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John Fidge

Image DOB: 4 May 1966

Debut: Round 4, 1984 against Essendon at Waverley
Last MFC Game: Round 15, 1986 against Essendon at MCG

From: St. Peters East Bentleigh

Number: 44 (1984-1986)

Honours:
Under 19s Premiership player - 1983
Reserves Premiership player - 1984

Games: 32 (59 total)
Goals: 54 (92 total)
Career Statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
1002231.25

Statistical categories led:
Most goals in jumper 44

The 1982 Victorian Teal Cup player and younger brother of Ted Fidge debuted two years later as a 17-year-old, and was a reliable forward in his first two seasons until right foot stress fractures kept him to just six games in 1986. He had been rumoured to be pursued by another league club earlier that season, but for 1987 was cleared to the newly formed Brisbane Bears at the end of that season for $125,000 - their fifth highest transfer fee for a recruit.

Converted into a defender, Fidge played in the Bears winning first match, and appeared 16 times for them in 1987. After eight matches the next year, Fidge had a difficult off-season where he had surgery to remove chipped bone from his foot and insert a pin in his hand, before twice being hospitalised for pancreatitis.

Fidge was sacked by the Bears three weeks into the 1989 season, threatening to take the club to court for full payment of his contact. He'd already had an eventful pre-season, fighting with Warwick Capper during an intra-club game and abusing coach Peter Knights. He joined SANFL side Glenelg, who beat Central Districts and West Adelaide to his signature. At the end of that year Fidge was drafted by the Sydney Swans but after agreeing to join them he changed his mind and stayed at Glenelg. Fidge kicked 124 goals in 1990, and Essendon picked him with selection 24 in that year's 1990 National Draft, but he did not play a game for them.

Returning to Glenelg in 1992 he kicked 92 goals out of a total of 316 in 69 games for the Bays, then joined Frankston in 1994.

During his playing career, Fidge had 20 operations, and later revealed that he played with spondiolythesis (back injury) throughout his time in the game.

Tribunal

MatchChargeSanction
Round 5, 1982 Under 19s Abusive language Unknown
YearGamesGoalsBrownlow
1984 12270
1985 16150
1986 4120

Lists
Brisbane Bears
Family
SANFL
VFA

Notes
May have also played for St Paul's McKinnon. Inside Football 10/05/89 says $125,000 was the second highest fee for a Bears recruit. Some sources say he was sacked after fighting with Capper, but this does not appear to be true.

Media
Canberra Times - 18/02/1987, 08/11/1990
Courier Mail - 19/04/1987
Age - 04/05/1989, 20/08/1989, 27/08/1989, 08/11/1990
Inside Football - 10/04/1986, 10/05/1989, 22/02/1989, 31/05/1989, 21/02/1990

Links
Interview with Fidge
Wikipedia profile

Created by Supermercado. Last Modification: Friday 13 October 2023 09:57:30 AEDT by Supermercado. (Version 37)

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