Wayne Fox
Encyclopedia
Wayne 'Baldy' Fox is a former Australian rules football
er who played for various clubs in the Tasmanian Australian National Football League
(TANFL) and later, the TFL Statewide League. He also played with Footscray
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
A forward, Fox was the all-time record Tasmanian Football League
goal-kicker with 1,049 goals and started his career at Glenorchy
in 1975 before crossing to New Norfolk
in 1981.
He was most prolific when playing at New Norfolk
, where he topped the TANFL/TFL Statewide league goal-kicking in four successive years from 1983 to 1986. The best of those tallies, 135 goals, came in 1983 and the previous season he was a member of New Norfolk's premiership team.
He crossed to Hobart
in 1986 where he also had four fine seasons and also topped the league's goal-kicking in 1986. 1987 and 1988, becoming the Hobart Football Club
's only centurion goal-kicker in its history in 1986 and 1988.
Fox booted 97-goals in the 1989 season, including six in the Tigers grand final loss to North Hobart
to leave him an agonising three goals short of the ton.
After a dispute with Hobart
captain/coach Mark Browning over the summer, Fox walked out on Hobart and joined then bottom club South Launceston
for the 1990 season.
A brief foray that only lasted until mid-season before he returned South again and signed up with the Sandy Bay Football Club
where he played until his retirement from TFL
football in 1991.
Fox brought up his 1,000th TFL goal at KGV Football Park
on 18 August 1990 in the TFL Statewide League Round 20 clash while playing for Sandy Bay
in their 67-point victory over his former club, Glenorchy
.
His brief foray into VFL football only yielded one match, with an appearance in the backline for Footscray in the eighth round of the 1978 VFL season
at Western Oval, in a four point loss to Collingwood
.
After retirement from TFL football, Fox played in the Huon Football Association, with Huonville, Kingston (Kingborough) and Franklin. His final season of football was for Southern Football League
club Claremont
, which was coached by his brother Graeme, in 1998. Fox's final match was against his former club Hobart, at the TCA Ground in front of just 165 spectators. A four goal tally helped his side to victory and brought an end to a 24-year senior career which spanned 10 clubs.
Fox was inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
in 2007. He kicked a TFL/TANFL record of 1049 goals, having passed Peter Hudson
's tally of 994 goals late in his career. In addition, Fox also kicked 85 goals in interstate matches for Tasmania and 19 goals when representing the TANFL against the NWFU
.
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 various clubs in the Tasmanian Australian National Football League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
(TANFL) and later, the TFL Statewide League. He also played with Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
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).
A forward, Fox was the all-time record Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
goal-kicker with 1,049 goals and started his career at Glenorchy
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
in 1975 before crossing to New Norfolk
New Norfolk Eagles
The New Norfolk District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Southern Football League, in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:Entry to Southern District Football Assoc* 1934Entry to TANFL/TFL* 1947...
in 1981.
He was most prolific when playing at New Norfolk
New Norfolk Eagles
The New Norfolk District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Southern Football League, in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:Entry to Southern District Football Assoc* 1934Entry to TANFL/TFL* 1947...
, where he topped the TANFL/TFL Statewide league goal-kicking in four successive years from 1983 to 1986. The best of those tallies, 135 goals, came in 1983 and the previous season he was a member of New Norfolk's premiership team.
He crossed to Hobart
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
in 1986 where he also had four fine seasons and also topped the league's goal-kicking in 1986. 1987 and 1988, becoming the Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
's only centurion goal-kicker in its history in 1986 and 1988.
Fox booted 97-goals in the 1989 season, including six in the Tigers grand final loss to North Hobart
North Hobart Demons
The North Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League.Players to reach Australian Football League level include Paul Williams, Peter 'Percy' Jones, Daryn Cresswell, Chris Bond, James Manson, Jim Wright, Tony Pickett and several other big...
to leave him an agonising three goals short of the ton.
After a dispute with Hobart
Hobart Football Club
Hobart Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Hobart, Tasmania. They play their home fixtures at the TCA Ground on the Queens Domain, in Hobart and from 2009, the club has been a member of the Tasmanian State League.- Club history :...
captain/coach Mark Browning over the summer, Fox walked out on Hobart and joined then bottom club South Launceston
South Launceston Football Club
The South Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Tasmanian Football League. They were formed through a merger between City-South and East Launceston in 1986, former Northern Tasmanian Football Association clubs...
for the 1990 season.
A brief foray that only lasted until mid-season before he returned South again and signed up with the Sandy Bay Football Club
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
where he played until his retirement from TFL
Tasmanian Football League
Tasmanian State League is the highest ranked Australian rules football league in Tasmania, Australia.The league has a long and convoluted history which dates back to its founding on 12 June 1879 Tasmanian State League (TSL) (formerly known as the Tasmanian Football League (TFL), Tasmanian...
football in 1991.
Fox brought up his 1,000th TFL goal at KGV Football Park
KGV Oval
The KGV Oval is the home headquarters of the Glenorchy football and cricket clubs, as well as the Southern Football LeagueThe ground is a former TFL and now Tasmanian State League and also a Southern Football League finals venue....
on 18 August 1990 in the TFL Statewide League Round 20 clash while playing for Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
in their 67-point victory over his former club, Glenorchy
Glenorchy Football Club
The Glenorchy District Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the Tasmanian State League and the Southern Football League in Tasmania, Australia.-Origins:...
.
His brief foray into VFL football only yielded one match, with an appearance in the backline for Footscray in the eighth round of the 1978 VFL season
1978 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1978.-Grand final:Hawthorn defeated North Melbourne 18.13 to 15.13 , in front of a crowd of 101704 people...
at Western Oval, in a four point loss to Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
After retirement from TFL football, Fox played in the Huon Football Association, with Huonville, Kingston (Kingborough) and Franklin. His final season of football was for Southern Football League
Southern Football League (Tasmania)
The Southern Football League is an Australian rules football league which is based in Tasmania, Australia.- History :The Southern Tasmanian Football League was founded in 1996 with the league's original clubs being those of the recently defunct Tasmanian Amateur Football League – Southern Division...
club Claremont
Claremont Magpies
The Claremont Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the SFL in Tasmania, Australia. The club wears a collingwood style jumper and has the mascot the Magpies....
, which was coached by his brother Graeme, in 1998. Fox's final match was against his former club Hobart, at the TCA Ground in front of just 165 spectators. A four goal tally helped his side to victory and brought an end to a 24-year senior career which spanned 10 clubs.
Fox was inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame
The Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame was established to help recognise outstanding services and overall contribution made to the sport of Australian rules football in Tasmania. Any participant of the sport, including players, umpires, media personalities and coaches, may be inducted...
in 2007. He kicked a TFL/TANFL record of 1049 goals, having passed Peter Hudson
Peter Hudson
Peter John Hudson AM is a former Australian Rules Football player, considered one of the greatest full-forwards in the game's history....
's tally of 994 goals late in his career. In addition, Fox also kicked 85 goals in interstate matches for Tasmania and 19 goals when representing the TANFL against the NWFU
North West Football Union
The North West Football Union was an Australian rules football competition which ran from 1910 to 1986. In its time it was one of the three main leagues in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian Football League and Northern Tasmanian Football Association representing the rest of the state...
.