Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Daryl Gerlach

Known as
Daryl Gerlach

Born
25 January 1944 (age 79)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 204d
Last game: 28y 228d

Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 78 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 55, 17, 2

Daryl Gerlach

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
EssendonV/AFL1963-197216860.0454%11.481.393.4320
Eastlake (Original)CANFL1973-1975————————
Total1963-197516860.04—————

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,532nd player to appear, 987th most games played, 5,931st most goals kickedEssendon: 735th player to appear, 59th most games played, 532nd most goals kicked

After commencing his Essendon career in 1963 as a centreman, Daryl Gerlach was used in several positions before finding his niche in a back pocket. He played in that position in the winning Grand Final of 1965 against St Kilda, and during the second half of the sixties was widely acknowledged as one of the finest defenders in the game. He represented the VFL in 1967-8-9, and in 1970 won Essendon's best and fairest award, despite having been one of five players who, before the season commenced, threatened to walk out on the club over a payment dispute.

In 1973 and 1974 Gerlach captain-coached ACTAFL side Eastlake to third and second places on the ladder. In 1975 he continued with the club as a player. While in Canberra, he played for the ACT in representative games. 

After retiring as a player, Gerlach returned to Melbourne where he undertook a number of support and administrative roles at Essendon.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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