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Full name
Athol Webb
Known as
Athol Webb
Born
13 September 1935 (age 88)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 299d
Last game: 23y 308d
Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Senior clubs
Melbourne; New Norfolk
Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 15
Recruited from
Melbourne (1960); New Norfolk (1962)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Melbourne | V/AFL | 1955-1959 | 74 | 146 | 1.97 | 78% | 10.75 | — | 3.50 | 6 |
New Norfolk | TANFL | 1960-1961 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
East Launceston | NTFA | 1962-1963 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Total | 1955-1963 | 74 | 146 | 1.97 | — | — | — | — | — |
Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only
AFL: 6,612th player to appear, 3,236th most games played, 670th most goals kickedMelbourne: 762nd player to appear, 238th most games played, 48th most goals kicked
Dynamic, elusive and skilful, Athol Webb was one of the finest crumbing forwards of the 1950s. He commenced his senior career with Scottsdale, whose best and fairest trophy he won in 1953. In 1955 he was recruited by Melbourne where, after a slow start, he developed into an important member of the side. His 146 VFL goals included five in the Grand Final win over Collingwood in 1956, and three in the following year's defeat of Essendon.
Webb also played against Collingwood in the losing Grand Final of 1958. Coach Norm Smith would typically use Webb as a decoy full forward, with a bigger, strong marking player such as Bob Johnson alongside him in a forward pocket. He topped the Demons' goal-kicking list in 1956, with 56 goals, and in 1957 (jointly with Ron Barassi) with 44.
Returning to Tasmania in 1960, Webb initially played with and captain-coached New Norfolk (1960-61), before rounding off the Tasmanian phase of his career in a similar role at East Launceston (1962-3), where he hit the headlines after sustaining a serious back injury during the 1963 season. He later moved to Sydney, where he coached Western Suburbs.
Athol Webb had earlier played interstate football for Tasmania against the Australian Amateurs in 1954, and in the famous win against the VFL in 1960 (reviewed here), as well as for the VFL against his home state in 1957.
Author - John Devaney