Max Oppy

Max Oppy
Max Oppy
Personal information
Full name	William Maxwell Oppy
Date of birth	14 October 1924
Place of birth	Maryborough, Victoria
Date of death	25 November 2008 (aged 84)
Original team(s)	Kew FC
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	80.5 kg (177 lb)
Position(s)	Defender, Rover
Playing career1
Years	Club
1942–1954	Richmond
Coaching career
Years	Club
1956	Richmond
	1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1954.
Career highlights
	Richmond Premiership Player 1943; Interstate Games:- 4; Richmond – Hall of Fame – inducted 2004;
	Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

William Maxwell Oppy (14 October 1924 – 25 November 2008) was an Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1942 and 1954 for the Richmond Football Club. He was senior coach of Richmond in 1956.

Family edit

The son of James Thomas Oppy (1893–1935)^[2] and Doris Edna Oppy, née Watson (1895–1967), William Maxwell Oppy, known as "Max", was born on 14 October 1924. He was the brother of Jim Oppy and cousin of Dick Reynolds, Tom Reynolds, and murdered lawyer Keith William Allan.

Football edit

Oppy, who was recruited from Kew, started his career as a rover at Richmond and played in their 1943 premiership side. The following season he was pushed into defence by Jack Dyer and soon established a place in the side as a specialist back pocket, participating in a losing Grand Final at the year's end. He represented the VFL at interstate matches four times. Jack Dyer called him the "player who could not be hurt.^[3]

After retiring from football in 1954, Oppy returned to Richmond two years later and replaced Alby Pannam as senior coach. They managed just six wins, finishing in tenth position, which meant Oppy wasn't kept on in 1957.