Alan Stoneham
Encyclopedia
Alan Stoneham is a former Australian rules football
player, in the VFL/AFL.
from Sunshine
in the VFA at just 16 years of age, in 1972. Cited as a prodigy, great things were expected of him and he was rewarded with Ted Whitten's
number 3 guernsey. Playing as a versatile centreman or occasionally up forward, he was a highly talented player yet his career never seemed to reach the heights some needlessly predicted upon the young player. During the mid 70's the Bulldogs made the finals only twice yet failed to win on either occasion, the club also endured numerous departures of highly talented players in this period. Also, in 1976, Stoneham kicked the match-winning goal after the siren in a dreary hard-scoring match where just 7 goals (and 27 behinds) were kicked. Stoneham marked on the boundary and somehow slotted it through.
, securing a solid spot as a defender under the coaching both Barry Davis
and later Kevin Sheedy. During the 1983 season, he was involved in a controversial incident against Hawthorn
involving Robert DiPierdomenico
where he was concussed after the half time siren
, only to be assisted from the field with a black eye. He ended his career later that year, captaining a victorious Essendon reserves side to a premiership.
He played 128 games with Footscray and a further 78 with Essendon, for a total of 200 senior games, kicking 62 goals.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player, in the VFL/AFL.
Footscray career
He was recruited by FootscrayWestern Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
from Sunshine
Sunshine Football Club
Sunshine Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1959 until 1989. The club colours were navy blue and white.-History:...
in the VFA at just 16 years of age, in 1972. Cited as a prodigy, great things were expected of him and he was rewarded with Ted Whitten's
Ted Whitten
Edward James "EJ" Whitten was an Australian rules football player and media personality. He played a then-record 321 Victorian Football League games for the Footscray Football Club between 1951 and 1970...
number 3 guernsey. Playing as a versatile centreman or occasionally up forward, he was a highly talented player yet his career never seemed to reach the heights some needlessly predicted upon the young player. During the mid 70's the Bulldogs made the finals only twice yet failed to win on either occasion, the club also endured numerous departures of highly talented players in this period. Also, in 1976, Stoneham kicked the match-winning goal after the siren in a dreary hard-scoring match where just 7 goals (and 27 behinds) were kicked. Stoneham marked on the boundary and somehow slotted it through.
Essendon career
It was in 1979 he left the Bulldogs for EssendonEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, securing a solid spot as a defender under the coaching both Barry Davis
Barry Davis
Barry Davis is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League with Essendon and North Melbourne, before coaching his original team between 1978–1980.- Essendon career :...
and later Kevin Sheedy. During the 1983 season, he was involved in a controversial incident against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
involving Robert DiPierdomenico
Robert DiPierdomenico
Robert "Dipper" DiPierdomenico is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL of Italian descent and a member of the VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century...
where he was concussed after the half time siren
Siren
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
, only to be assisted from the field with a black eye. He ended his career later that year, captaining a victorious Essendon reserves side to a premiership.
He played 128 games with Footscray and a further 78 with Essendon, for a total of 200 senior games, kicking 62 goals.