Dave Bland

David Bland (10 November 1929 – 9 March 2013)[2] was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He played 36 league games for St Kilda, over five seasons.[3] During that time he missed 14 games through suspension, 12 of them for two incidents in the 1953 VFL season.[4][5]

Dave Bland
Personal information
Full name David Bland
Date of birth (1929-11-10)10 November 1929
Date of death 9 March 2013(2013-03-09) (aged 83)
Original team(s) Hampton Rovers[1]
Height 192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 98 kg (216 lb)
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1951–1955 St Kilda 36 (25)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1956 South Australia 1 (0)
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

St Kilda

Bland, a ruckman, came to St Kilda in 1951 and put in some good performances with the seconds.[6][7] He joined the club from the Hampton Rovers in the VAFA and had trained the year before with Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Sandringham.[8][9] His league debut came in round 10, against South Melbourne at Junction Oval and he remained in the side for a further three rounds, before he was forced out of the side with injury.[10][11]

In the 1952 VFL season, Bland made 12 appearances for St Kilda, all in succession from rounds 4 to 15.[10] St Kilda finished the season in last position, with just two wins, but Bland had become a required player and the club refused an application from Carlton to interview him during the 1953 pre-season.[12][13]

Bland had an interrupted season in 1953, which he began well when he kicked two goals in his second appearance, a win over Hawthorn in round two. An injured knee in training kept him out of the team for two weeks, then he was recalled into the side to play Carlton at Princes Park, a game that would be remembered for a third quarter brawl that Bland helped cause.[14][15] Following a marking contest in a forward pocket, Carlton's Jack Howell had handpassed to a teammate, after which he was felled by Bland.[16] The brawl, which went on for close to five minutes, involved almost all of the players as well as several spectators.[17] Mounted police had to take to the field and were eventually able to calm the situation.[18] Bland was found by the tribunal to have "deliberately struck Howell in the groin" with his knee and received a four-week suspension.[19] After his suspension ended, Bland was required to build up match practice in the St Kilda seconds and didn't return to the seniors until round 12, against North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval.[20][21] On his comeback appearance, Bland would once more find himself on report, this time charged with "kicking" North Melbourne player Laurie Icke.[22] Bland, who had been reported by three umpires for the incident, was suspended for eight weeks.[23] This brought an end to a season of only four appearances.[10]

With the suspension keeping him out the first two rounds of the 1954 VFL season, Bland returned in round three against Collingwood and kicked a career high three goals.[24] He ended up playing nine games that season.[10] A knee injury he sustained in the Collingwood game caused him to miss some early games and he also struggled when St Kilda used him as a full-forward at times during the year.[25][26][27]

In 1955, Bland had his best season for St Kilda, despite making limited appearances.[28] A groin injury and broken finger ended his season in round 10.[29][30] He played just seven league games, but polled eight Brownlow Medal votes, the only time in his career that he featured in the count.[31] His efforts during the season were enough to win the Grosvenor Trophy, an award for St Kilda's best player, voted on by the club's past players and officials.[32] He also finished third in the St Kilda best and fairest award.[33] The season wasn't without incident for Bland, in round two he was cited for throwing the ball into the face of Essendon's Doug Bigelow, which the tribunal deemed to have been intentional and suspended him for two weeks.[34][35]

Bland considered a switch to rugby league during the year, when it looked like he would have to transfer to Sydney for his work.[36] He was set to have a trial with the St. George Dragons, but circumstances changed and the following year he moved to Adelaide.[36][37]

SANFL

With Bland relocating to Adelaide at the end of the 1955 season, to set up a blueprint business, this generated interest from South Australian National Football League (SANFL) clubs keen to secure his services.[37][38] Initially, St Kilda refused to grant him a clearance and offered to fly him over from Adelaide to play each weekend, but Bland was reluctant to spend too much time away from his business.[39][40] It wasn't until mid May that St Kilda agreed to clear Bland, to South Adelaide.[41]

In June, after only three SANFL appearances, Bland was selected in the South Australian team to play in the Perth Carnival, as a second ruckman and forward pocket.[42][43] He played in South Australia's opening fixture against the VFA and during the game sprained his knee, which ruled him out for the rest of the carnival.[44][45]

Bland played 12 games for South Adelaide in two seasons, with injuries again restricting his appearances.[46]

In 1962 he played two league games with Norwood.[46]

References
  1. "AFL/VFL Players". Hampton Rovers Football Club. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. "Dave Bland – Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  3. "Recognising ailing former Saints". saints.com.au. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  4. "VFL AFL Tribunal 1953". Boyles Football Photos. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  5. "VFL AFL Tribunal 1955". Boyles Football Photos. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  6. "Sure-footed 'Saints' work hard". The Argus. Melbourne. 18 April 1951. p. 28. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Saints, Carlton say: "We can win"". The Argus. Melbourne. 20 June 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  9. "Lively meeting expected Warburton invited to attend". The Argus. Melbourne. 12 April 1950. p. 26. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Dave Bland – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  11. "Saints will be stronger". The Argus. Melbourne. 22 August 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. Lovett, Michael (2004). AFL 2004 – The Official Statistical History Of The AFL. AFL Publishing. ISBN 0-9580300-5-7.
  13. "League Stars "Going Bush"". The Age. 8 January 1953. p. 11. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  14. "Saints lose follower". The Argus. Melbourne. 9 May 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Gill moves up". The Argus. Melbourne. 22 May 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Vic. player suspended". The News. Adelaide. 27 May 1953. p. 27. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. "30 players, crowd join in brawl at Carlton match". The Argus. Melbourne. 25 May 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. "Mounted Police Gallop Into Football Brawlers". Sunday Herald. Sydney. 24 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ""Deliberate", says V.F.L. tribunal: Bland suspended for 4 weeks". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 May 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. "St. Kilda". The Argus. Melbourne. 23 June 1953. p. 9. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. "North makes three key changes". The Argus. Melbourne. 17 July 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. "V.F.L. match details". The Argus. Melbourne. 20 July 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. "Tribunal gets on kicking charges: Bland, O'Rourke are suspended". The Argus. Melbourne. 22 July 1953. p. 20. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. "Gossip from League grounds fit looks like a big year for Hawthorn". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 May 1954. p. 17. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. "St. Kilda injured list grows Hectic game cost 3 casualties". The Argus. Melbourne. 4 May 1954. p. 15. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. "St. Kilda". The Argus. Melbourne. 25 May 1954. p. 15. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. "Phillips, Saints full forward". The Argus. Melbourne. 25 June 1954. p. 23. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. "Saints expect Bland to return". The Argus. Melbourne. 3 April 1956. p. 14. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. "Umpire angers Hawks". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 June 1955. p. 20. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. "Geelong in the wars Herberl breaks his leg". The Argus. Melbourne. 22 August 1955. p. 20. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. "1955 Brownlow Medal". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  32. "Bland voted top Saint". The Argus. Melbourne. 24 August 1955. p. 27. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. "Roberts wins club vote". The Argus. Melbourne. 25 August 1955. p. 17. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. "Umpire names right "victim" wrong team". The Argus (Final Edition, Section: Sporting Section ed.). Melbourne. 25 April 1955. p. 6. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. "Tribunal clears Ross on charge of striking". The Argus. Melbourne. 27 April 1955. p. 24. Retrieved 13 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. "Snapshots from league grounds". The Argus. Melbourne. 6 June 1955. p. 18. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. "SA bids for Bland". The Argus. Melbourne. 26 October 1955. p. 26. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  38. "Big Ray Poulter stays with Tigers". The Argus. Melbourne. 1 February 1956. p. 26. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. "I won't give up fight". The Argus. Melbourne. 23 March 1956. p. 28. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. Beames, Percy (20 March 1956). ""Play With Us or Not at All", Saints Tell Dave Bland". The Age. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  41. "Magpie almost had his wings, then.,". The Argus. Melbourne. 17 May 1956. p. 17. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  42. "Bland in S.A. team". The Argus. Melbourne. 4 June 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. "After weeks of wet, muddy grounds, V.F.L. players yell jubilantly in Perth... Oh boy! A dry oval!". The Argus. Melbourne. 14 June 1956. p. 22. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  44. "VFA ran out of gas!". The Argus. Melbourne. 15 June 1956. p. 20. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. "V.F.A. can't find". The Argus. Melbourne. 16 June 1956. p. 5 Supplement: The Argus Weekender. Retrieved 14 February 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. "Players – Bland, David". redlegsmuseum.com.au. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
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