Australian Football

After playing briefly with Preston prior to World War I, Len Wigraft was one of several players lost to the club in 1917, a year before the Victorian Junior Football Association competition resumed. Most of the departees went to the VFL, with Fitzroy easily the most popular destination, and that was where Wigraft ended up. Big and somewhat ungainly looking, he belied his appearance with an astute football brain which enabled him to out-maneuvre stronger, heavier opponents.

Most often used as a follower, Wigraft was also a useful forward option. He was among the Roys' best players in the 1922 grand final win over Collingwood, and again showed to good effect in a losing side against Essendon the following year. A regular 'Big V' representative, Wigraft was the sort of footballer who was more appreciated by coaches and fellow players than by supporters, in that much of his best work was surreptitious or unglamorous. His three club best and fairest awards in 1920, 1924 and 1925 afford adequate testimony to just how highly he was thought of within the club.

Len Wigraft captained Fitzroy in 1927, his last league season, before retiring after 135 VFL games and 41 goals. Two games into the 1934 season he returned to the club to replace Jack Cashman as coach, Cashman having walked out on the club in acrimonious circumstances. However, he was unable to motivate his charges to rise above eighth place on the ladder.

Author - John Devaney