Australian Football

After struggling to make the team in his first couple of seasons when he managed a total of just 8 games Tony Sullivan developed into a stalwart of the Melbourne Football Club from 1969 onwards. All told, between 1967 and 1979 he played 191 VFL games and kicked one goal. Almost all of his football was played in defence where he was dogged, resolute and tough, with the ability to negate even the most talented of forwards. A no frills player who was utterly dependable he represented Victoria against Western Australia in 1971. Although not a traditional ‘vote getter’ he finished in the top six places of the Demons’ best and fairest count half a dozen times.

Sullivan allegedly left Melbourne because coach Carl Ditterich felt he lacked pace. In 1980 he captain-coached VFA second division club Waverley, steering them as far as a losing preliminary final clash with Yarraville. He subsequently spent the 1985 season coaching St Kevin’s Old Boys in the VAFA.

Tony Sullivan’s son Chris played 27 AFL games with Melbourne and 8 with Richmond during the 1990s.

Author - John Devaney