AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
David Dench
Known as
David Dench
Born
23 August 1951 (age 73)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 17y 330d
Last game: 32y 228d
Height and weight
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 89 kg
Senior clubs
North Melbourne
Jumper numbers
North Melbourne: 44, 23
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Melbourne | V/AFL | 1969-1984 | 275 | 29 | 0.11 | 52% | 9.69 | 4.04 | 2.99 | 54 |
Total | 1969-1984 | 275 | 29 | 0.11 | 52% | 9.69 | 4.04 | 2.99 | 54 |
AFL: 8,197th player to appear, 164th most games played, 3,071st most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 618th player to appear, 11th most games played, 204th most goals kicked
North Melbourne recruited David Dench from West Coburg and he rapidly developed into one of the best full backs of his era. A superb mark, and extremely hard to beat one on one, he also knew when to back his judgment and embark on telling forays down field.
Dench made his VFL debut with North in 1969 while still only 17. Two years later he won the first of his four club best and fairest awards.
Among the best players afield when the 'Roos beat Hawthorn in the 1975 Grand Final to annex their first VFL flag, Dench was acting captain of the club's second premiership team against Collingwood a couple of years later. He was a regular member of VFL interstate, and later Victorian state of origin, teams, and seldom lowered his colours.
Author - John Devaney