Laurie Icke

Laurie Icke (22 July 1929 – 26 September 2010) was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Laurie Icke
Personal information
Date of birth (1929-07-22)22 July 1929
Date of death 26 September 2010(2010-09-26) (aged 81)
Place of death Ballarat[1]
Original team(s) Ballarat East
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 81 kg (179 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1952–1955 North Melbourne 57 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1955.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Icke, a half back, started his career at Ballarat East, in the Ballarat Football League.[2] In 1952 he was granted a permit to play for North Melbourne, after the VFL Permit Committee rejected a claim by Fitzroy that the defender had lived in Preston for 13 weeks, which would have tied him to the club, but Icke said it had only been six weeks.[3]

He missed just one game in 1952 and played 15 of the first 16 rounds of the 1953 season, before suffering a thigh injury.[4][5]

In 1954 he made 13 appearances, including North Melbourne's semi-final loss to Melbourne, which he played as a full-back.[4][6] During the semi-final he was reporting for striking Ron Barassi and was suspended for the opening four rounds of the 1955 season.[7]

Icke was welcomed back into the North Melbourne team in round six, but following their round 11 loss to a weak St Kilda side by seven points, was dismissed from the club, along with Mick Grambeau.[8] The pair were notified of the committee's decision by mail, with no reason given.[8]

The two players received support from their teammates, who held a club meeting on the Sunday where they unanimously agreed that the action of the committee was unconstitutional.[9] Some of them had earlier considered pulling out of their game against Carlton that weekend, in protest.[9] More than 2000 club supporters held a demonstration after the Carlton game, backing Icke and Grambeau.[9]

On the next Tuesday, the two players appeared before the North Melbourne committee and were reinstated on the club's training list, after signing a statement which said that the "committee of the North Melbourne Football Club acted correctly in dispensing of our services" and expressed a desire to "withdraw and apologise for statements made by us to the press".[10][11] The reason for Icke and Grambeau being sacked was not revealed to the public, but was believed to be because the committee felt that they had not tried hard enough in the St Kilda game.[12] Icke went straight back into the North Melbourne team, which played Collingwood in round 13.[13]

He played out the 1955 season, then in 1956 was cleared to Wimmera Football League club Minyip, as playing coach.[14] Under Icke, Minyip made the 1956 Grand Final, which they lost to Ararat by 13 points.[1]

His son, Steven Icke, was a member of North Melbourne's 1977 premiership team.[2] He also played for Melbourne.[2]

References
  1. The Mail Times, "Tributes flow for former Minyip coach ", 30 September 2010, Justine McCullagh-Beasy
  2. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  3. The Age, "Permit for Icke to Join North", 17 April 1952, p. 8
  4. "Laurie Icke". AFL Tables.
  5. "Injury likely to keep Towner idle". The Argus. Melbourne. 19 August 1953. p. 21. Retrieved 7 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "NORTH MELBOURNE MOVE Selectors Make Bold Changes". The West Australian. Perth. 3 September 1954. p. 31. Retrieved 7 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Demons lose star flanker for V.F.L. final". The Argus. Melbourne. 8 September 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 7 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Grambeau, Icke seek legal advice". The Argus. Melbourne. 9 July 1955. p. 36. Retrieved 7 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "ANGRY NORTH PLAYERS PLEDGE SUPPORT OVER 'SACKINGS'". The Argus. Melbourne. 11 July 1955. p. 20. Retrieved 7 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Grambeau, lcke back". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 8 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Action By North Players Over Icke, Grambeau". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 14 July 1955. p. 6. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  12. Ross, John, ed. (1996). 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL. Ringwood: Viking. ISBN 0-670-86814-0.
  13. "Grambeau and Icke Selected". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria. 15 July 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  14. "BIG DAY FOR 6 NEW WIMMERA COACHES". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 April 1956. p. 23. Retrieved 8 February 2014 – via National Library of Australia.
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