Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Anthony Polinelli

Known as
Tony Polinelli

Born
18 February 1943 (age 80)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 91d
Last game: 28y 93d

Height and weight
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 75 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 36

Tony Polinelli

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
GeelongV/AFL1961, 1963-1971138630.4667%15.511.084.5520
Total1961, 1963-1971138630.4667%15.511.084.5520

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,265th player to appear, 1,508th most games played, 1,687th most goals kickedGeelong: 658th player to appear, 92nd most games played, 136th most goals kicked

Tony Polinelli joined Geelong from Maryborough and played his early top level football as a rover, a position to which his short, stocky build (170 cm, 75 kg) ostensibly suited him admirably. However, it was only after being given special sprint training and moved to a wing that he really came into his own. A fine ball handler, penetrating kick, and better than average mark for his size, he was almost universally acknowledged as one of the finest VFL wingmen of the 1960s.

Polinelli, who famously enjoyed smoking his pipe during the half time interval of matches, played a total of 138 VFL games and kicked 63 goals for the Cats in 1961 and between 1963 and 1971. He was a reserve in the winning Grand Final of 1963 against Hawthorn and saw only a few minutes of action late in the final term; four years later, playing on a wing, he was one of the Cats' best in the nine-point Grand Final loss to Richmond.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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