Graham Arthur
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer (1936–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Graham Arthur
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| fullname = Graham Francis Arthur
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1936|6|9}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|1|10|1936|6|9|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| originalteam = Sandhurst (BFL)
| draftpick =
| height = 180 cm
| weight = 86 kg
| position =
| years1 = 1955–1968
| club1 = {{AFL Haw}}
| games_goals1 = 232 (201)
| sooyears1 =
| sooteam1 = Victoria
| soogames_goals1 = 12 (7)
| coachyears1 = 1964–1965
| coachclub1 = {{AFL Haw}}
| coachgames_wins1 = 36 (17–19–0)
| statsend = 1968
| coachstatsend = 1965
| careerhighlights =
- VFL premiership captain: 1961
- 3× Hawthorn best and fairest: 1955, 1958, 1962
- Hawthorn captain: 1960–1968
- Australian Football Hall of Fame
- Hawthorn Hall of Fame – Legend status
- Hawthorn Team of the Century – Captain
}}
Graham Francis Arthur (9 June 1936 – 10 January 2021) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Career
Arthur played primarily as a half forward, debuting while still only 18 years old.
He was the captain of the first Hawthorn side to win the Grand Final and made a dozen appearances for the Victorian state team.
Following his career at Hawthorn, Arthur was appointed playing coach of Bendigo Football League club Echuca."Farewell to Departed Stars", The Football Record, 5 April 1969, p. 8.
Arthur was named captain of Hawthorn's official Team of the Century.{{Cite web|date=2021-01-10|title=AFL 2021: Graham Arthur dead at 84, Hawthorn legend, first premiership captain, Australian Football Hall of Fame member|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2021-graham-arthur-dead-at-84-hawthorn-legend-first-premiership-captain-australian-football-hall-of-fame-member/news-story/9ffc46e5206b58ccb22c3ca026c85b16|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Fox Sports|language=en-AU}}
Arthur supported the planned merger between {{AFL Haw}} and {{AFL Mel}} in 1996.{{cite web |last1=Sheahan |first1=Mike |title=MERGE - It's time to look ahead not back |url=http://www.hawkheadquarters.com/article.aspx?articleid=206 |website=hawkheadquarters.com |publisher=Herald Sun |access-date=19 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030316115040/http://www.hawkheadquarters.com/article.aspx?articleid=206 |archive-date=16 March 2003 |date=16 September 1996}}{{cite web |last1=Linnell |first1=Stephen |last2=Rielly |first2=Stephen |title=Proposed Demons, Hawks merger sparks outrage |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/from-the-archives-1996-rival-factions-clash-over-demons-hawks-merger-20190913-p52r1o.html |publisher=The Age |access-date=13 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123234745/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/from-the-archives-1996-rival-factions-clash-over-demons-hawks-merger-20190913-p52r1o.html |archive-date=23 January 2025 |date=17 September 1996}}
Arthur was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the initial intake in 1996, his citation reading:{{Cite web|title=Hall of Fame Players|url=https://www.afl.com.au/hall-of-fame/players|access-date=2021-01-10|website=afl.com.au|language=en}}
:Hawthorn's first premiership captain was a brilliant half-forward flanker/centreman.
Arthur's father Alan Arthur played for Essendon.{{Cite book|last=Hillier|first=Kevin|title=Like Father Like Son|publisher=Pennon Publishing|year=2004|isbn=1-877029-73-4|location=Melbourne|pages=158}}
On 24 October 2000, Arthur was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australian football.{{cite web|title=Graham Francis Arthur|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/978427|publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=5 January 2012}}
Statistics
=Coaching statistics=
{{AFL coaching statistics legend}}
{{AFL coaching statistics start}}
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 1964 || {{AFL Haw}}
| 18 || 13 || 5 || 0 || 72.2% || 5 || 12
|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"
| 1965 || {{AFL Haw}}
| 18 || 4 || 14 || 0 || 22.2% || 12 || 12
|- class="sortbottom"
! colspan=2| Career totals
! 36 !! 17 !! 19 !! 0 !! 47.2%
! colspan=2|
|}
Honours and achievements
Team
- VFL premiership player ({{AFL Haw}}): 1961
- 2× Minor premiership ({{AFL Haw}}): 1961, 1963
Individual
- VFL premiership captain: 1961
- 3× Hawthorn best and fairest: 1955, 1958, 1962
- Hawthorn captain: 1960–1968 (most games played as captain – 153)
- Australian Football Hall of Fame
- Hawthorn Hall of Fame – Legend status
- Hawthorn Team of the Century – Captain
- Hawthorn life member
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables player}}
- {{AFL Tables coach}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928042351/http://prod.www.afl.cfour.com.au/Season2007/Awards/HallofFame/Players/tabid/856/Default.aspx |date=28 September 2007 |title=AFL: Australian Football Hall of Fame}}
{{1961 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{Hawthorn Football Club captains}}
{{Hawthorn Football Club coaches}}
{{Peter Crimmins Medal}}
{{Hawthorn Football Club Hall of Fame Legends}}
{{Hawthorn Team of The Century}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Arthur, Graham}}
Category:Hawthorn Football Club players
Category:Hawthorn Football Club premiership players
Category:Hawthorn Football Club coaches
Category:Peter Crimmins Medal winners
Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Sandhurst Football Club players
Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
{{AFL-bio-1930s-stub}}