DOB: 6 May 1926
Died: 31 January 1990
Debut: Round 4, 1946 against South Melbourne at Punt Road
Last Game: Grand Final 1954 against Footscray at MCG
From: Mildura
Number: 10 (1946-1954)
Honours
Premiership Player - 1948
Grand final team - 1954
Leading Goalkicker - 1948
Victorian state representative - 1951, 1953
Games: 149
Goals: 88
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
69 | 2 | 78 | 46.30 |
Switching between forward and defence, Arnold first came to prominence in the 1946 reserves semi final, where after four senior games during the year the centre-half back was touted as having a bright footballing future. When he broke into the senior side, Arnold switched to the other end of the ground, and was centre-half forward in the 1948 premiership side, topping the team's goalkicking that year
Later in his career, Arnold played as a defender and was runner up in the Best and Fairest in 1950 and 1951, also playing in the ruck at times. Pursued by Kyneton to coach in 1954, he was refused a clearance and remained with Melbourne. That pre-season he was in dispute with the club about his housing arrangements. At the end of that year, a game short of his 150 game milestone, he accepted an offer to cross to the Wimmera League and coach Stawell. It was reportedly the richest coaching deal in Victorian country football, with local businessmen arranging for Arnold to be paid 27 pounds a week, given a house rent free, and a job. Melbourne's solicitors insisted that Arnold be given a contract guaranteeing him payment if the deal was broken. The club had written to every VFL club about its coaching vacancy with no response, and Arnold had been the only applicant when it was advertised.
Played for Victoria in 1951 and 1953, and for a VFL representative team against the Riverina League in 1951.
At Camperdown from 1958 to 1960.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1946 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
1947 | 19 | 13 | 3 |
1948 | 22 | 41 | 3 |
1949 | 17 | 29 | 2 |
1950 | 17 | 0 | 6 |
1951 | 18 | 0 | 8 |
1952 | 17 | 0 | 6 |
1953 | 17 | 0 | 5 |
1954 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
Tribunal record
Match | Charge | Sanction | |
Round 8, 1953 | Kicking | Not Guilty |
Lists
Near Misses
Media
Herald - 13/02/1954
Sun - 07/04/1954
Argus - 13/01/1955
Sunryasia Daily - 13/01/1955
Inside Football - 08/05/1986
Links
Australian Football profile
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile