Alan Lynch (footballer)

Alan Lynch (22 January 1954 – 29 October 2024) was an Australian rules footballer and middle-distance runner who played with Geelong West in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and both Footscray and Richmond in the same Victorian Football League (VFL) season.[1]

Alan Lynch
Personal information
Nickname(s) Dizzy
Date of birth (1954-01-22)22 January 1954
Date of death 29 October 2024(2024-10-29) (aged 70)
Original team(s) Geelong West (VFA)
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 68 kg (150 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1976 Footscray 5 (1)
1976 Richmond 2 (1)
Total 7 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1976.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

A member of Geelong West's 1975 premiership winning side, Lynch followed coach Bill Goggin to Footscray when Goggin was appointed coach in 1976. However, midway through the season, after playing five games for Footscray, four of which were as a reserve, he transferred to Richmond. He only played a further two games for Richmond in 1976,[2] the last VFL games of his career. He then went on to play for Beaufort and Geelong Football Clubs, winning Geelong's reserves team best and fairest award in 1980.[3] Geelong West appointed him coach in 1986 and he led the club until June, when he resigned for business reasons.[4]

Commonly known as Dizzy, he competed for many years at the Stawell Gift, mainly in the one- and two-mile events. He won six races, three consecutive two-miles between 1980 and 1982 as well as the one-mile in 1980, 1981 and 1987. He has been inducted into the Stawell Hall of Fame as a legend.[5][6]

Lynch died from complications of Parkinson's disease on 29 October 2024, at the age of 70.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Farewell, 'Dizzy'". K ROCK 95.5. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  2. ^ "New Players at all Clubs – Our recruit of the Year". The Football Record (Second Semi Final): 13. 1976.
  3. ^ Fiddian, Marc (15 May 1981). "West calls up rover Lynch". The Age.
  4. ^ "Harris is back as Roosters' coach resigns". The Age. 27 June 1986. p. 28. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Stawell Hall of Fame legends:Alan 'Dizzy' Lynch".
  6. ^ Daffey, Paul (27 March 2005). "The ten best footballers at the Stawell Gift". The Sunday Age. Archived from the original on 26 January 2006.
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