General News
9 October, 2023
Our modest former Magpie
Like the rest of the Magpies' diehards, former Collingwood player and Warracknabeal footy icon Ken Smale was pleased with Saturday's nail-biting premiership win. But with his 90th birthday just around the corner, Mr Smale kept his celebrating low...
Like the rest of the Magpies' diehards, former Collingwood player and Warracknabeal footy icon Ken Smale was pleased with Saturday's nail-biting premiership win.
But with his 90th birthday just around the corner, Mr Smale kept his celebrating low key.
Debuting for the Pies in 1955, aged 21, Mr Smale played a total of 60 AFL games during his career including eight finals, retiring on a high following the 1958 grand final which saw his team win by 18 points against Melbourne.
Scoring an impressive 98 goals in total for the club, Mr Smale was described as a "good leap and excellent grab", securing the Gordon Coventry trophy as the leading goalkicker for his first two seasons.
After starting out in the Wimmera and Victorian leagues, he rebuffed Footscray's advances early on, but was later enticed to Collingwood pre-season in 1955.
Ken Smale impressed the selectors by kicking five goals at the practice match to be named in the senior side of the then-VFL opening round, ironically against Footscray.
Originally signed on a six-game permit but named in the Pies team for the round seven game, his a career hit a snag when his home club, Warracknabeal, refused to release him to play.
Following an all-night dash to the town by Collingwood secretary Gordon Carlyon, an agreement was reached and he was able to play.
Son Jeff said his father, a naturally calm man, was "quietly happy" with the Pies' four-point defeat of the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
"Dad is not excitable at the best of times but he was naturally happy his team won," Jeff said.
Named a life member of Collingwood in 2008, Mr Smale has been a prominent businessman in Warracknabeal for decades and will celebrate his 90th birthday next month.