David Dench
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = David Dench
| image =
| fullname = David Dench
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|8|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = West Coburg (EDFL){{cite web
|url= http://cms.kangaroos.com.au/History/PlayerHistory/DavidDench/tabid/13618/Default.aspx
|title= David Dench
|access-date= 2010-12-15
|work= Past Players
|publisher= North Melbourne Football Club
|archive-url= https://archive.today/20121230150951/http://cms.kangaroos.com.au/History/PlayerHistory/DavidDench/tabid/13618/Default.aspx
|archive-date= 30 December 2012
|url-status= dead
}}
| height = 191 cm
| weight = 89 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1984
| years1 = 1969–1984
| club1 = {{AFL NM}}
| sooteam1 = Victoria
| soogames_goals1 = 4 (0)
| careerhighlights = *{{AFL NM}} premiership player 1975
- {{AFL NM}} premiership captain 1977
- {{AFL NM}} Team of the Century
- Syd Barker Medal 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981
- {{AFL NM}} captain 1972
}}
David Dench (born 23 August 1951)
{{cite web
|url= http://www.afl.com.au/players/tabid/856/default.aspx
|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090121024001/http://afl.com.au/Players/tabid/856/default.aspx
|url-status= dead
|archive-date= 21 January 2009
|title = AFL Hall of Fame Players
|access-date= 2010-12-15
|publisher= Australian Football League
}} is a former Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League. He played his whole career with North Melbourne Football Club during one of its most successful periods.
VFL career
Dench played full-back, and was considered one of the finest full-backs in VFL/AFL history.{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/stephen-silvagnis-selection-as-fullback-in-the-afl-team-of-the-century-is-a-little-known-secret/news-story/4a9a84e1de322a183883081ccaa96d4f|title=Stephen Silvagni’s selection as full-back in the AFL Team of the Century is a little known secret|author=Mark Robinson|date=6 June 2014|accessdate=4 August 2024|newspaper=Herald Sun}} He was recruited from the West Coburg. Dench won the North Melbourne club's best and fairest award, the Syd Barker Medal, on four occasions - 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981. In 1972 David Dench at the age of 21 he became one of the youngest captains appointed in the Kangaroos' history. He also captained the 1977 premiership team, due to Keith Greig's absence because of an injury. In the 1977 VFL Grand Final, Ron Barassi moved him to the forward line, where he sparked North Melbourne Football Club's revival by contributing to the forward line and kicking goals, to draw with Collingwood Football Club.
A graphic and comical photograph of Dench smothering of a kick by South Melbourne's John Roberts was made in 1981 by Michael Rayner of The Age which won the Nikon Awards Best Sports Photograph of the Year.The Age, Saturday, 07 Mar 1981, p.3
In 1984 Dench was told by his coach Barry Cable that his playing days were numbered and was going to play out the season in the reserves. Dench was not happy with this so he grabbed his gear and went home and retired. His relationship with Cable has been fractured ever since, with Dench refusing to speak to Cable again.
When John (Kanga) Kennedy was appointed coach he tried to convince Dench to play again but the condition of his knees was poor and he stayed as an assistant coach.
Post AFL career and personal life
In 2000 Dench was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
His daughter, Michelle is a distinguished Australian sportswoman. She played high level basketball before taking up Australian football playing over 100 games for her club Melbourne University. She also represented Victoria and Australia as well as captaining her club to a premiership.
In 2008, Dench served four months in jail for his minor role in a scheme to defraud Victoria University out of millions of dollars.
{{cite news
|url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/david-dench-jailed-for-role-in-fraud/story-e6frg6nf-1111116865755
|title= David Dench jailed for role in fraud
|date= 9 July 2008
|first= Milanda
|last= Rout
|work= The Australian
|access-date= 2010-12-15
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928042351/http://prod.www.afl.cfour.com.au/Season2007/Awards/HallofFame/Players/tabid/856/Default.aspx AFL Hall of Fame]
{{1975 North Melbourne premiership players}}
{{1977 North Melbourne premiership players}}
{{1983 Victoria State of Origin players}}
{{North Melbourne Football Club captains}}
{{North Melbourne Team of The Century}}
{{Syd Barker Medal}}
{{VFL/AFL club best and fairest winners in premiership years}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dench, David}}
Category:North Melbourne Football Club players
Category:North Melbourne Football Club premiership players
Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Syd Barker Medal winners
Category:Australian white-collar criminals
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Victorian State of Origin players
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
Category:Australian sportspeople convicted of crimes
Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen
{{AFL-bio-1950s-stub}}