Wally Lock
Walter Albert "Wally" Lock (22 January 1917 – 17 June 1992)[1][2] was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Wally Lock | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Walter Albert Lock | ||
Date of birth | 22 January 1917 | ||
Place of birth | Maryborough, Victoria | ||
Date of death | 17 June 1992 75) | (aged||
Original team(s) | Maryborough | ||
Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||
Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Half back flank | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
1936–41, 1946–49 | Melbourne | 140 (14) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1949. | |||
Career highlights | |||
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
VFL career
Recruited from Maryborough, Lock began playing for Melbourne in 1936 as a half forward flanker and was known as the "Bunton" of Melbourne in his early years.[3] In 1939, Lock missed out in playing in the Demons' premiership, due to being suspended. In 1940, Lock again missed being a part of Melbourne's premiership team, after being injured in the preliminary final. He was, however, one of Melbourne's best players, his performance described as "outstanding", in their 1941 premiership side.[4]
In 1942 Lock enlisted in the Australian Army to serve in World War II.[5] He held the rank of corporal and served in the 4th Field Ambulance. He was discharged on 4 January 1946 after the conclusion of World War II.[6]
After being discharged from the Army, Lock began playing for Melbourne again in 1946. He was Melbourne's best and fairest in 1947.[7] He was also named in the Sporting Life "Team of the Year" in 1947. In 1948 Lock injured his knee in a semi final[3] and again missed out on playing in a Melbourne premiership. After playing only four games in 1949 due to the knee injury suffered in 1948, Lock retired in the 1950 pre-season when he found out the knee was "not likely to respond to treatment".[8]
Legacy
Lock was made a life member of the Melbourne Football Club in 1946.[9] Lock was a boyhood hero of Ron Barassi.[10] Barassi described Lock as someone who "combined strength with guile and football intelligence" and "was dashing and played with flair".[11] He was named on the interchange bench in Melbourne's official 'Team of the Century'.[12]
Footnotes
- "Wally Lock – Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- "genealogy". ancestry.com. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
- Beames, Percy (21 September 1948). "Lock May Not Play Again". The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- Hobbs (1984), pp. 42–43
- Taylor, Percy, "Melbourne are Proud of their Great War Record", The Australasian, (Saturday, 24 June 1944), p. 23.
- "LOCK, WALTER ALBERT". WW2 Nominal Roll. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- Hobbs (1984), p. 144
- Taylor, Percy (20 March 1950). "WAL LOCK WILL NOT PLAY AGAIN Melbourne loses star". The Argus. Melbourne. p. 18. Retrieved 12 January 2011 – via National Library of Australia.
- Hobbs (1984), p. 24
- "Barassi's special mark". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 May 1995. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- Holroyd, Jane (1 June 2005). "THOUGHTS ON SPORT – RON BARASSI". The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
- Ward, Janelle (14 March 2008). "2008 Player profiles". The Age. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
References
- De Bolfo, Tony (14 March 2017). "200 Club push for 'Mulga', Baxter and Bob". Carlton Football Club.
- Hobbs, Greg (1984). 125 yrs of the Melbourne Demons. Jolimont: Progress Press Group. ISBN 0-9590694-0-2.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wally Lock. |
- Wally Lock's playing statistics from AFL Tables