Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Kenneth Fraser

Known as
Ken Fraser

Born
17 February 1940 (age 84)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 54d
Last game: 28y 217d

Height and weight
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 23

Recruited from
Essendon (1970)

Family links
Mark Fraser (Son)

Ken Fraser

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
EssendonV/AFL1958-19681981570.7968%13.535.166.6689
YarrawongaOMFL1970-1973
Total1958-1968, 1970-19731981570.79

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 6,882nd player to appear, 673rd most games played, 608th most goals kickedEssendon: 693rd player to appear, 32nd most games played, 37th most goals kicked

Chosen as centre half forward in Essendon's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century', Ken Fraser was arguably the finest exponent of that position to play in the VFL during the 1960s. Extremely quick and agile, he was a master at evading the attentions of opponents and marking the ball in the clear. His kicking, though ungainly in style, was extremely effective, and his ground skills were impeccable for a big man (187cm, 80kg). 

Recruited from Essendon Baptists-St John's, Fraser made his VFL debut for the Bombers in the opening round of the 1958 season, and other than when injured that was where he remained. He won Essendon's best and fairest player award in 1963 and 1964, and was twice runner-up in the Brownlow Medal voting. His nine interstate appearances for the VFL included games at the 1966 Hobart carnival, when he was the team's captain. Fraser was at centre half forward in the Dons' 1962 and 1965 premiership teams, the latter as captain, but he was forced to miss the Grand Final clash with Carlton in 1968 because of injury. Given that the Blues only just scraped home by three points you will find it impossible to convince ardent Bomber fans that the absence of their champion centre half forward did not deprive the club of a flag.

Ken Fraser announced his retirement at the end of the 1968 season after 198 VFL games in eleven seasons, during which he kicked 157 goals. He captain-coached Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray Football League from 1970 to 1973, and later returned to Essendon as coach of the reserves between 1975 and 1979. During the 1980s he served on the Bombers' management committee. 

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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