Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Gary Window

Known as
Gary Window

Senior clubs
Central District

Recruited from
Central District (1967); East Gambier (1969)

Hall of fame
South Australian Football Hall Of Fame (2005)

Family links
Clarrie Window (Father)

Gary Window


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
Central DistrictSANFL1964-1966, 1969-197084740.88
East GambierWBFL1967-1968
Total1964-197084740.88

Gary Window’s feat in winning the 1965 Magarey Medal represented a major step on the road toward credibility and consequence for his club Central District, which had just completed only in its second season of league football. After losing every single one of its 20 debut season fixtures, Centrals, with Window a driving force at either centre or centre half forward, had stunned many observers in 1965 by winning six of its last eight fixtures to leapfrog not only fellow newcomers Woodville, but established clubs West Adelaide and West Torrens as well, and claim seventh spot on the ladder. 

Then came Window’s Magarey Medal win, and suddenly the entire South Australian football community was talking about the Bulldogs. Window, who had played a major role in Centrals’ early development, lost nothing in comparison with previous winners of the oldest major best and fairest award in football:

He handles the ball surely in the air and on the ground, can pass with low stab kicks or else fire a 50-yard shot at goal.
Cool, clever and calculating, he makes position well and creates his own opportunities.¹

Two years earlier, in the final season of Centrals’ reserves apprenticeship, Window had served notice of his potential by winning the seconds Magarey Medal. His high standing at the club was emphasised the following year when, in the absence of captain-coach Ken Eustice, who was still seeking a clearance from West Adelaide, he was chosen to lead the Bulldogs in their first ever league fixture against West Torrens. Later in the year he became Central District’s first ever interstate representative.

Window’s form, along with that of most of his teammates, fell away badly in 1966. He then spent two injury and illness-affected years as captain-coach of East Gambier, before resuming with Centrals in 1969. However, he never recaptured the form of his Medal-winning season, and midway through 1970 he was dropped to the seconds. The 1971 season saw Window installed as captain-coach of the Bulldogs’ seconds team which he promptly steered to a first-ever premiership. His time as coach of Centrals’ senior team was considerably less successful, however. After taking over from Tony Casserly in 1976 he steered the side to sixth and tenth place finishes in his two seasons in charge.

All told, Gary Window played just 84 SANFL games, one of the shortest league careers of any Magarey Medallist. However, in 2004 his iconic status within the club was emphatically affirmed when he was selected as centreman in Centrals’ official ‘All Time Greatest Team’.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. South Australian Football Record Yearbook 1966, page 63.

Sources

Full Points Footy's SA Football Companion

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.