Ken Smale
| Ken Smale | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born | 5 November 1933 | ||
| Original team | Warracknabeal (Wimmera FL) | ||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 85 kg (187 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1955–1958 | Collingwood | 60 (98) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1958. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Ken Smale (born 5 November 1933) is a former Australian rules footballer, who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Born in Warrnacknabeal Smale played as a forward for the town team and he won the Wimmera Football League goalkicking award in 1952[1] and 1953.[2] Footscray were very interested in Smale in 1953,[3] but he was keen to have a go in the VFL he wrote to Collingwood asking for a try out. He spent the Easter Saturday in Melbourne with a six-game permit in case he was wanted. Collingwood was impressed and he finally got a clearance from Warracknabeal Football Club.[4]
Ken Smale was a forward player in the losing Grand Finals against Melbourne in 1955 and 1956 but he was on the bench when Collingwood won the 1958 VFL Grand Final.
Smale left Collingwood after the premiership win to return to his hometown of Warracknabeal, finishing with 324 games for the club, and winning two premierships in 1953[5][6] and 1966.[7]
In 2008 Collingwood granted him a life membership.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "1952 - Still leads with goals". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 19 September 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ "1953 - Warracknabeal, Minyip clash in Wimmera League 'FORM TEAMS' TO FIGHT OUT SECOND SEMI". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 4 September 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "1953 - FOOTSCRAY AFTER SMALE". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 15 May 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "1955 - MAGPIES LOSE SMALE". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 27 May 1955. p. 26. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "1953 - Fists fly when player floored". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 21 September 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
- ^ "1953 - MAROONS WIN 1953 GRAND FINAL". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 22 September 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ "1966 - Country Football". Google. The Age. 26 September 1966. p. 23. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ "Pies honour Smale for [sic] life". 4 November 2008.
External links
[edit]- Ken Smale's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Ken Smale at AustralianFootball.com
- Ken Smale profile Via Collingwood Forever
 | This Australian rules football biography of a person born in the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
- Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
- Collingwood Football Club players
- Collingwood Football Club premiership players
- Warracknabeal Football Club players
- 1933 births
- Living people
- VFL/AFL premiership players
- 20th-century Australian sportsmen
- Australian rules football biography, 1930s birth stubs