TheMase
11th March 2003, 03:07 PM
http://sydneyswans.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=78355
The greatest goalkicker in the history of VFL/AFL football, Tony Lockett, has been awarded life membership by the Australian Football League.
Lockett booted 1360 goals for St.Kilda and Sydney between 1983 and 1999 and in 2002, although if not for his brief comeback last year, he would not have automatically qualified for the award.
All AFL players are eligible for life membership once they play 300 games, including premiership season, pre-season and state-of-origin.
All up, Lockett played 281 premiership season games for the Saints and Swans, 17 pre-season matches and five state-of-origin matches.
He joined St.Kilda from North Ballarat and was a star almost from the beginning, with his wonderful marking and deadly accurate kicking. He played 183 games and booted 898 goals for the Saints before leaving for Sydney at the end of the 1994 season.
His standout season came in 1987 when he kicked 117 goals and won the Brownlow Medal in a tie with Hawthorn rover John Platten.
In 1991 he booted 127 goals as the Saints made their first finals series for 18 years and booted 132 the following year, in which the Saints again qualified for the September action.
After nearly joining Collingwood and Richmond after the 1994 season, he settled on Sydney and was an instant draw-card in the AFL outpost. He booted 15 goals in a match in 1995 and finished the year with 110 goals, while in 1996 he booted 121 goals and helped the Swans into their first grand final for 51 years.
He booted 109 goals in 1998 and created history the next year with his 1300th goal, surpassing Gordon Coventry as the leading goalkicker in league history.
He retired at the end of 1999, but the comeback itch returned in 2002. He managed just three goals from as many games and retired again mid-season.
Lockett will receive his award at the AFL?s annual general meeting on 20 March
The greatest goalkicker in the history of VFL/AFL football, Tony Lockett, has been awarded life membership by the Australian Football League.
Lockett booted 1360 goals for St.Kilda and Sydney between 1983 and 1999 and in 2002, although if not for his brief comeback last year, he would not have automatically qualified for the award.
All AFL players are eligible for life membership once they play 300 games, including premiership season, pre-season and state-of-origin.
All up, Lockett played 281 premiership season games for the Saints and Swans, 17 pre-season matches and five state-of-origin matches.
He joined St.Kilda from North Ballarat and was a star almost from the beginning, with his wonderful marking and deadly accurate kicking. He played 183 games and booted 898 goals for the Saints before leaving for Sydney at the end of the 1994 season.
His standout season came in 1987 when he kicked 117 goals and won the Brownlow Medal in a tie with Hawthorn rover John Platten.
In 1991 he booted 127 goals as the Saints made their first finals series for 18 years and booted 132 the following year, in which the Saints again qualified for the September action.
After nearly joining Collingwood and Richmond after the 1994 season, he settled on Sydney and was an instant draw-card in the AFL outpost. He booted 15 goals in a match in 1995 and finished the year with 110 goals, while in 1996 he booted 121 goals and helped the Swans into their first grand final for 51 years.
He booted 109 goals in 1998 and created history the next year with his 1300th goal, surpassing Gordon Coventry as the leading goalkicker in league history.
He retired at the end of 1999, but the comeback itch returned in 2002. He managed just three goals from as many games and retired again mid-season.
Lockett will receive his award at the AFL?s annual general meeting on 20 March