Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Marcus Whelan

Known as
Marcus Whelan

Born
27 June 1914

Died
31 August 1973 (aged 59)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 327d
Last game: 32y 331d

Height and weight
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 67 kg

Senior clubs
Collingwood

Jumper numbers
Collingwood: 39, 28, 21, 23, 26, 2, 30

Family links
Shane Whelan (Son)

Marcus Whelan

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CollingwoodV/AFL1933-1942, 1946-1947173310.1868%21.00—7.2473
Total1933-1942, 1946-1947173310.1868%21.00—7.2473

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 4,044th player to appear, 968th most games played, 2,925th most goals kickedCollingwood: 363rd player to appear, 64th most games played, 237th most goals kicked

Collingwood recruited Marcus Whelan from Darley in the Bacchus Marsh and Melton Football League, and he made his senior VFL debut in 1933. For most of his 12-season, 173-game war-interrupted career he was a centreman, but later on he played in various defensive positions with equal effectiveness. Although short in stature, he was an excellent overhead mark, and his kicking was superb.

There was a touch of class to everything Whelan did, and his Brownlow Medal win in 1939 was scarcely surprising. He landed the Copeland Trophy (awarded to Collingwood's best and fairest player) the same season. After missing the 1943- 4-5 seasons while on war service, Whelan resumed with the Magpies in 1946, and continued to perform to a high level until his retirement at the end of the following season. He represented the 'Big V' three times.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

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Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.