Australian Football

Ricky Graham enjoyed a varied football career in three states. He commenced that career in 1965 with Geelong, but over the course of a five season stint only managed 35 senior appearances, for five goals. The highlight was participation as 20th man in the Cats’ 1967 grand final loss to Richmond. He was given a run late on and scored a goal, but he also missed an excellent chance to register full points in the dying moments of the game. His form in the reserves was consistently good, and he won the 1967 Gardiner Medal for competition best and fairest in that grade.

The second phase of Graham’s career took place in Tasmania and involved stints as captain-coach of New Norfolk from 1970 to 1972 and Ulverstone between 1973 and 1976. He won a William Leitch Medal while with New Norfolk (in 1972) and was also captain of Tasmania’s Perth carnival team the same year. The highlight of his time with the Robins was masterminding their 1976 grand final defeat of Penguin, which was followed up with a state title triumph.

In 1977-8 Graham rounded off his career in the QAFL with Windsor Zillmere whom he captain-coached to a losing grand final against Western Districts in his second season.  

Author - John Devaney