Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Charles Dibbs

Known as
Charlie Dibbs

Born
3 April 1905

Died
22 November 1960 (aged 55)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 37d
Last game: 31y 71d

Height and weight
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 76 kg

Senior clubs
Collingwood; Geelong

Jumper numbers
Collingwood: 10, 11, 12, 9
Geelong: 6

Recruited from
Collingwood (1936)

Charlie Dibbs

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CollingwoodV/AFL1924-193521610.0076%11.802.445
GeelongV/AFL1936700.0043%0
V/AFL1924-193622310.0075%11.802.445
Total1924-193622310.0075%11.802.445

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 2,882nd player to appear, 450th most games played, 8,750th most goals kickedCollingwood: 283rd player to appear, 28th most games played, 789th most goals kickedGeelong: 406th player to appear, 751st most games played, 943rd most goals kicked

Despite standing only 175cm in height and weighing in, on average, at just 76kg, Charlie Dibbs played for most of his VFL career at full back, and would doubtless have been extremely grateful, not to say relieved, to count the redoubtable figure of Gordon Coventry among his team mates, rather than opponents.

Dibbs joined Collingwood in 1924, and went on to play 216 VFL games for the Magpies over the ensuing twelve seasons. The key to his success as a defender was his uncanny anticipation, which repeatedly enabled him to outmark taller, heftier, and higher leaping opposition full forwards. Dibbs was at full back in Collingwood's record-breaking four-in-a row premiership teams of 1927-8-9-30 and again in 1935. The 1936 season saw him at Geelong as captain-coach, but he lasted only a few games before resigning and being replaced by Reg Hickey.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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