Australian Football

Originally from Old Melburnians, Michael Woods was a powerful ruckman and defender who played 72 VFL games and kicked six goals for Melbourne between 1949 and 1953. Sadly for him, this meant his career was neatly sandwiched between two of the club's great eras, that of the late 1930s and 1940s under 'Checker' Hughes, and that of the decade or so from 1954 under Norm Smith.

As a player, Woods showed enormous promise when he commenced, and in 1950 he was included in the Big V's Brisbane carnival team. However, his career stalled somewhat after that, and overall it would seem fair to suggest that he failed wholly to fulfill his potential. Much of his best football was played either as a permanent defender, or while resting from his ruck duties in a back pocket.

Author - John Devaney