Harry Harker

Harry S. Harker (22 December 1887 – 21 June 1961) was an Australian rules footballer who originally played for the Brunswick Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and then played for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Career

Originally from Gippsland, Harker played with Brunswick in the VFA for eight years, before making the decision to play for the Melbourne in the VFL, the highest level of Australian rules football competition at the time. He debuted for the Demons on round 2 of the 1920 season against Essendon, at 32 years of age, making Harker the oldest player to ever debut for the Melbourne Football Club.

In his first three seasons, in 1920, 1921 and 1922, Harker was Melbourne's leading goal kicker, with 23, 47 and 47 goals respectively. In the 1921 season, in round 21, Harker kicked ten goals against Geelong, in his best performance in the VFL. Melbourne won the match kicking 16 goals in total. Harker still holds the record for the most goals kicked on the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in round 18.