Jeff Gamble Explained

Jeff Gamble
Fullname:Jeff M. Gamble
Birth Date:24 May 1935
Originalteam:Aberfeldie
Height:191 cm
Weight:80 kg
Statsend:1960
Years1:1953–1960
Club1:Essendon
Games Goals1:90 (14)

Jeff Gamble (24 May 1935 – 20 June 1996) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Gamble, recruited from local club Aberfeldie, was a key defender for Essendon, after starting out as a follower.[1]

He had his best season in 1958 when he finished equal sixth in the Brownlow Medal count and was second in the Essendon Best and Fairest.[2]

Gamble was Essendon's centre half-back in their 1957 VFL Grand Final loss to Melbourne.[3]

During the 1959 season he suffered a knee injury and had to have cartilage removed. He managed to play ten games in 1960 but he was then forced to retire due to the injury.[4]

Gamble was the uncle of actress Cate Blanchett through his sister, June and also provided the inspiration to Kevin Andrews, who composed the Essendon club song on the kitchen table of his parents, Horace and Rosalie Jean Gamble.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jeff Gamble - Player Bio. Australian Football. 14 August 2015.
  2. Web site: AFL Tables: Jeff Gamble . afltables.com.
  3. Book: Holmesby. Russell. Main. Jim. The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. 2007. 978-1-920910-78-5.
  4. Web site: Gamble, Jeff M. . Essendon Football Club . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110317170426/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/player-past.asp?id=339 . 17 March 2011 .
  5. Web site: EFCPPOA Newsletter April 2018 .