Australian Football

Not quite blessed with the same ability as his older brother Alec, Ken Albiston was nevertheless a useful footballer, as he proved by giving creditable service to two League clubs. He was spotted by Richmond while playing in the VAFA with Melbourne High School Old Boys, whom he ironically left just prior to the club's securing its first ever B Section premiership.

That was in 1946, and it could perhaps be called doubly ironic in that Richmond, which had been a force for much of the previous two decades, was about to experience a prolonged decline. Indeed, during Albiston's six season, 58-game stint with the Tigers they only took part in one finals match - the losing first semi final of 1947 against Fitzroy.

Albiston's next club, Melbourne, was by contrast re-emerging as a power when he arrived and in 1954 the Demons made it through as far as a Grand Final clash with Footscray. In what proved to be the last of his 45-game stint with the club, Ken Albiston produced a fine display as second rover, changing in the forward pocket with Stuart Spencer, but he could not prevent the Bulldogs from romping to a conclusive win.

Author - John Devaney