929 | 17 | 8 | 0.47 | 24% | — | — | — | 1 |
V/AFL | 1920-1929 | 158 | 53 | 0.34 | 47% | — | — | — | 13 | |
Total | 1920-1929 | 158 | 53 | 0.34 | 47% | — | — | — | 13 |
AFL: 2,487th player to appear, 1,168th most games played, 1,966th most goals kickedMelbourne: 363rd player to appear, 78th most games played, 166th most goals kickedHawthorn: 102nd player to appear, 470th most games played, 381st most goals kicked
Rugged, dashing and an inspirational leader, Bert Chadwick was one of the dominant football figures of the 1920s. He began his career with Prahran, where he impressed greatly as a ruckman-forward, but it was not until he wrote personally to Melbourne requesting a try-out that any of the VFL clubs showed an interest. Immediately realising that here was an uncut gem, the Fuchsias signed the twenty-two year old straight away, and he made his debut for them in 1920. So eye-catching were his early performances that he was chosen in the VFL state side that same year.
For most of his Melbourne career, Chadwick played at centre half back, in which position he also served the Big V with distinction for most of his 19 appearances. In 1924 he was appointed Melbourne skipper, and was vice-captain of the victorious VFL combination at the Hobart carnival. A natural leader, he knew how to encourage and bring out the best in his team mates, whilst simultaneously affording a copybook example of how the game should be played. When the VFL introduced a best and fairest award, the Brownlow Medal, in 1924, Bert Chadwick finished runner-up to 'Carji' Greeves of Geelong.
In 1925, Chadwick took on the role of captain-coach, and promptly led his side to its first finals appearance since 1915, and only its second since winning the premiership in 1900. The Fuchsias ran third that year, but the following season, after finishing the home and away rounds in third place, they overcame minor premier Collingwood twice to claim an unexpected but needless to say enormously gratifying flag.
In 1929, Chadwick crossed to Hawthorn as captain-coach, steering the side to tenth place which, quite remarkably, was its highest finish since entering the VFL four years earlier. He retired at the end of the season after 159 VFL games.
Bert Chadwick later served as both chairman and president of the Melbourne Football Club. He was also a highly successful businessman, and was knighted.
Author - John Devaney