Arthur John "Doc" Pearce (1 January 1881 – 8 March 1902) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
| Arthur Pearce | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Arthur John Pearce | ||
| Date of birth | 1 January 1881 | ||
| Place of birth | Bacchus Marsh, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 8 March 1902 (aged 21) | ||
| Place of death | St Kilda East, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Wesley College | ||
| Height | 179 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 66 kg (146 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1900–1901 | St Kilda | 27 (6) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1901. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Biography edit
Born on 1 January 1881, Pearce was the youngest son of Mr Thos G. Pearce and Mrs M. J. Pearce, from Bacchus Marsh.[2]
Pearce, known to everyone as "Doc", was educated at Wesley College where he was a leading schoolboy athlete.[3][4] He was captain of the school's boats, cricket and football teams in the period from 1898 to 1900.[5]
Athletics edit
Pearce won the Victorian Public Schools Mile Championship in 1900. His time remained Wesley College's one mile record for many years.[6]
In January 1901 he won the one mile cross country race at a "Commonwealth Celebration" championship competition on the Sydney Cricket Ground, held to mark the proclamation of the Federation of Australia.[7][8]
Football career edit
Pearce was one of five new players introduced by St Kilda in the opening round of the 1901 VFL season, a historic and controversial win over Melbourne at Junction Oval. Initially finishing as a draw, St Kilda lodged a protest as a behind scored by Melbourne's Dick Wardill had come after the three quarter time bell had sounded, which was not heard by the umpire.[9] The protest was successful and St Kilda, after 48 losses, won for the first time in the VFL.[9] Pearce was noted by The Argus as having played the best of all St Kilda players.[10]
For the remainder of the season he was a regular fixture in the team and ended the year with a total of 15 appearances.[11]
He played a further 12 games for St Kilda in the 1901 VFL season.[11]
In August 1901 he was an emergency in the Victorian side which played an interstate match against South Australia in Adelaide.[12]
Death edit
Pearce died at his home in East St Kilda of typhoid fever on 8 March 1902, aged 21.[13]
References edit
- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
- ^ "Family Notices". The Argus. Melbourne. 10 March 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 8 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "College Sports". The Australasian. Melbourne. 22 March 1919. p. 24. Retrieved 8 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "College Sports". The Australasian. Melbourne. 3 May 1902. p. 24. Retrieved 9 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "College Sports". The Australasian. Melbourne. 26 July 1924. p. 33. Retrieved 8 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ""Old Boy's" Sporting Review". The Australasian. Melbourne. 28 September 1940. p. 15. Retrieved 8 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Athletic and Cycling Carnival". The Evening News. 5 January 1901. p. 6. Retrieved 9 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Commonwealth Sports". Australian Town and Country Journal. Sydney. 12 January 1901. p. 51. Retrieved 9 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b Ross, John, ed. (1996). 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL. Ringwood: Viking. p. 46. ISBN 0-670-86814-0.
- ^ "Football". The Argus. Melbourne. 7 May 1900. p. 6. Retrieved 9 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "AFL Tables – Arthur Pearce – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ "Inter-State Football". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 3 August 1901. p. 6. Retrieved 9 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Untitled". The Bacchus Marsh Express. Vic. 15 March 1902. p. 2. Retrieved 9 July 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
External links edit
- Arthur Pearce's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Arthur Pearce at AustralianFootball.com