Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Ian Synman

Known as
Ian Synman

Born
28 September 1938 (age 85)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 329d
Last game: 30y 252d

Height and weight
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 85 kg

Senior clubs
St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 39, 30, 9

Ian Synman

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
St. KildaV/AFL1958-1959, 1961-196915400.0064%10.910.722.0911
Total1958-1959, 1961-196915400.0064%10.910.722.0911

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 6,978th player to appear, 1,244th most games played, 12,026th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,055th player to appear, 59th most games played, 1,538th most goals kicked

A defender and occasional ruckman, Ian Synman made his senior VFL debut with St Kilda in 1958 but did not manage to hold down a regular place in the team until three years later. Sturdy and dependable, he developed into one of the best centre half backs in the VFL, and at one stage played no fewer than 123 games in succession. He was in his customary position for the both the losing 1965 grand final and the following year’s play-off when the Saints overcame Collingwood by a point. During the week prior to the 1966 grand final there was widespread conjecture over whether Synman would be able to play because he was Jewish and the match was scheduled for the Day of Atonement. In the end, he received special dispensation to take the field.

When Ian Synman retired in 1969 he had played 154 VFL games without registering a single goal.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article; Those Magnificent Men 1897-1987 by Michael Maplestone

Footnotes

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