Clarence Hugh Hearn (13 November 1905 – 1 April 1981) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Clarrie Hearn
Personal information
Full name Clarence Hugh Hearn
Date of birth 13 November 1905
Place of birth Tocumwal, New South Wales
Date of death 1 April 1981(1981-04-01) (aged 75)
Place of death Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Original team(s) Rutherglen
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1929–35 Essendon 92 (90)
1936 Sandringham (VFA) 09 (13)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1936.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family edit

The son of John Hearn (1866–1920),[1][2] and Joan Hearn (1866—), née Brown, Clarence Hugh Hearn was born at Tocumwal, New South Wales, on 13 November 1905.

He married Moira Lillian Morrison (1912–1991) in 1936.[3]

Football edit

Essendon (VFL) edit

He was recruited from Rutherglen in 1929,[4] and played his first senior match against Richmond, at Windy Hill, on 11 May 1929:

"The [Essendon] committee were very pleased to receive the permit of Hearn from Rutherglen. Hearn, who won this year's Stawell Gift, comes to Essendon with a fine reputation. His form on the track confirms all the glowing tributes that have been paid to his ability, and his marking against some of the aerialists of the side has left nothing to be desired. Hearn is equally at home at half-back, centre or half-forward, and has been included in to-morrow's side on the half-forward wing." — The Age, 10 May 1929.[5]

Hearn spent his early career at Essendon as a defender, mostly at half-back. Despite having managed just two goals from his 31 appearances coming into the 1931 VFL season, Hearn was given a role up forward and kicked 31 goals for the year, 24 of them over five consecutive games.[6] He was used both as a forward and a back for the rest of his time at the club. He kicked seven goals as a full-forward twice: against Fitzroy in 1932 and Hawthorn in 1935.

VFL Tribunal edit

Footscray's Alby Morrison and Essendon's Hearn were both reported after the 5 May 1934 match between Essendon and Footscray, at Windy Hill for "unseemly conduct": Morrison was charged with striking Hearn, and Hearn was charged with striking Morrison in retaliation.[7]

At its hearing on 10 May 1934, with Hearn having pleaded guilty to striking in retaliation, the Tribunal declared both players guilty: and having determined that Morrison was "the aggressor", disqualified Morrison for six weeks, and Hearn for four.[8]

Victoria (VFL) edit

Hearn was selected to play for the VFL in a representative match against the Victorian Football Association on 16 June 1934; however, he did not play, having injured his hand at training on the Tuesday preceding the match.[9]

Sandringham (VFA) edit

Hearn played for Sandringham in the VFA as captain-coach in 1936.[10]

Athlete edit

Known for his pace as a footballer, Hearn was a competitive professional sprinter. Trained by Jack King,[11] he won the Stawell Gift in 1929, running off a handicap of 10½ yards.[12][13][14]

Boundary umpire edit

He was a boundary umpire for 12 VFL games in 1937.[15][16][17]

Death edit

He died at his residence in Moonee Ponds, Victoria on 1 April 1981.[18]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Death: Hearn, Tocumwal Guardian and Riverina Stock Journal, (Friday, 21 May 1920), p.2.
  2. ^ Death of Mr. J. Hearn, Tocumwal Guardian and Riverina Stock Journal, (Friday, 21 May 1920), p.2.
  3. ^ Social News, The Herald, (Thursday, 31 August 1933), p.35.
  4. ^ "1929 - Benalla FC". Benalla Standard. 10 May 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  5. ^ Club Chatter: Essendon, The Age, (Friday, 10 May 1929), p.7.
  6. ^ AFL Tables.
  7. ^ Players Reported, The Argus, (Monday, 7 May 1934), p.11.
  8. ^ Morrison and Hearn, The Argus, (Friday, 11 May 1934), p.13.
  9. ^ Barclay, H.F., "Another Change in Combined League Team: Hearn, injured, Out of Side to Meet Association, The Herald, (Wednesday, 13 June 1934), p.18.
  10. ^ The VFA Project.
  11. ^ Australian Rules footballer and successful professional sprinters' coach, Jack King trained four Stawell Gift winners: his brother, Chris King (1908), Hearn (1929), Frank Bradley (1937), and Jack Hayes (1954) (Stawell Gift To Hayes, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, (Tuesday, 20 April 1954), p.3).
  12. ^ "Clarrie Hearn photo". News. Adelaide News. 28 March 1930. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  13. ^ "Hearn's win at Stawell was well merited". Sporting Globe. The Sporting Globe, 3 April 1929, page 1. 3 April 1929. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  14. ^ Hearn (N.S.W.) Wins Stawell Gift: Speed Duel Between Favorites: Desperate Finish to Thrilling Contest, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 1 April 1929), p.3.
  15. ^ "Clarence Hearn". AFLUA. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011.
  16. ^ Hearn As Umpire, The Age, (Wednesday, 7 April), p.20.
  17. ^ Stawell Gift Winner On Boundary, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 28 April 1937), p.8.
  18. ^ Deaths: Hearn, The Age, (Thursday, 2 April 1981), p.25.

References edit

  • Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8

External links edit