Australian Football

Stephen Michael had all the attributes of the complete footballer. His strength and prodigious springing ability meant that he could compete on more than equal terms with opposition ruckman, while his pace, poise and consummate ball skills enabled him to beat virtually any opponent at ground level. Added to these attributes was an astonishing consistency which saw him rarely fail to perform to standard.

Over 11 seasons with South Fremantle Stephen Michael played 243 games, and achieved virtually everything the game at the time had to offer. Sandover Medallist in 1980 and 1981 he also won a Tassie Medal and five club fairest and best awards. He was named in the 1983 All Australian team as captain, and was a prominent member of South Fremantle’s 1980 premiership team.

Not surprisingly, Michael received a large number of offers to move to other clubs, with Geelong’s approaches being especially persistent. However, despite playing in an era when the concept of loyalty was increasingly being undermined by the influx into the game, for the first time, of appreciable sums of money, Michael stayed faithful to the Bulldogs throughout his career.

Author - John Devaney