Australian Football

Unable to get a game at Collingwood, Keith Batchelor asked for, and was granted, a clearance to Carlton. However, he found it just as impossible to gain selection at the Blues, and he ended up being cleared back to the Magpies, for whom he finally made his senior VFL debut in 1952.

That, however, is only part of the tale, for the debut in question took place in that year’s grand final against Geelong after a horror run with injuries had left the Magpies somewhat bereft of fit players. Batchelor lined up at full back, where he endured a somewhat torrid time as the Cats surged to victory, with his direct opponent George Goninon bagging five goals. Not until Richmond’s Marion Pickett in 2019 would another V/AFL player make his debut on grand final day.

Batchelor’s eventual tally of 21 VFL games (for 17 goals) with the Magpies also included the 1953 grand final in which he lined up at full forward and contributed four goals to an 11.11 to 8.17 win over Geelong. He crossed to North Melbourne in 1956 and, playing mainly as a defender, added another 21 games to his career tally without registering a goal.

Author - John Devaney