Didn't Doug Nicholls play for Fitzroy?

Didn't Doug Nicholls play for Fitzroy?

yep.

and finished 3rd in a brownlow one year

represented vic four times

not bad at 5'2" (157cm)

Not sure where to put this story but this seems a good place

Caro is reporting that the 'Indigenous Round' will be renamed after Sir Douglas Nicholls. http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-indigenous-round-set-to-be-renamed-after-sir-doug-nicholls-20150923-gjtafn.html

It is quite amazing that he achieved so much given the norms of the day. Or maybe it is amazing that he achieved any of these given the norms of the day!

Here is an extract from his Wikipedia page:

• 1957 appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
• 1962 chosen by the Father's Day Council of Australia as Victoria's Father of the Year for "outstanding leadership in youth and welfare work and for the inspired example he set the community in his unfailing efforts to further the cause of the Australian Aborigine".
• 1968 promoted to Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
• 1968 met Pope Paul VI at the Ecumenical Conference held in Melbourne.
• 1970 among Victorians invited guests to greet Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Australia.
• 1972 became the first Aboriginal person to be knighted (Knight Bachelor^[18]) and he and his wife Gladys travelled to London to receive that honour.
• 1973 appointed King of Moomba.^[19]
• 1976 - appointed the 28th Governor of South Australia, the first Aboriginal person appointed to vice-regal office.
• 1977 appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)^[20]
• 1991 the Canberra suburb of Nicholls was named after him
• the new chapel of Northern Community Church of Christ in Preston is named after him.
• 2006 to commemorate the centenary of his birth, a statue of Nicholls, one-and-a-half times life size, was approved for the Parliament Gardens, beside the Parliament of Victoria;^[21] it was officially opened in December 2007^[22] and was the first statue of an Aboriginal erected in Victoria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Nicholls

He didn't get the honour of Australian of the Year but that would only be because it hadn't been invented.

This is a good step in the right direction for the AFL.

Yes, yes but apart from all of that what did Douglas Nichols ever do for Victoria

Yes, yes but apart from all of that what did Douglas Nichols ever do for Victoria

The question maybe is what he did for Victorian football.

From the article: "Seen as the father of Indigenous footballers, courageous wingman Nicholls played 54 VFL games for Fitzroy between 1932 and 1937 along with a more decorated VFA career as a player and coach for Northcote....Famously subjected to racial discrimination and taunts during an early trial game with Carlton, Nicholls was initially ostracised by his Fitzroy teammates but became a popular and admired footballer, as well as a talented sprinter and boxer. He represented "The Big V" four times."

The Wikipedia link gives a fair bit of info about his life in Victoria.

Edited September 23, 201510 yr by Lucifer's Hero

Yes, yes but apart from all of that what did Douglas Nichols ever do for Victoria

Yes, yes but apart from all of that what did Douglas Nichols ever do for Victoria

He was King of Moomba! Sheesh some people are hard to please.

A truly brilliant film. Blessed are the cheese makers

At least someone remembered to celebrate Adam Goodes on Grand Final day: A Lap Of Honour For Sydney Swans Legend Adam Goodes

It's left up to a newbie, obscure mag.

The 'lap of honour' photos are terrific and say a lot about the man.

It will be interesting to see if the AFL does anything during today's motorcade to recognise him.

It will be a shame if he 'goes quietly into the night'.

A final goodbye is greatly deserved.

At least someone remembered to celebrate Adam Goodes on Grand Final day: A Lap Of Honour For Sydney Swans Legend Adam Goodes

It's left up to a newbie, obscure mag.

The 'lap of honour' photos are terrific and say a lot about the man.

It will be interesting to see if the AFL does anything during today's motorcade to recognise him.

It will be a shame if he 'goes quietly into the night'.

A final goodbye is greatly deserved.

One of the absolute greats. 2 brownlows and even underrated for mine. It is a shame he declined the 'lap of honour', but he will be remembered as a champion of the game. Possibly the most versatile footballer to ever play the game. Dominated games out of the ruck and as a midfielder, doesn't get much better than that.

At least someone remembered to celebrate Adam Goodes on Grand Final day: A Lap Of Honour For Sydney Swans Legend Adam Goodes

It's left up to a newbie, obscure mag.

The 'lap of honour' photos are terrific and say a lot about the man.

It will be interesting to see if the AFL does anything during today's motorcade to recognise him.

It will be a shame if he 'goes quietly into the night'.

A final goodbye is greatly deserved.

Wel done to the Huff, not that obscure, been reading it for years, good fair journalism, unlike Newscorp or anything with Murdoch's fingerprints on it.

One of the absolute greats. 2 brownlows and even underrated for mine. It is a shame he declined the 'lap of honour', but he will be remembered as a champion of the game. Possibly the most versatile footballer to ever play the game. Dominated games out of the ruck and as a midfielder, doesn't get much better than that.

He declined lap of honour for fear of racists in crowd, and with thousands of West Australians there I reckon he's done right thing, don't want to give scumbags ammo

He declined lap of honour for fear of racists in crowd, and with thousands of West Australians there I reckon he's done right thing, don't want to give scumbags ammo

So, genius West Australians = scumbags eh????

You are as deep as a puddle. If that is the best you can offer, go away

So, genius West Australians = scumbags eh????

You are as deep as a puddle. If that is the best you can offer, go away

But isn't Baysidedave right? I know lots of crowds booed him, but if memory serves me well, the West Australians were among the worst, weren't they?

Baysidedave didn't say all West Aussies were scumbags; he was criticising the idiots who booed him. Fair enough, too.

I think Goodes will regret not taking the opportunity to do a lap and bask in some final glory. No second chance at that.

He gave those he considered detestable a win.

I think he would have been very surprised at the the applause he would have received. The game is over. As with most occasions the boos would turn to claps.

I think he made a wrong choice. It was his to make however.

Goodes reveals he almost retired after booing controversy

Unsurprisingly, he almost considered not coming back after the awful treatment he copped from the notoriously awful West Coast fans.

I'm certainly glad he did. Not only did he leave with his head held high, but he almost single-handedly dragged the Swans back into the game against the Dockers.

An absolute champion of the game, and the best player for the Swans since they moved to Sydney (IMO). He's done some questionable things, but who amongst us hasn't?

Well done, Mr Goodes. You're an ornament of the game, more than worthy to sit in the company of Bob Skilton and Barry Round, two men who you've name-checked as legends of the Bloods.

It's a shame he didn't do the lap of honour, I feel like there wouldn't be anyone booing him but maybe I'm naive. I remember a fair few years ago when we smashed sydney he dominated the game completely and looked several classes above. Just a super player who could play every position.. ruck midfielder forward and im sure he could play back as well. A champion of the game and I hope he is remembered as such.

He looked like superman compared to everyone else out there, seemed faster bigger and stronger than anyone one in the game. It was so obvious when I saw that it was kind of crazy

I think Goodes will regret not taking the opportunity to do a lap and bask in some final glory. No second chance at that.

He gave those he considered detestable a win.

I think he would have been very surprised at the the applause he would have received. The game is over. As with most occasions the boos would turn to claps.

I think he made a wrong choice. It was his to make however.

It's a shame he didn't do the lap of honour,

The game might not be over for Goodes. He still may have something to offer. Rumour has it he may play for a team up North.

He may still get the opportunity to do that lap of honour. That would be fitting.