Australian Football

Despite standing only 178cm in height, Hawthorn's Wally Culpitt was an accomplished key position player, equally at home in attack or defence. He could also take a turn on the ball when required. He owed his success to a combination of formidable physical strength and prodigious leaping ability. In 1943 and 1944, while playing mainly at full forward, he topped the Mayblooms' goal kicking list with tallies of 43 and 57 goals. He spent much of the rest of his career at full back, in which position he represented the VFL at the 1947 Hobart carnival, and won his club's best and fairest trophy the same year. 

Originally from Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia, Culpitt played a total of 125 VFL games and kicked 116 goals for Hawthorn between 1940 and 1948. He also turned out a couple of times for the Sturt-South combination whilst stationed in Adelaide during 1943 and 1944.

Author - John Devaney