The death of Ted Whitten
Footscray's Mr Football — an 'unchallenged genius with a heart of gold'
MELBOURNE: When Australian Football League legend Ted Whitten shook your hand you could feel the power that crushed even the toughest men in the most physical of games. Whitten had a handshake that, like his steely blue-eyed gaze, grabbed your attention. He was that kind of man. During his highly decorated career he never took a step backwards. His brute strength was equalled only by his footballing genius.
The final chapter in the Ted Whitten story came to a close last night when the man they call "Mr Football" died at his Melbourne home. He had suffered complications after a recent stroke and had been fighting prostate cancer. He was 62.
Whitten, who played 321 games for Footscray from 1951-70, was surrounded by close family when he died and his room was filled with get-well cards from his many admirers. He had doggedly refused to be beaten by the cancer and believed he had overcome it about four years ago, but it flared up again recently. The cancer had spread to his bones and affected his speech.
However he refused to yield and until the stroke was still doing what he loved best — broadcasting Geelong's AFL games for the K-Rock radio station. His voice had a slur, but his knowledge, enthusiasm and biting wit carried him through the call.
St Kilda Brownlow medallist Neil Roberts, who never gives praise lightly, said of Ted Whitten: "Nobody's really had a hiding in football until they've had one from Ted Whitten. He was a monster, so ruthless, so hard, so dedicated."
Whitten made his debut for Victoria in 1955, representing the Victorians 29 times before he joined the state selection committee in 1983. He was chairman of selectors for eight years until his retirement this year. Despite being one of the toughest players to pull on a guernsey, he also had a heart of gold and in his promotions job with Adidas was notorious for giving away "freebies" to battling junior sides. The Bulldog legend has been described as post-war football's unchallenged genius.
Edward James "Ted" Whitten was a fabulously gifted and charismatic key position player who became the darling of Footscray and Victorian crowds with his flair, class and exuberance, according to the book The Complete Guide to Australian Football. His influence on the game in Victoria was so great that the AFL used a "Whittenism" to promote Victoria's game against South Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 17. "Don't let the Big V down" was a favourite phrase of Whitten during his passionate term as state chairman of selectors.
His replacement, Gerard Healy, said there was no doubt the Victorians' massive victory that day was inspired by the players' fervent wish to win it for Ted. "Certainly all the players did, in the words of Ted Whitten, 'try and stick it well and truly up South Australia'," Healy said.
It became clear that Whitten's health had deteriorated when he was too sick to attend the May 27 game for the inaugural Ted Whitten Cup between Essendon and Footscray. Footscray football manager Garry O'Sullivan said at the game: "It's a special day for a special man. Ted is what Footscray is all about." Although Footscray gave it everything, the Bulldogs could not overcome Essendon.
Footscray general manager Dennis Galimberti said after the game: "The players obviously knew about Ted's condition and a lot of them are very close to him and have had an affinity with him over the years. "They knew how special today was for him and they were trying as hard as they could to win, and it would have been great if we could have won it for him — but it wasn't to be."
Whitten's son, Ted Junior, said he would always remember his dad weaving his magic for Footscray. "I'm an only child and we have had a relationship like brothers. I see him or speak to him every day. I couldn't have wished for a better dad," he said before his father died.
Footnotes
Title: Footscray's Mr Football — an 'unchallenged genius with a heart of gold'
Publisher: The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995)
Date: Saturday 19 August 1995 p 54
Article Link: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/130558465
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