Clem Splatt

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Clem Splatt

| image = Clem Splatt 1925.jpg

| image_size = 150px

| caption = Splatt in May 1925

| fullname = Clement Reginald Splatt

| birth_date = {{birth date|1899|9|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Greensborough, Victoria

| death_date = {{death date and age|1963|5|18|1899|9|17|df=y}}

| death_place = East Melbourne, Victoria

| originalteam = Diamond Creek, Greensborough

| height = 188 cm

| weight = 84 kg

| position = Key position player

| guernsey = 21, 7

| statsend = 1927

| years1 = 1922

| club1 = {{AFL Col}}

| games_goals1 = {{0}}2 {{0}}(0)

| years2 = 1923–1924

| club2 = Hawthorn (VFA)

| games_goals2 = 19 (12)

| years3 = 1925–1927

| club3 = {{AFL Haw}}

| games_goals3 = 20 {{0}}(1)

| careerhighlights =

}}

Clement Reginald "Clem" Splatt (17 September 1899 – 18 May 1963) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL).Holmesby & Main (2009).

Family

The son of Henry Bartlett Splatt (1863–1938),[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206942734 Deaths: Splatt, The Age, (Tuesday, 28 June 1938), p.1.][http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56847665 Obituary, The (Hurstbridge) Advertiser, (Friday, 1 July 1938), p.1.] and Mary Ann Splatt (1871–1937), née Ely,[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203879618 Deaths: Splatt, The Age'', (Tuesday, 4 May 1937), p.1.] Clement Reginald Splatt was born at Greensborough, Victoria on 17 September 1899.

He married Annie Doris Vera Jack (1905–1955) in 1926.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71637443 Deaths: Splatt, The Argus, (Tuesday, 8 March 1955), p.14.] They had two children: Valma Beryl Splatt (1927–1959), later Mrs. Albert Clack,[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61124334 Wedding Bells, The Alexandra Standard, (Friday, 25 November 1949), p.2.] and John Robert Henry Splatt (1932–1997).

Football

A very tall player for his era, Splatt was a key position player who was noted for his marking.

=Diamond Creek=

Splatt commenced his football career at Diamond Creek Football Club where he played with Gordon and Syd Coventry.

=Collingwood (VFL)=

Clem and Syd joined Gordon at Collingwood for the 1922 VFL season,Profile, at Collingwood Forever. but Splatt only managed two games.

=Hawthorn (VFA)=

In 1923 he transferred to Hawthorn, who were then in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2007149 |title=SPORTING. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=24 May 1923 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}

=Hawthorn (VFL)=

He continued playing for Hawthorn as they joined the VFL in 1925 and, playing at centre half-forward, was a member of their inaugural VFL side, which played against Richmond, at Glenferrie Oval, on 2 May 1925.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243764980 Tiger's Dash: Hawthorn Game But Powerless, The Herald, (Saturday, 2 May 1925), p.3.] Splatt was Hawthorn's leading Brownlow Medal vote winner (with three) in 1925.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2145912 Football: Best and Fairest Player, Watson (St. Kilda) Gains Honour, The Argus, (Thursday, 1 October 1925), p.4.]

Injuries limited him to a further five games over the next two seasons and he retired from senior football.

=Hastings=

In 1929 Splatt took a position as captain-coach of the Hastings Football Club (replacing the team's 1928 coach, ex-Fitzroy footballer Bill Thorpe) where he played for four years.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73596903 |title=BERT AUST LOOKS BACK. |newspaper=Frankston Standard |location=Frankston, Vic. |date=19 June 1947 |page=2 Supplement |via=National Library of Australia}}

After football

He subsequently took a position on the committee of the Alexandra Football Club.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64738413 Football, The Alexandra and Yea Standard, (Friday, 31 March 1939), p.2.]

Death

Clem Splatt died at East Melbourne on 18 August 1963 and is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.{{cite web |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229673180/clement-reginald-splatt |title=Clement Reginald Splatt |publisher=Find a Grave}}

Footnotes

{{reflist}}

References

  • {{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 |last=Holmesby|first=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim |year=2009 |edition=8th |isbn=978-1-921496-00-4 |publisher=BAS Publishing |location=Seaford, Victoria}}