Arthur John "Syd" Slater QPM (16 December 1914 – 8 March 1994) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Syd Slater
Personal information
Full name Arthur John Slater
Date of birth (1914-12-16)16 December 1914
Date of death 8 March 1994(1994-03-08) (aged 79)
Original team(s) Gisborne
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 75 kg (165 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1935–1939 Essendon 33 (14)
1940–1945 North Melbourne 39 (27)
Total 72 (41)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Slater came to the VFL from Gisborne, in the Riddell District Football League.[1] He started as a forward and kicked four goals on his Essendon debut in the opening round of the 1935 season, against Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.[2][3] The feat was overshadowed by teammate Ted Freyer who kicked 12 goals, a then club record.[4] Despite the promising start up forward, Slater spent most of his time at Essendon in defence and as a follower.[5] He won the best and fairest award for the Essendon seconds in 1938.[6] From 1940 to 1945, Slater played for North Melbourne, then in 1946 crossed to Brunswick in the Victorian Football Association.[6]

Outside of football, Slater worked for Victoria Police, rising to the rank of Superintendent. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1970.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  2. ^ "Arthur Slater". AFL Tables.
  3. ^ "Keen Finishes In First League Games Dramatic Last-Kick Victories". The Argus. Melbourne. 29 April 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 30 January 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Lovett, Michael (2004). AFL 2004 - The Official Statistical History Of The AFL. AFL Publishing. ISBN 0-9580300-5-7.
  5. ^ "Gossip From The Clubs". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 June 1938. p. 19. Retrieved 8 July 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ a b c "Slater, Arthur J." Essendon Football Club. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012.
  7. ^ London Gazette,"State of Victoria", 13 June 1970