Australian Football

Chad Rintoul was a small, tank-like midfielder and forward who loved to smash his way through packs. After playing 36 games and kicking 41 goals with East Fremantle in 1995-6 he was drafted by Adelaide. The highlight of his time with the Crows was participation in their 1997 grand final win over St Kilda. A year later, however, after 23 AFL games and 16 goals he was deemed surplus to requirements, and ended up back in his home state with West Coast. (He also played 19 games and scored 14 goals for Woodville-West Torrens during his time in South Australia.) His two season stint with the West Australian Eagles saw him play 39 games and boot 10 goals, but after a solid start his form waned and he was dropped back to East Freo and ultimately de-listed. Collingwood, coached by Rintoul’s former West Coast mentor Mick Malthouse, decided to take a punt on him, but he struggled with injury and then developed migraines, a consequence of his having suffered concussion on several occasions. In 2002 therefore, after 14 games and five goals with the Magpies, he was compelled to retire as a player.

During his time with West Coast Rintoul played a final three games with East Fremantle, during which he registered two goals. Back in 1996 he had made his only interstate appearance for Western Australia in a loss to South Australia at Subiaco Oval.

Author - John Devaney