Charlie Ricketts

For the English artist, see Charles Ricketts.

Charles Henry Thomas Ricketts (3 July 1885 – 7 March 1960) was an Australian rules footballer and coach in the Victorian Football League.

Charlie Ricketts
Personal information
Full name	Charles Henry Thomas Ricketts
Date of birth	(1885-07-03)3 July 1885
Place of birth	Geelong, Victoria
Date of death	7 March 1960(1960-03-07) (aged 74)
Place of death	Middle Park, Victoria
Original team(s)	Richmond (VFA)
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	68 kg (150 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1906–1912	South Melbourne	082 (47)
1913–1914	Richmond	016 (11)
1921	St Kilda	005 0(1)
Total		103 (59)
Coaching career3
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1909	South Melbourne	021 0(16–5–0)
1912	South Melbourne	020 0(14–6–0)
1914–1916	Richmond	047 (18–29–0)
1920–1921	St Kilda	027 0(5–21–1)
Total		115 (53–61–1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1921.
Career highlights
VFA Richmond premiership player 1905 VFL South Melbourne premiership captain-coach 1909 South Melbourne captain 1909, 1912 St Kilda captain 1914 St Kilda captain 1921
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Ricketts was a champion rover for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football Association from 1903 to 1905. He represented the VFA twice in 1905 and kicked two goals in the Richmond premiership side.

The next season, he crossed to the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League. He was considered a highly skilled player noted for his accuracy, particularly with his stab-kick passes. By 1908 he had earned a reputation as one of the premier players in the VFL and the following season he led South Melbourne to their first League premiership as captain-coach. Despite this success he was replaced as captain-coach for 1910 by William Thomas, but he regained his position for 1912, leading South Melbourne to a (losing) VFL Grand Final. For 1913 he was again denied the opportunity to captain the side by the disapproving South committee (despite winning the vote).

Ricketts moved back to Richmond, who were now in the VFL, for the 1913 and 1914 seasons before taking the reins as a non-playing coach for 1915 and 1916. After a hiatus from the VFL due to World War I, Ricketts coached St Kilda for the 1920 season and was playing coach in 1921. Following this, he retired from VFL football.

References

• Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996