Grantley Fielke
Encyclopedia
Grantley Craig Fielke is a former Australian rules football
er who played for West Adelaide
in the SANFL
and for both Collingwood
and the Adelaide Crows
in the VFL-AFL
between 1979 and 1997.
in 1977 at the age of 15. After taking time to adjust to life in Adelaide
(he has never been to the city before), he made his league debut for the Bloods on April 7, 1979, going on to play in 20 games. The Bloods though had a season to forget winning just 7 of 23 games and finished in last place. In his debut season for Westies, Fielke would win the Sam Suckling Memorial Medal as the best first year player.
Fielke's speed and ball handling ability saw him become a valued member of West's senior team. From his debut in 1979 until the end of the 1986 season, he played 186 games and kicked 150 goals.
The arrival of Neil Kerley
as coach in 1981 saw The Bloods go from being one of the worst to one of the best teams in the SANFL, although at times their famous inconsistency showed through. Fielke's game blossomed under "Knuckles" hard coaching although he suffered a setback in 1983 when he twice broke his arm. He battled back and regained his place in the side shortly before the finals, for which West had easily qualified as the minor premier, winning 18 of their 22 regular season games. Fielke then went on to be a member of West Adelaide's first premiership win since 1961 when he came off the reserves bench in their 21 16 (142) to 16 12 (108) win over Surt
in the Grand Final in front of over 47,000 fans at Football Park.
West Adelaide obtained the services of former Port Adelaide
premiership coach John Cahill in 1985 and Fielke continued to blossom. That season he experienced the individual highlight of his career when he won the Magarey Medal
, polling 54 votes to defeat pre-count favourite Peter Motley
of Sturt who finished with 51 votes. During the 1985 season Fielke led the league in disposals (kicks and handballs), and used the ball very effectively against tough opposition in leading West Adelaide to the preliminary final.
Fielke was recruited by the famous Collingwood Football Club
for the 1987 VFL season
, after the Magpies looked for new talent across the border. He impressed at Victoria Park
, playing 16 games for the team in the season on the wing.
After just a single season in the VFL
, Fielke returned to Adelaide for family reasons in 1988, playing again for West Adelaide. There he would play another three more seasons, winning the clubs Trabilsle Medal as the best and fairest player in 1990.
With the forming of the Adelaide Crows
in late 1990 to play in the, Fielke was won of the first players signed and played in all 22 games of the 1991 AFL season
which saw the Crows finish in ninth place with a 10-12 win-loss record. After being one of the only players to play in all games during the Crows first season, the 30 year old Fielke suddenly found himself on the outer with coach Graham Cornes
and he played only 2 games in 1992
. At the end of the season he was informed his services were no longer required, ending his AFL career with a record of 40 games and 21 goals.
Fielke returned to West Adelaide once more in 1993 and became club captain in 1994, a position he would hold until he announced his retirement at the end of the 1997 season. He finished his SANFL career having played a club record 364 games for West Adelaide. He is the only West Adelaide player to ever play over 300 senior games for the club. He kicked 255 goals in his 364 games.
During his career, Grantley Fielke also played 8 state games for South Australia
. He was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2002.
captain Michelle Fielke. He used to own a Sporting Goods store (Grantley Fielke's Sports Locker) at the Arndale Shopping Centre
in Adelaide but is now a real estate agent
. His brother Craig also played league football for Sturt in the SANFL while his 2nd cousin Aaron Fielke plays with West Adelaide and in Round 17 of the 2011 season notched up his 50th game for the Bloods.
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 West Adelaide
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
and for both 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 the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
in the VFL-AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
between 1979 and 1997.
League career
Fielke was recruited by the West Adelaide Football Club from their SA country zone of the RiverlandRiverland
The Riverland, is a region of South Australia. It covers the area near the Murray River from where it flows into South Australia downstream to Blanchetown.The major town centres are Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Waikerie and Barmera...
in 1977 at the age of 15. After taking time to adjust to life in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
(he has never been to the city before), he made his league debut for the Bloods on April 7, 1979, going on to play in 20 games. The Bloods though had a season to forget winning just 7 of 23 games and finished in last place. In his debut season for Westies, Fielke would win the Sam Suckling Memorial Medal as the best first year player.
Fielke's speed and ball handling ability saw him become a valued member of West's senior team. From his debut in 1979 until the end of the 1986 season, he played 186 games and kicked 150 goals.
The arrival of Neil Kerley
Neil Kerley
Donald Neil Kerley OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. Known to his mates as either Neil or Knuckles and to South Australian football fans as King Kerley or simply "Kerls", he is best known for taking three clubs to four SANFL premierships over three decades as both a...
as coach in 1981 saw The Bloods go from being one of the worst to one of the best teams in the SANFL, although at times their famous inconsistency showed through. Fielke's game blossomed under "Knuckles" hard coaching although he suffered a setback in 1983 when he twice broke his arm. He battled back and regained his place in the side shortly before the finals, for which West had easily qualified as the minor premier, winning 18 of their 22 regular season games. Fielke then went on to be a member of West Adelaide's first premiership win since 1961 when he came off the reserves bench in their 21 16 (142) to 16 12 (108) win over Surt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
in the Grand Final in front of over 47,000 fans at Football Park.
West Adelaide obtained the services of former Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
premiership coach John Cahill in 1985 and Fielke continued to blossom. That season he experienced the individual highlight of his career when he won the Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
, polling 54 votes to defeat pre-count favourite Peter Motley
Peter Motley
Peter Motley is a former professional Australian rules footballer, playing for Sturt Football Club in the South Australian National Football League and Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League....
of Sturt who finished with 51 votes. During the 1985 season Fielke led the league in disposals (kicks and handballs), and used the ball very effectively against tough opposition in leading West Adelaide to the preliminary final.
Fielke was recruited by the famous Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
for the 1987 VFL season
1987 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1987.-Night Series: defeated 8.10 to 8.6 in the Final at Waverley Park.-Leading goalkickers:...
, after the Magpies looked for new talent across the border. He impressed at Victoria Park
Victoria Park, Melbourne
Victoria Park is a sports venue in Abbotsford a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. Built for the purpose of both Australian rules football and cricket, the stadium is oval shaped....
, playing 16 games for the team in the season on the wing.
After just a single season in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, Fielke returned to Adelaide for family reasons in 1988, playing again for West Adelaide. There he would play another three more seasons, winning the clubs Trabilsle Medal as the best and fairest player in 1990.
With the forming of the Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
in late 1990 to play in the, Fielke was won of the first players signed and played in all 22 games of the 1991 AFL season
1991 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1991.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-National Cup:...
which saw the Crows finish in ninth place with a 10-12 win-loss record. After being one of the only players to play in all games during the Crows first season, the 30 year old Fielke suddenly found himself on the outer with coach Graham Cornes
Graham Cornes
Graham Studley Cornes OAM is a former Australian rules football player and coach, as well as a media personality with a weekday drivetime sports program that he hosts on Adelaide 5AA with Stephen Rowe....
and he played only 2 games in 1992
1992 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 1992. The AFL Grand Final this year was won by the West Coast Eagles, who became the first non-Victorian club to win a Premiership.-Ladder:...
. At the end of the season he was informed his services were no longer required, ending his AFL career with a record of 40 games and 21 goals.
Fielke returned to West Adelaide once more in 1993 and became club captain in 1994, a position he would hold until he announced his retirement at the end of the 1997 season. He finished his SANFL career having played a club record 364 games for West Adelaide. He is the only West Adelaide player to ever play over 300 senior games for the club. He kicked 255 goals in his 364 games.
During his career, Grantley Fielke also played 8 state games for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He was inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame
South Australian Football Hall of Fame
The South Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise the players, coaches, umpires, administrators and journalists who had made a significant contribution in the South Australian National Football League...
in 2002.
Personal
Grantley Fielke was formally married to former Australian Netball teamAustralian national netball captains
This is a list of captains of the Australia national netball team.Note: As international tours were not a regular occurrence until the 1980s, many of the early captains only served for a small number of tours, often held in one individual year...
captain Michelle Fielke. He used to own a Sporting Goods store (Grantley Fielke's Sports Locker) at the Arndale Shopping Centre
Centro Arndale
Centro Arndale Shopping Centre is located at in the suburb of Kilkenny in Adelaide and is currently managed by the Centro Properties Group. It was previously managed by The Westfield Group. The facility is located on a main arterial, Torrens Road...
in Adelaide but is now a real estate agent
Real estate broker
A real estate broker, real estate agent or realtor is a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate/real property and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy...
. His brother Craig also played league football for Sturt in the SANFL while his 2nd cousin Aaron Fielke plays with West Adelaide and in Round 17 of the 2011 season notched up his 50th game for the Bloods.