Australian Football

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Key Facts

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)

Athol Webb

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
MelbourneV/AFL1955-1959741461.9778%10.753.506
New NorfolkTANFL1960-1961
East LauncestonNTFA1962-1963
Total1955-1963741461.97

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

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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