Graham Arthur
Australian rules footballer (1936–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Graham Francis Arthur (9 June 1936 – 10 January 2021) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Graham Arthur | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Graham Francis Arthur | ||
| Born | 9 June 1936 | ||
| Died | 10 January 2021 (aged 84) | ||
| Original team | Sandhurst (BFL) | ||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1955–1968 | Hawthorn | 232 (201) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| Victoria | 12 (7) | ||
| Coaching career3 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1964–1965 | Hawthorn | 36 (17–19–0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1968. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1965. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Career
Arthur played primarily as a half forward, debuting while still only 18 years old.
He was the captain of the first Hawthorn side to win the Grand Final and made a dozen appearances for the Victorian state team.
Following his career at Hawthorn, Arthur was appointed playing coach of Bendigo Football League club Echuca[1] and led them to the 1970 premiership.
Arthur was named captain of Hawthorn's official Team of the Century.[2]
Arthur supported the planned merger between Hawthorn and Melbourne in 1996.[3][4]
Arthur was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the initial intake in 1996, his citation reading:[5]
- Hawthorn's first premiership captain was a brilliant half-forward flanker/centreman.
Arthur's father Alan Arthur played for Essendon.[6]
On 24 October 2000, Arthur was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australian football.[7]
Statistics
Honours and achievements
Team
Individual
- VFL premiership captain: 1961
- 3× Hawthorn best and fairest: 1955, 1958, 1962
- Hawthorn captain: 1960–1968 (most games played as captain – 153)
- Australian Football Hall of Fame
- Hawthorn Hall of Fame – Legend status
- Hawthorn Team of the Century – Captain
- Hawthorn life member
