Charlie Ahern Explained

Charlie Ahern
Fullname:Charles David Ahern
Birth Date:25 June 1905
Birth Place:Northcote, Victoria
Death Place:Heidelberg, Victoria
Originalteam:Northcote
Height:180 cm
Weight:79 kg
Position:Rover
Statsend:1929
Years1:1929
Club1:Collingwood
Games Goals1:3 (0)

Charles David Ahern (25 June 1905  - 7 April 1931) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

After playing junior football for Williamstown C.Y.M.S.,[1] Ahern's senior career began in the Victorian Football Association with Northcote, where he played, mostly as a half-back, between 1925 and 1928.[2] After trialling unsuccessfully with in 1927 preseason training,[3] Ahern joined in 1928.

Ahern played most of his two seasons with Collingwood in the seconds, and by the end of 1929 had played only two senior games, in rounds 9 and 12 that season. He was thus a surprise inclusion in Collingwood's side for the 1929 grand final against, brought in to provide weight and strength in the ruck which Collingwood had lacked in its semi-final loss against the same team.[4] Collingwood won and Ahern became the least experienced premiership player in the history of the club.

The grand final was Ahern's last senior match, as he fell seriously ill in the months following the match. He died 18 months later on 7 April 1931.[5]

References

Notes and References

  1. News: Williamstown Advertiser. 14 August 1926. C.Y.M.S. football. 3. Williamstown, VIC.
  2. Web site: Ahern, Charlie. 25 May 2024. The VFA Project.
  3. News: The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. Football - Preparing for season. 1 April 1927. Onlooker. 6.
  4. News: Weekly Times. 5 October 1929. 78. Half Forward. Collingwood win premiership.
  5. Web site: Charlie Ahern. Collingwood Forever. 27 August 2014.