Australian Football

Recruited from Redan in the Ballarat league (having earlier had a couple of seasons at VFA club Northcote)¹, Graeme Gellie was a late starter at VFL level, debuting with St Kilda in 1978 as a 23 year old. Nonetheless, he quickly made up for lost time and appeared to have a long career ahead of him as a rover-cum-centreman after an outstanding first year that saw him play 20 games, record the most handballs in the competition (at an average of 11.8 per game), and win the Saints best and fairest award, a remarkable feat for a first-year player. He was bracketed with Terry Wallace as the best debutante of 1978. However, tragedy struck during the 1979 pre-season when he suffered a severe knee injury that, as events transpired, dramatically curtailed his career. He did not return to the field until 1981, playing three late season games before further injury problems saw him miss the entire 1982 season. Persistent to a fault, he managed nine further games in 1983 before finally hanging up the boots.

After taking on an assistant  coaching role at St Kilda in 1984, Gellie found himself suddenly cast in the role of senior coach, taking over the helm at the Saints after Tony Jewell was sacked early that season. After a promising start in 1984, success eluded the club and during his three seasons in charge, 1984, 1985, and 1986, the Saints 'won' the wooden spoon in all three years. While few blamed the coach for such a disastrous outcome, given the material he had to work with, it was no surprise when he was replaced at the end of 1986, by club legend Darrel Baldock. 

Author - Andrew Gigacz