| Frank Hodgkin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Hodgkin during his St Kilda career | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 20 June 1941 | ||
| Date of death | 17 December 2017 (aged 76) | ||
| Place of death | Wodonga, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Kergunyah | ||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre half-forward | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1961–1962 | St Kilda | 32 (21) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1962. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Frank D. Hodgkin (20 June 1941 – 17 December 2017) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Hodgkin, originally from Kergunyah in the Tallangatta & District Football League, debuting as a 14-year and playing in a premiership in 1955. Hodgkin started his Ovens & Murray Football League career at Myrtleford in 1957, aged 17 and represented the O&MFL against the South West Football League.[1] Despite his young age, Hodgkin was chosen in the league's representative team in his debut season.[1] After winning Myrtleford's best and fairest award in 1960, Hodgkin went to St Kilda for the 1961 VFL season.[1]
He made an instant impression in a pre-season practice match when he traded punches with captain Neil Roberts, then later Eric Guy, the vice captain.[2] He played 18 of a possible 19 games in 1961, including St Kilda's semi-final loss to Footscray.[3] His performances that season earned him the "best first-year player" award.[1] A centre half-forward, Hodgkin's spot in the team became less certain due to the emergence of Darrel Baldock.[1][4]
In 1963 he returned to Myrtleford, where he won a second best and fairest.[5]
From 1964 to 1967, Hodgkin played for Ganmain in the South Western District Football League and was a member of two premiership teams (1964 and 1965).[5] He won the league's best and fairest award in 1966.[6][5]
Rutherglen secured him as coach in 1968 and he remained in that position for three years.[5]
Hodgkin played with North Albury from 1971 to 1974, then coached Mitta United to a premiership in the 1975 Tallangatta League season, in which he booted 120 goals.[1][5] In 1976 he spent the year with Wodonga, before he had two season stints back at North Albury and Mitta United, retiring in 1980.[5]
Hodgkin kicked 238 goals during his time in the O&MFL.
Hodgkin played 426 games of senior football over a 25-year period.[7]
His younger brother, Robert, played for Fitzroy.[4]
He died in 2017 at the age of 76.[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e f The Border Mail, "Hall of Fame: Frank Hodgkin ", David Johnston
- ^ The Age, "Saints Swap Punches, But No Ill-feelings", 4 April 1961, p. 1
- ^ "Frank Hodgkin". AFL Tables.
- ^ a b Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
- ^ a b c d e f "Frank 'Iron Man' Hodgkin". Fox Sports Pulse.
- ^ "1981 - South West District FL - Grand Final Programme" (PDF). NSW Football History. South Western DFL. 26 September 1981. p. 19. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "1991 - O&MFL - The Critic" (PDF). NSW Football History. NSW Football History. 11 September 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
- ^ "Hodgkin, Frank". Herald Sun. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.