David Sykes (footballer)

David Sykes (4 October 1942 – 11 May 2023) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]

David Sykes
Personal information
Full name David Sykes
Date of birth (1942-10-04)4 October 1942
Date of death 11 May 2023(2023-05-11) (aged 80)
Original team(s) Commonwealth Bank[1]
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position(s) Ruck
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1961–63, 1967–68 Fitzroy 34 (37)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1968.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Footballer

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Sykes, who was recruited out of the Victorian Amateur Football Association, played as a forward and ruckman for Fitzroy. He had two stints at the club and in between spent some time as captain-coach of Cobden, in the Hampden Football League.[3][4]

On 6 July 1963, playing at centre half-back, he was a member of the young and inexperienced Fitzroy team that comprehensively and unexpectedly defeated Geelong, 9.13 (67) to 3.13 (31) in the 1963 Miracle Match.

Sykes, North Albury won the 1964 Ovens & Murray Football League best & fairest award, the Morris Medal with Jim Sandral, Corowa, both on 22 votes.

He was later both a state and league coach in Sydney.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
  2. ^ Lovett, Michael, ed. (2024). "Obituaries 2023". AFL Record Season Guide 2024: 1200. ISBN 9780645657333.
  3. ^ AFL Tables: David Sykes
  4. ^ The Age,"Ready made coach on doorstep", 13 September 1966, p 14.