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Key Facts

Full name
Donald Gale

Known as
Don Gale

Senior clubs
Hobart

Recruited from
Hobart (1958); Wynyard (1961)

Family links
Jack Gale (Father)Michael Gale (Son)Brendon Gale (Son)

Don Gale


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
WynyardNWFU1953-1955, 1958-1960
HobartTANFL1957
Burnie TigersNWFU1961-1962
NWFU1953-1955, 1958-1962
TANFL1957
Total1953-1955, 1957-1962

After showing great promise as a schoolboy footballer, Don Gale was signed by Wynyard in 1953. His early form was magnificent, and he was wooed by South Melbourne, but was prevented from transferring by the TFL. In 1956, he sought a clearance again, and even re-located across the Bass Strait, but the TFL would not budge. After a season spent playing Sunday League football in Melbourne he returned to Tasmania and signed for Hobart, but after just twelve months in the TANFL he was enticed back home to Wynyard.

The 1958 season proved to be one of Gale’s best as he was selected to represent Tasmania at the centenary carnival in Melbourne and, after a series of superb performances in a back pocket, became the first ever NWFU footballer selected in an All Australian team. (Three years later, at Brisbane, Latrobe’s Darrel Baldock would emulate the feat.)

Gale was again selected for his state in 1959 when he played against the Vics in Devonport. Later that same year, however, he was forced to withdraw from the side which met West Australia at Hobart owing to injury.

In 1960 Gale was a prominent contributor to arguably the most auspicious achievement in Tasmanian football history as the state side overcame a supposedly invincible VFL combination at York Park, Launceston. Tasmania led at every change en route to a seven-point success, with most newspapers listing either Stuart Spencer or Don Gale as best afield. (Match reviewed here.)

The only remaining ambition for Don Gale at this stage in his career was to play in a premiership team, and a couple of seasons later, having crossed to Burnie as captain-coach, he finally achieved it. In 1961, Gale’s first season at Burnie, the side had come agonisingly close, losing to arch rivals Cooee in the grand final by five points, but in 1962 everything came together and Devonport was vanquished by 10 points. The only disappointment was losing the State Premiership Final against North Hobart.

Having now achieved his main outstanding ambition, Don Gale chose to retire, despite being just twenty-seven years of age. In later years, sons Brendon and Michael would keep the Gale name alive both at home and in Victoria.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy's Tasmanian Football Companion

Footnotes

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