Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Alan Joyce

Known as
Alan Joyce

Born
21 October 1942 (age 81)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 253d
Last game: 22y 311d

Height and weight
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 86 kg

Senior clubs
Hawthorn

Jumper numbers
Hawthorn: 49, 29, 13

Alan Joyce

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
HawthornV/AFL1961-196549130.2745%11.331.122.721
Total1961-196549130.2745%11.331.122.721

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,293rd player to appear, 4,362nd most games played, 4,517th most goals kickedHawthorn: 520th player to appear, 277th most games played, 309th most goals kicked

Alan Joyce (born 21 October 1942) is a former Australian rules footballer who after playing 49 games for Hawthorn became a premiership winning coach for the club. Originally from Glen Iris, Joyce played in the ruck for Hawthorn. and gained life membership in 1996.

In 1966 Joyce was appointed Captain-coach of Preston, leading them to the 1968 and 1969 premierships in the VFA. He played 92 games and kicked 228 goals.

Other coaching roles followed with East Fremantle (1971-72 and 1977-78), Newtown and the NSW state team in 1974, and Perth (1980-81).

In 1988 when incumbent coach Allan Jeans became ill due to a brain tumour, Alan Joyce replaced Jeans for the season. Hawthorn dominated the entire season finishing on top of the ladder, disposing of Carlton in the Semi-Final and then demolishing Melbourne by a then record margin of 96 points. Allan Jeans would return to coach in 1989, before retiring after Hawthorn's defeat by Melbourne in the 1990 Elimination Final.

Alan Joyce returned for the 1991 season to coach Hawthorn to another premiership, this time over the West Coast Eagles, who during the home and away season, had lost only three games, plus an additional loss to Hawthorn in the first week of the finals.

In 1992 Hawthorn was eliminated by West Coast in week 1 of the finals. Similarly in 1993, Hawthorn was beaten by the Adelaide Crows in week 1 of the 1993 finals series. Joyce was soon sacked and replaced by Hawthorn club legend Peter Knights.

After two rounds of the 1994 season, Footscray sacked then-coach Terry Wheeler following a heavy loss to Geelong. Joyce replaced Wheeler and coached Footscray into 5th spot at the completion of the home and away round. Footscray would lose the Qualifying Final to Geelong due to an after-the-siren goal by Billy Brownless. Footscray would meet Melbourne during week two. Due to an injuries as well as an in-form Melbourne, Footscray were beaten comprehensively.

In 1995, Joyce coached Footscray into 7th position at the completion of the home and away season. Footscray once again met the Geelong at night at the MCG. This time however, Footscray were convincingly beaten and eliminated from the finals.

Footscray tumbled severely in 1996 and after many heavy losses and few wins, Joyce was replaced by his assistant, Terry Wallace. Wallace would retain this position until after round 21 of the 2002 season. Joyce has not since coached an AFL club, although he sent a video of himself to major news stations stating his interest in the available Fremantle coaching role due to Gerard Neesham's departure in 1998.

After football Joyce spent several years operating a business at Cable Beach near Broome, Western Australia.

Recently he has been a volunteer at the MCG.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Joyce

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.