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Stephen Tingay

Stephen Tingay 1996 DOB: 13 August 1970

MFC Debut: Round 1, 1989 against Fitzroy at MCG
Last Game: Round 9, 1999 against Carlton at Princes Park

From: Shepparton High School/Shepparton/MHSOB, Selection #50, 1987 National Draft

Number: 52 (1989), 15 (1990-1991), 2 (1992-2000)

Honours:
Night premiership side - 1989
Best First Year Player - 1989
All-Australian - 1994
Victoria state player - 1994
Life Member - 1998

Games: 162
Goals: 84
Career Statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
8807454.32

Statistical categories led:
Most games in jumper 52

Affectionately nicknamed 'Stinga', the former junior BMX champion was an energetic, quick and creative winger, who joined Melbourne just as they became a regular finals side. After being selected by the Demons in the 1987 National Draft, Tingay played in the 1988 Under 19 premiership. A knee injury in the 1989 pre-season initially looked serious, but he recovered to make his senior debut in the opening round and scored the winning goal with his first kick.

After 12 games in 1989, Tingay became a regular in 1990. In November that year he suffered his first serious injury, falling through a plate glass window, severing tendons in his right wrist and taking a chunk out of his right thigh. Throughout his career he would continue to be troubled by injuries caused by the accident.

Tingay played 15 games in 1991, and was briefly in dispute with the club about a new contract at the end of that season. He signed a two year extension but played six times the next year. In 1993 he bounced back to become one of his side's most important players. He had already been given number 2 - made famous by Robert Flower in recognition of his dashing wing play, and played a large part in Melbourne's successful 1994 season. He was runner up in the Best and Fairest - after finishing third the previous year, and was named an All Australian.

His successful season led to an offer from the new Fremantle side to join their inaugural squad. After weighing up Freo's offer for a month he chose to stay with Melbourne and was elected vice-captain for 1995. In August 2002 Tingay launched legal action against the Demons over a bonus payment the Demons made to help retain him. That year he was named in Victoria's initial State of Origin squad but didn't play against South Australia.

He missed the opening rounds of 1996 after surgery for a chronic buttock/hamstring injury, stemming from the glass door incident. At the end of the year he was voted 'Best Clubman', but considered giving the game away after his mother was killed and father seriously injured in a car accident shortly after the season ended.

Restricted to three games in 1997 by chronic hip and buttock injuries, Tingay bounced back to be part of the successful 1998 campaign and signed a two year contract extension at the end of the year. Named deputy vice captain in 1999, he was in good form when ultimately career-ending hip and hamstring injuries struck in Round 9. Unable to shake the issues, he remained on the long term injury list for the rest of 1999. At the end of that year he underwent an operation to release a nerve which had been mistakenly tethered to a buttock muscle during a previous operation.

A pre-season recurrence of the injury meant he was unable to play during 2000, spending the whole year on the injury list other than a single early season appearance with Sandringham where he failed to play out the full game. During the year he travelled to Western Australia for three weeks of intensive treatment in an attempt to force his way into Melbourne's finals side, but he didn't make it and was delisted at the end of the year. Tingay was granted permission to train with West Coast and linked to Richmond, but was drafted by Sydney. Ongoing hip injuries, and a hamstring tendon torn from the bone forced him into retirement on July 30, appearing in just one VFL practice match for the Swans.

After retiring, Tingay returned to the Demons in fitness and training roles. He later served as weights coach at St Kilda.

YearGamesGoalsBrownlow
1989 1250
1990 24140
1991 1550
1992 610
1993 201310
1994 24811
1995 18110
1996 16116
1997 300
1998 1586
1999 982

Tribunal record

MatchChargeSanction
Round 13, 1993 Striking Not Guilty
Round 19, 1998 Charging Not Guilty

Lists
Goal with their first kick
Interstate representatives

Media
Age - 27/02/1989, 14/12/1991, 10/01/1992, 24/05/1995, 18/03/1996, 22/03/1996, 30/11/1999, 24/02/2000, 02/03/2000
Teamworks - 06/1991
Canberra Times - 27/10/1994, 01/12/1998
Sydney Morning Herald - 20/12/2000
demons.com.au - 31/03/2001
Herald Sun - 21/08/2002

Links
Australian Rules Football Wiki profile
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Wikipedia profile