Frank Scanlan (footballer)

Frank Scanlan (17 April 1926 – 21 December 2009) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Frank Scanlan
Personal information
Full name Francis Scanlan
Date of birth (1926-04-17)17 April 1926
Place of birth Sandringham, Victoria
Date of death 21 December 2009(2009-12-21) (aged 83)
Original team(s) Sandringham Centrals
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1943–44, 1947–48 Melbourne 33 (13)
1949 Footscray 18 (13)
Total 51 (26)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1949.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

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The son of Francis Scanlan (1885–1961) and Minnie Scanlan, nee Coghlan (1892–1976), Frank Scanlan was born in Sandringham, Victoria on 17 April 1926. He was the younger brother of fellow Melbourne and Footscray VFL player Bill Scanlan.

Football

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Melbourne

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Scanlan made his Melbourne debut shortly after his 16th birthday, making him one of Melbourne's youngest ever senior players. He served in the Royal Australian Navy in World War II, missing the 1945 and 1946 seasons as a result.[2]

Footscray

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In 1949, Scanlan moved to Footscray[3] along with his brother Bill Scanlan.[4]

Port Fairy

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After a year with Footscray, Scanlan was appointed as playing coach of Port Fairy[5] where he both coached and played for two seasons.

Sandringham (VFA)

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In 1952 Scanlan commenced pre-season training with Footscray[6] but after failing to make the senior list he moved to Sandringham where he played for the 1952 VFA season.

Tocumwal

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In 1953, Scanlan was appointed playing coach of Tocumwal in the Riverina district of New South Wales.[7] He won the Murray Football League best and fairest award that year[8] but Tocumwal narrowly lost the Grand Final to Numurkah.[9]

Death

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Francis Scanlan died on 21 December 2009 and was cremated at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.[10]

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Notes

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  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (8th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 741. ISBN 978-1-921496-00-4.
  2. ^ "World War II Roll: SCANLAN, Francis". Department of Veterans Affairs.
  3. ^ "Collingwood May Have Another Regan". The Argus. No. 31994. Victoria, Australia. 18 March 1949. p. 23.
  4. ^ "OLD PLAYERS SHOWED YOUNG MEN HOW". The Argus. No. 32008. Victoria, Australia. 4 April 1949. p. 13.
  5. ^ "Football Training". Camperdown Chronicle. Vol. LXXVI, no. 4039. Victoria, Australia. 21 March 1950. p. 4.
  6. ^ "FOOTSCRAY". The Argus. No. 32936. Victoria, Australia. 26 March 1952. p. 9.
  7. ^ "Sandringham loses star wingman". The Argus. No. 33235. Victoria, Australia. 11 March 1953. p. 13.
  8. ^ "League B&F winners". Tocumwal FC.
  9. ^ "FOOTBALL". Cobram Courier. Vol. I, no. 472. Victoria, Australia. 24 September 1953. p. 2.
  10. ^ "Francis Scanlan". Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.