Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Laurence Mithen

Known as
Laurie Mithen

Born
15 April 1934

Died
2 February 2022 (aged 87)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 4d
Last game: 28y 139d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 83 kg

Senior clubs
Melbourne; Port Melbourne

Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 11

Recruited from
Ormond (1954); Melbourne (1963)

Family links
Kevin Mithen (Brother)Lily Mithen (Cousin's grand-daughter)

Laurie Mithen

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
MelbourneV/AFL1954-19621531080.7175%15.464.0817
Port MelbourneVFA1963-196552
Total1954-19652051080.53

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 6,414th player to appear, 1,258th most games played, 1,002nd most goals kickedMelbourne: 750th player to appear, 58th most games played, 74th most goals kicked

As resilient as he was skilful, Melbourne's Laurie Mithen had few peers as a centreman throughout his 153-game, 108-goal VFL career which began in 1954 and ended nine seasons later. Originally from Ormond, he won the J.N. Woodrow Medal as best and fairest in the VAFA's A Grade competition in 1953.

During his time in the VFL with Melbourne, he won two club best and fairest awards, was a member of premiership teams in 1955-6-7 and 1959-60, and was a regular 'Big V' representative. Transferring to Port Melbourne as captain-coach in 1963 he added another 52 senior games in three seasons and, in 1964, led the side to a Division One Grand Final win over arch rival Williamstown.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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