DOB: 22 December 1887
Died: 21 June 1961
Debut: Round 2, 1920 against Essendon at East Melbourne
Last Game: Round 12, 1924 against Collingwood at Victoria Park
From: Brunswick
Number: 5 1920-1924
Games: 54
Goals: 146
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
19 | 2 | 33 | 35.18 |
Statistical categories led:
Oldest player on VFL debut: 32y, 138d
In 1910 Harker came to Melbourne with the Central Gippsland League to play a match against the Police at the MCG. After the game he was invited to join both VFA side Brunswick and Melbourne, but chose the association club because their offer was more lucrative.
After eight years at Brunswick where he had been one of the stars of the competition he finally found his way to the Redlegs a decade late, the oldest league debutant in club history when he made his debut at 32 years and 138 days.
Harker remained living in Gippsland throughout his league career, travelling to the city on Thursday night to train and Saturday to play. During the week he trained privately on his farm, and in 1920 also played a number of games for Lang Lang during the season.
The stocky forward proved himself with 47 goals each in his second and third seasons before accepting a job coaching Lang Lang in the country. With Melbourne struggling in 1923 he returned from Lang Lang to play six games, and followed that with another seven the next year before giving the VFL game away for good.
In 1925 he played with Bayles, and with Nar Nar Goon in 1927.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1920 | 9 | 23 | n/a |
1921 | 16 | 47 | n/a |
1922 | 16 | 47 | n/a |
1923 | 6 | 13 | n/a |
1924 | 7 | 16 | 0 |
Lists
Most goals on debut
Oldest Players
VFA
Notes
Original club in Gippsland not known
Media
Herald - 20/08/1920
Sporting Globe - 22/07/1922
Herald - 15/06/1923
Football Record R8 1923
Herald - 28/05/1925
Sporting Globe - 08/06/1927
Links
Demonwiki image gallery
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile