Australian Football

After commencing his senior football career in the NWFU with Wynyard Vic Castles crossed the Bass Strait to Victoria, where he enlisted in the army, and simultaneosly played football for Port Melbourne. When the Borough downed Prahran in the 1940 VFA grand final he lined up on a half forward flank. A year later Port went back to back but Castles was unavailable for the grand final owing to military commitments.

In 1942 Castles crossed to South Melbourne in the VFL and quickly adapted to the elevation in standard and intensity. Between 1942 and 1947 he played precisely 100 games and kicked 139 goals for South. Included among those games was the 1945 grand final clash with Carlton when he contributed a team high three goals to a losing effort.

After leaving the VFL Castles returned to Tasmania where he captain-coached Burnie from 1948 to 1950, earning selection in Tasmania’s Brisbane carnival team in the last of those years. In 1951 he returned to his original club Wynyard and was a member a year later of their premiership-winning side. He then returned to Victoria and spent time coaching Murtoa of the Wimmera Football League and Horsham and District Football League club Jung.

For his achievements as a player Vic Castles was inducted into the AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame.

Author - John Devaney