DOB: 1 March 1961
Debut: Round 1, 1979 against Footscray at MCG
Last MFC Game: Round 22, 1985 against Richmond at MCG
From: Edithvale-Aspendale
Number: 39 (1979-1981), 3 (1982-1985)
Honours:
Best and Fairest - 1984
Leading Goalkicker - 1982
Victorian state player - 1982, 1984, 1985
Australian Football Hall of Fame member
Games: 130 (211 total)
Goals: 189 (276 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
41 | 0 | 89 | 31.53 |
Statistical categories led:
Most goals in jumper 39
The older brother of Greg Healy was one of the success stories of the early 80s. After a consistent rookie season Healy was restricted to seven games in 1980 after breaking his leg in a car accident, but under Ron Barassi he revolutionised the role of a small forward and kicked 77 goals in 1982. That year he made his debut for Victoria. It was a solid recovery from a Round 1 disaster when he was dragged by Barassi 10 minutes into the first quarter and had a heated confrontation with him at half time. Healy cited it as the turning point to his season, saying he believed Barassi needed to be challenged before he’d “stand up and take notice of you”.
Without Jackson next to him, Healy found the going more difficult in 1983. He only kicked 12 goals in his first seven games - four of them in one match before recovering to 37 for the season. He put the pressure on himself, feeling that he needed to kick a bag of goals every week to be effective.
After winning the 1984 Best and Fairest, Healy was starting to be recognised as one of the best in the game, and was selected for an All-Australian international rules tour of Ireland. Despite having to overcome Glandular Fever in the pre-season he spent most of the 1985 season as acting captain in the absence of Robert Flower. He finished 2nd in the best and fairest then accepted a big money deal to join the Dr. Edelsten owned Sydney Swans in 1986. It was reported that he was on $350,000 across his first three years with the Swans. Melbourne had 15 days to match Sydney's offer but chose not to, having offered 'just' $240,000 over the same period.
Despite being reported for striking Steve Turner in his first game against the Demons, Healy won the best and fairest award at Sydney in the first three years he played there and also took home the Brownlow Medal in 1988. His career had blossomed to the point where he was almost unanimously regarded as the best player in the land.
Healy retired from the Swans at the end of 1990 after suffering chronic wrist injuries after a collision with Glen Coleman of Footscray midway through that year. Despite the fact that he had undergone an operation which left him unable to play Collingwood picked him with their last selection in the 1991 Pre-Season draft. Retired, he had no interest in joining the Magpies, and the AFL promptly changed the rules so that a player would have to nominate for a draft before they could be picked.
Moving into the media after his retirement he first joined the Channel Seven commentary team before joining 3AW and Fox Sports.
A third Healy brother, Matthew played Under 19s in 1987.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1979 | 21 | 10 | 0 |
1980 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
1981 | 22 | 27 | 0 |
1982 | 21 | 77 | 2 |
1983 | 19 | 37 | 1 |
1984 | 20 | 19 | 2 |
1985 | 20 | 15 | 8 |
Match | Charge | Sanction | |
Round 11, 1984 | Striking | Not Guilty |
Media
Inside Football - 22/05/1980
Age - 12/05/1983
Canberra Times - 26/10/1984
Age - 28/02/1986
Canberra Times - 15/03/1991