David Baillieu Cordner (born 25 May 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and the Sydney Swans in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

David Cordner
Personal information
Date of birth (1962-05-25) 25 May 1962 (age 62)
Original team(s) Old Melburnians
Height 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 92 kg (203 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1982–1987 Melbourne 53 (61)
1988 Sydney Swans 5 (6)
Total 58 (67)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

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Cordner's father, Ted, was a member of Melbourne's 1941 premiership team.[1] Three uncles also played with Melbourne in the VFL, two-time best and fairest winner Denis, Brownlow Medalist Don and John, who also represented Victoria in cricket.[1] David's grandfather, Edward, played twice for Melbourne in 1905 and appeared in a further 60 games with University.[1]

Career

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Melbourne

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A key forward, Cordner started his career in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, with Old Melburnians.[1][2]

Cordner had a prolific Under-19s season in 1981, when he kicked over 100 goals.[1][2] This included a 12-goal haul in Melbourne's semi-final win over Hawthorn and five in their grand final win over Geelong.[3][4]

In his first two seasons with the seniors, Cordner struggled with injury, but in the 1984 VFL season put together 17 games.[2][5] His 32 goals that year were bettered by only one teammate, Kelvin Templeton (51).[5]

He kicked seven goals against Fitzroy on the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the opening round of the 1985 season.[5] For the rest of the season he kicked only 14 more goals, but he was also used as a defender.[2][5]

In 1986 he missed the early part of the season with a broken collarbone and only managed nine appearances that year.[5][6]

Sydney

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Cordner decided to change clubs in 1988, after making just one appearance for Melbourne in 1987.[5] Talks were held with Geelong and Footscray, but it was the Sydney Swans that secured his services, on a one-year contract.[7][8] The Swans were looking for a key forward to cover the loss of Warwick Capper, who had gone to the Brisbane Bears.[8]

He played only five games for the Swans, the last in round seven.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  2. ^ a b c d "David Cordner". Demon Wiki.
  3. ^ "Siren scores". The Canberra Times. 13 September 1981. p. 7 Section: SPORT – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Siren Scores". The Canberra Times. 27 September 1981. p. 6 Section: SPORT – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "David Cordner". AFL Tables.
  6. ^ "VFL rules in practice". The Canberra Times. 17 March 1986. p. 22 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ The Age, "Fitzroy aims for share of corporate dollars", 31 March 1988, p. 25
  8. ^ a b Sydney Morning Herald, "Swans jump in to sign Cordner", 1 April 1988, p. 29