Australian Football

John Bingley played only eight VFL games in 1965 and '66, but the eighth and last of them was rather as he helped his club, St Kilda, to the first and only senior premiership in their history. Furthermore, Bingley's contribution to the Saints' one point win over Collingwood was especially meritorious as he restricted the Magpies' gun half forward Des Tuddenham, who had registered seven goals when the teams met a fortnight earlier in the second semi final, to just a single major score.

The remainder of John Bingley's career, both before and after his St Kilda sojourn, took place in Tasmania, and was arguably even more noteworthy than his time in Melbourne. He commenced his senior career in 1958 with City-South and his four season, 101 game stint with the club included NTFA premierships in 1959-60 as well as a state title in the latter year. He then spent the 1962 and 1963 seasons with East Devonport, winning both club and NWFU best and fairest awards in his first year.

Approached by St Kilda ahead of the 1964 season he was keen to play for them, and test himself against the finest footballers in the land. However, the TANFL refused to clear him, and he was forced to stand out of football for the whole 1964 season before finally being permitted to transfer.

Following his VFL stint Bingley took up the job of captain-coach of Clarence, and he was responsible for overseeing the first truly noteworthy phase in the club's history, capped by a breakthrough premiership in 1970. Bingley played 128 games in six seasons with the 'Roos. He also managed the rare feat of playing intrastate representative football for all three of Tasmania's major regional associations.

A major career highlight for John Bingley came in a 1970 interstate match between Tasmania and Western Australia when the Tasmanians snatched a remarkable victory. Bingley himself kicked the winning goal after accepting a pass from former St Kilda captain and team mate Darrel Baldock.

Author - John Devaney