David Baillieu Cordner (born 25 May 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and the Sydney Swans in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| David Cordner | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 25 May 1962 | ||
| Original team(s) | Old Melburnians | ||
| Height | 192 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1982–1987 | Melbourne | 53 (61) | |
| 1988 | Sydney Swans | 5 (6) | |
| Total | 58 (67) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1988. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editCordner's father, Ted, was a member of Melbourne's 1941 premiership team.[1] Three uncles also played with Melbourne in the VFL, two-time best and fairest winner Denis, Brownlow Medalist Don and John, who also represented Victoria in cricket.[1] David's grandfather, Edward, played twice for Melbourne in 1905 and appeared in a further 60 games with University.[1]
Career
editMelbourne
editA key forward, Cordner started his career in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, with Old Melburnians.[1][2]
Cordner had a prolific Under-19s season in 1981, when he kicked over 100 goals.[1][2] This included a 12-goal haul in Melbourne's semi-final win over Hawthorn and five in their grand final win over Geelong.[3][4]
In his first two seasons with the seniors, Cordner struggled with injury, but in the 1984 VFL season put together 17 games.[2][5] His 32 goals that year were bettered by only one teammate, Kelvin Templeton (51).[5]
He kicked seven goals against Fitzroy on the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the opening round of the 1985 season.[5] For the rest of the season he kicked only 14 more goals, but he was also used as a defender.[2][5]
In 1986 he missed the early part of the season with a broken collarbone and only managed nine appearances that year.[5][6]
Sydney
editCordner decided to change clubs in 1988, after making just one appearance for Melbourne in 1987.[5] Talks were held with Geelong and Footscray, but it was the Sydney Swans that secured his services, on a one-year contract.[7][8] The Swans were looking for a key forward to cover the loss of Warwick Capper, who had gone to the Brisbane Bears.[8]
He played only five games for the Swans, the last in round seven.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
- ^ a b c d "David Cordner". Demon Wiki.
- ^ "Siren scores". The Canberra Times. 13 September 1981. p. 7 Section: SPORT – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Siren Scores". The Canberra Times. 27 September 1981. p. 6 Section: SPORT – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c d e f g "David Cordner". AFL Tables.
- ^ "VFL rules in practice". The Canberra Times. 17 March 1986. p. 22 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ The Age, "Fitzroy aims for share of corporate dollars", 31 March 1988, p. 25
- ^ a b Sydney Morning Herald, "Swans jump in to sign Cordner", 1 April 1988, p. 29