Clen Denning
Encyclopedia
Clen Charles Denning was an Australian rules football
er in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Soon after he turned 16, Denning played for VFA club Oakleigh
. He got his start in the VFL after a long wait when Oakleigh coach Frank Maher
moved to coach the Carlton Football Club
. Denning debuted with Carlton in 1935.
Early in his career made a name for himself as a promising goalkicker; he scored 6 goals from his first 6 kicks in his first match.
He only stayed with the Blues until the end of 1937, having played 18 games for 23 goals.
In 1938 he crossed over to the Fitzroy Football Club
, and was said to be unhappy at Carlton. He scored 37 goals in 1939 to be their leading goalkicker. From then on he focused more on a defensive role, becoming a back pocket
. He represented Victoria at interstate football in 1941 and in 1944 was back pocket in Fitzroy's premiership side.
From the October 2009 death of Jimmy Bates
until his own the following month, he was the oldest living former VFL player.
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...
er in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Soon after he turned 16, Denning played for VFA club Oakleigh
Oakleigh Football Club
Oakleigh Football Club, nicknamed the Devils, was an Australian rules football club from Oakleigh which played in the VFA from 1929 until 1994...
. He got his start in the VFL after a long wait when Oakleigh coach Frank Maher
Frank Maher (footballer)
Frank H. Maher , is a former Australian footballer, and coach in the Victorian Football League.He served in the army in World War I from 1916 to 1919, and was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry for his actions in France on 19 May 1918.He only began playing football when serving overseas with...
moved to coach the Carlton Football Club
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. Denning debuted with Carlton in 1935.
Early in his career made a name for himself as a promising goalkicker; he scored 6 goals from his first 6 kicks in his first match.
He only stayed with the Blues until the end of 1937, having played 18 games for 23 goals.
In 1938 he crossed over to the Fitzroy Football Club
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
, and was said to be unhappy at Carlton. He scored 37 goals in 1939 to be their leading goalkicker. From then on he focused more on a defensive role, becoming a back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
. He represented Victoria at interstate football in 1941 and in 1944 was back pocket in Fitzroy's premiership side.
From the October 2009 death of Jimmy Bates
Jimmy Bates
Jimmy E. Bates was an Australian rules footballer for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League.Bates played just one game in the VFL...
until his own the following month, he was the oldest living former VFL player.