Wayne Gordon (footballer)

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Wayne Gordon
Personal information
Full name Wayne Gordon
Date of birth 11 July 1954
Date of death 29 September 1983(1983-09-29) (aged 29)
Original team(s) Preston
Height 189 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1974–1978 Collingwood 067 (23)
1979–1981 Melbourne 034 0(5)
Total 101 (28)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1981.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Wayne Gordon (11 July 1954 – 29 September 1983)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

History[edit]

Gordon came to Collingwood in 1974 and by 1976 was a regular fixtures on the wing. A former Preston player, he missed the opening round of the 1977 season but then played every remaining game that year, including both the drawn and replayed Grand Finals. In the 1977 VFL Grand Final replay, Gordon contributed two goals, although they went down to North Melbourne.[2]

He was tried at times at full-back for Melbourne and played 20 games in 1980, but his appearances in 1981 were restricted due to a spleen injury.

Gordon, who had lost his father to blood cancer at the age of 42, developed cancer himself during his time at Melbourne.[3] He died of Hodgkin's disease on 29 September 1983, aged 29.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Wayne Gordon". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  2. ^ Wayne Gordon's playing statistics from AFL Tables
  3. ^ The Age, "An enemy with an unmentionable name", 21 September 1981, p. 3
  4. ^ Devaney, John. "Wayne Gordon biography". AustralianFootball.com.