Australian Football

In an era when it was becoming taken for granted that players would represent more than one club during the course of their careers, Ken Montgomery remained loyal to North Melbourne throughout his 14 seasons in the game. He endured his share of ups and downs during that time, including missing the Kangas' first VFL flag win in 1975, but overall his service to the club was impeccable, as exemplified by his 1972 best and fairest award win.

A hard working and extremely effective half back flanker for much of his career, Montgomery was among the Kangaroos' best players in both the 1977 drawn Grand Final against Collingwood, and the following week's victory. He also played in the losing Grand Finals of 1974 against Richmond and 1978 against Hawthorn. When he commenced his league career in 1968 North had been a league chopping block for many years, and would remain so until the arrival of Ron Barassi as coach in 1973. By the end of Ken Montgomery's 189-game league career in 1981, however, the 'Roos had been among the VFL's pace setters for almost a decade.

Author - John Devaney