George Spilcker Explained

George Spilcker
Fullname:George Louis Spilcker
Birth Date:12 June 1874
Birth Place:Port Melbourne, Victoria
Death Place:Newport, Victoria
Originalteam:Brighton
Statsend:1901
Years1:1899–1901
Club1:St Kilda
Games Goals1:22 (1)

George Louis Spilcker (12 June 1874 – 31 May 1916)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Career

Spilcker, originally from Brighton, first played for St Kilda in 1893, while they were in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).[2] He spent some time in Western Australia before rejoining St Kilda in 1899.[2] The club was now competing in the VFL and Spilcker, a wingman, was one of three St Kilda players to appear in all 17 league games in the 1899 season.[3] One of those appearances was a 161-point loss to Geelong at Corio Oval, in which St Kilda kicked just one behind for the entire game, which remains a league record for the lowest ever score.[4] [5] Spilcker was regarded by The Argus as having been the "best man" for the losing team.[6] He played just five further games for St Kilda, two in 1900 and three in 1901.[7]

Death

Spilcker was killed in an accident at the Newport Power House on 31 May 1916.[8] A carpenter, he had been working on the roof when the glass broke and he fell 60 feet onto the concrete floor.[9] He was 41 years old and had four children.[10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Spilcker – Player Bio. Australian Football. 14 November 2014.
  2. Book: Holmesby, Russell. Main. Jim. The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. 2007. 9781920910785.
  3. Web site: AFL Tables – 1899 Stats – Player Lists. AFL Tables. 13 November 2014.
  4. Web site: AFL Tables – Geelong v St Kilda – Sat, 9-Sep-1899 2:30 PM – Match Stats. AFL Tables. 14 November 2014.
  5. Book: Lovett, Michael. AFL 2004 – The Official Statistical History Of The AFL. AFL Publishing. 2004. 0-9580300-5-7.
  6. News: Football. . . Melbourne . 11 September 1899 . 14 November 2014 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  7. Web site: AFL Tables – George Spilcker – Games Played. AFL Tables. 13 November 2014.
  8. News: News of the Day. . . Melbourne . 2 June 1916 . 14 November 2014 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: New in Brief Victoria. . Weekly Times . Victoria . 10 June 1916 . 14 November 2014 . 24 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Family Notices. . . 27 June 1916 . 14 November 2014 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: Family Notices. . . Melbourne . 2 June 1916 . 14 November 2014 . 1 . National Library of Australia.