Ern Utting
Encyclopedia
Ernest 'Ern' Utting was an Australian rules football
er who played for Collingwood
and Hawthorn
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He was also commonly referred to as Tich Utting.
Utting started his league career with Collingwood but struggled to get game time in what was a strong side, although he managed to top their goalkicking in 1920 with 23 goals. After three seasons he left the club and spent 1923 with Preston
, whom he played for prior to joining Collingwood. He returned to the big time in 1925 and was a member of Hawthorn's inaugural VFL side. The Club Champion
in 1927 and 1929, Utting was also the first Hawthorn footballer to play 100 VFL games. Playing mainly in the back pocket
, he polled well in the Brownlow Medal
during his career and finished in the top 10 on three occasions. He left the senior side at the end of 1932 but captained the seconds side in 1933, winning the Gardiner Medal
for the league's best and fairest 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 who played for Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
and 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...
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). He was also commonly referred to as Tich Utting.
Utting started his league career with Collingwood but struggled to get game time in what was a strong side, although he managed to top their goalkicking in 1920 with 23 goals. After three seasons he left the club and spent 1923 with Preston
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
, whom he played for prior to joining Collingwood. He returned to the big time in 1925 and was a member of Hawthorn's inaugural VFL side. The Club Champion
Peter Crimmins Medal
The Peter Crimmins Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the player from the Hawthorn Football Club deemed best and fairest for the season.Peter Crimmins was a rover for Hawthorn, playing 1966-1975...
in 1927 and 1929, Utting was also the first Hawthorn footballer to play 100 VFL games. Playing mainly 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....
, he polled well in the 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...
during his career and finished in the top 10 on three occasions. He left the senior side at the end of 1932 but captained the seconds side in 1933, winning the Gardiner Medal
Gardiner Medal
The Gardiner Medal was an Australian rules football award, formerly awarded to the best and fairest player in the VFL Reserves competition.Officially named the Seconds prior to 1959 and the Reserves from 1959 onwards, the competition ran from 1919 until 1999 and the medal was first awarded in...
for the league's best and fairest player.