Don Cordner
Encyclopedia
Dr Donald Cordner was an Australian rules football
er who played with Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1940s. His brothers Denis
, John
and Ted
also played for the club.
Cordner played for Melbourne University prior to joining the VFL, studying medicine when not on the football field.
A ruckman
who was also used in defense, Cordner made his debut for Melbourne in the 1941 finals series, playing in their winning grand final in just his second appearance for the club. Rarely injured, he played 144 consecutive games between 1942 and 1950.
Cordner was Melbourne's best and fairest
in 1943 and was a Brownlow Medal
winner in 1946, finishing equal 6th the following season. He was club captain in 1948 and 1949, the former in a premiership season. He also captained Victoria in interstate football in the same year. Cordner was also the first Melbourne Cricket Club
member to receive the Brownlow Medal.
He retired from football after the 1950 season and went on to become a member of the VFL Tribunal as well as serving the Melbourne club committee.
In 2000 he was named in the back pocket
in Melbourne's official 'Team of the Century'.
Don Cordner died on 13 May 2009 at age 87.
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 who played with Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
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) during the 1940s. His brothers Denis
Denis Cordner
George Denis Pruen Cordner was an Australian rules football player. His brothers Don, John and Ted were also notable sportsmen.Denis Cordner played in the ruck in the Melbourne premiership teams in the 1948, 1955 and 1956....
, John
John Cordner (sportsman)
John Pruen Cordner is a former Australian sportsman who played first-class cricket for Victoria and Australian rules football in the Victorian Football League with Melbourne....
and Ted
Ted Cordner
Ted Cordner is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League during the 1940s. The older brother of Melbourne Team of the Century members Denis and Don Cordner, Ted would have played more than 52 games had he not pursued a medical career...
also played for the club.
Cordner played for Melbourne University prior to joining the VFL, studying medicine when not on the football field.
A ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
who was also used in defense, Cordner made his debut for Melbourne in the 1941 finals series, playing in their winning grand final in just his second appearance for the club. Rarely injured, he played 144 consecutive games between 1942 and 1950.
Cordner was Melbourne's best and fairest
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
in 1943 and was a Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
winner in 1946, finishing equal 6th the following season. He was club captain in 1948 and 1949, the former in a premiership season. He also captained Victoria in interstate football in the same year. Cordner was also the first Melbourne Cricket Club
Melbourne Cricket Club
The Melbourne Cricket Club is a sporting club based in Melbourne, Australia. It was founded in 1838 and is regarded as the oldest sporting club in Australia....
member to receive the Brownlow Medal.
He retired from football after the 1950 season and went on to become a member of the VFL Tribunal as well as serving the Melbourne club committee.
In 2000 he was named in the 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....
in Melbourne's official 'Team of the Century'.
Don Cordner died on 13 May 2009 at age 87.