Australian Football

Denis Pagan was a tough, no frills backman who overcame the disappointment of being discarded by Carlton without playing a senior game to establish himself as a key player with North Melbourne in 120 games between 1967 and 1974. His last game was the losing grand final of 1974 against Richmond, after which he was cut from the Kangas’ list by the same man who had shown him the door at Carlton: Ron Barassi. Convinced that he still had something to offer Pagan crossed to South Melbourne for whom he played 23 VFL games in 1975-6. He rounded off his career with a season at VFA club Port Melbourne. Never the sort of player to garner swathes of best and fairest votes Denis Pagan was still good enough to play for Victoria in 1971.

As a coach, Pagan enjoyed premiership success with North in 1996 and 1999, and during his ten seasons at the helm the club only once failed to qualify for the finals. By contrast, his five season stint as coach of Carlton was singularly unsuccessful.

Author - John Devaney