Ian Aitken (footballer) explained

Ian Aitken
Birth Date:16 May 1967
Originalteam:Strathmore
Height:192 cm
Weight:91 kg
Statsend:1993
Years1:1987 - 1992
Club1:Carlton
Games Goals1:61 (10)
Years2:1993
Club2:St Kilda
Games Goals2:5 (0)
Games Goalstotal:66 (10)

Ian "Beaser" Aitken (born 16 May 1967) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Career

Aitken was a strongly built and pacy defender, winning the Rookie of the Year award in his debut season in 1987. He was also a premiership player that year. He moved to St Kilda for the 1993 season but only managed 5 games.

He was the founder of Vic Cric in 1993, a program for young children learning skills in cricket and how to play the game. Aitken was also the founder of Vic Footy, an Australian Rules Football program similar to Vic Cricket.

Coaching

In 2011, Aitken was appointed senior coach of Kew Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA).[1] He led the club to a three-peat in 2013, 2014 and 2015, before leaving at the end of the 2016 season. Aitken returned in 2019 and remained in the role until the end of the 2023 season.[2] [3]

In August 2021, a player from Richmond Central Football Club recorded Kew players training (against COVID-19 lockdown rules) at Richmond Central's home ground, Kevin Bartlett Oval. Aitken was involved in a verbal confrontation, telling the player to "fuck off", and a Kew player was seen trying to push Aitken away from the confrontation.[4] Kew said it did not sanction the training session, and the VAFA did not sanction the club, however they did refer Aitken to AFL Victoria.[5]

Aitken has also previously served coach of Yarra Junior Football League (VJFL) clubs Kew Colts and Kew Rovers.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Prime . Toby . VAFA 2018: Kew premiership coach Ian Aitken returns to the Bears . Herald Sun . Progress Leader . 28 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240728010927/https://archive.md/1bUGU . 28 July 2024.
  2. Web site: May . Brayden . Kew appoints Rob Harding as director of men’s footy . Herald Sun . 28 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240728010410/https://archive.md/Ogw9H . 28 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Callinan claims Kew’s senior coaching role . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 28 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231129061831/https://www.vafa.com.au/news/2016/10/26/callinan-claims-kews-senior-coaching-role/ . 29 November 2023 . 26 October 2016.
  4. Web site: VAFA calls on AFL Vic to investigate lockdown training session . Herald Sun . Leader Community News . 25 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240725114607/https://archive.md/MHzfK . 25 July 2024 . 4 August 2021.
  5. Web site: VAFA Statement . Victorian Amateur Football Association . 25 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130171206/https://www.vafa.com.au/news/2021/08/03/vafa-statement-03-08-2021/ . 30 November 2023 . 3 August 2021.