Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Paddy Walsh

Known as
Paddy Walsh

Senior clubs
Prahran

Paddy Walsh


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
PrahranVFA1946-1954, 1960
Total1946-1954, 1960

One of the finest VFA centremen of his day, dual Prahran best and fairest winner Paddy Walsh was a driving force behind that club's 1951 premiership triumph. Originally from Murrumbeena, for much of his career Walsh was a near automatic selection in VFA representative sides, including the team which went to the Brisbane carnival in 1950, and scored a noteworthy win over South Australia. Renowned as an inspirational on-field leader, Paddy Walsh captained Prahran from 1949 to 1954, assuming the coaching duties as well in the last two of those years. As a player he was highly skilled and resourceful, strong overhead, and a fine kick.

In 1960, after being away from the VFA scene for six years, Walsh made a one-match return with Prahran in order to qualify as a ten-year player, and the following season saw him installed as the club's non-playing coach. The VFA introduced a two-division system in 1961, with the Two Blues consigned to the lower flight. After missing the finals on percentage in Walsh's debut season as coach, the Two Blues battled their way through to the following year's Grand Final, only to crash to an embarrassing 60-point defeat at the hands of Dandenong.

After being replaced as senior coach in 1963 by former Melbourne player Dennis Jones, Paddy Walsh had a brief stint as coach of fellow Second Division side Brighton-Caulfield.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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