Michael Kol
Encyclopedia
Michael Kol is a former Australian rules football
er who played with Geelong
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1980s.
Recruited locally, Kol was played at Geelong Football League
club Lara and the Geelong Under-19s before making it into the VFL seniors. He kicked 22 goals from 18 games in his debut season in 1983, to finish second behind Terry Bright
in the club goal-kicking tables. His twin brother, Nigel Kol
, was also at Geelong in 1983 but they would appear together just once, against Sydney
at Kardinia Park
in round eight.
Kol was one of the faster players of his generation and regularly competed in the "Grand Final Sprint". He finished second, to Geoff Ablett
, in the 1985 sprint.
From 1984 to 1986 he played less than half of Geelong's games but then had a strong season in 1987, when he made 16 appearances and averaged 20 disposals a game. He polled seven votes in the 1987 Brownlow Medal count, with all his votes coming in four consecutive rounds.
He didn't feature at all in the 1988 VFL season
and was used just three times the following year, despite playing well enough in the reserves to win the 1989 Gardiner Medal
.
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 Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
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 1980s.
Recruited locally, Kol was played at Geelong Football League
Geelong Football League
The Geelong Football League is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia. It is the highest quality league in the Geelong area, with numerous former AFL players playing for various clubs.-History:...
club Lara and the Geelong Under-19s before making it into the VFL seniors. He kicked 22 goals from 18 games in his debut season in 1983, to finish second behind Terry Bright
Terry Bright
Terry Bright is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the VFL.After winning a premiership with Geelong West in 1975 he was recruited by the Cats with whom he would go on to play 219 VFL games. He was used as a forward but was sometimes seen across half back.-External links:...
in the club goal-kicking tables. His twin brother, Nigel Kol
Nigel Kol
Nigel Kol is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
, was also at Geelong in 1983 but they would appear together just once, against Sydney
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
at Kardinia Park
Kardinia Park
Kardinia Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in South Geelong, Victoria. The stadium is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club. It is nicknamed "The Cattery" by the club's supporters...
in round eight.
Kol was one of the faster players of his generation and regularly competed in the "Grand Final Sprint". He finished second, to Geoff Ablett
Geoff Ablett
Geoff Ablett is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League during the 1970s and 80s. Ablett spent the majority of his career with Hawthorn playing 202 games on the wing. Ablett finished with short stints at Richmond and St Kilda. His younger brother Gary is a...
, in the 1985 sprint.
From 1984 to 1986 he played less than half of Geelong's games but then had a strong season in 1987, when he made 16 appearances and averaged 20 disposals a game. He polled seven votes in the 1987 Brownlow Medal count, with all his votes coming in four consecutive rounds.
He didn't feature at all in the 1988 VFL season
1988 VFL season
The 92nd Victorian Football League Premiership Season commenced in April 1988 and concluded on 24 September 1988, with Hawthorn winning their seventh Premiership in their sixth consecutive Grand Final appearance.-Night Series:...
and was used just three times the following year, despite playing well enough in the reserves to win the 1989 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...
.