Australian Football

John Cheel was a strong centre half back who came to Western Districts from Footscray reserves in 1966, after encouragement from Alan Hunter who spent 3 years at the Bulldogs. Cheel was a member of the Bulldogs' 1966 and 1967 losing Grand Final teams and runner-up in the 1966 Grogan Medal. He consistently finished top three in all media trophies, winning the Courier Mail Award in 1965. He eventually tasted premiership success after shifting to the then Southport Magpies in the Gold Coast competition with three premierships in the period between 1975 and 1978. Cheel played for Queensland on five occasions, with the most memorable being his blanketing of the great Alex Jesaulenko in a victory over the ACT.

Author - Murray Bird and Peter Blucher