Clem Splatt

Clem Splatt
Splatt in May 1925
Personal information
Full name Clement Reginald Splatt
Date of birth (1899-09-17)17 September 1899
Place of birth Greensborough, Victoria
Date of death 18 May 1963(1963-05-18) (aged 63)
Place of death East Melbourne, Victoria
Original team(s) Diamond Creek, Greensborough
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 84 kg (185 lb)
Position(s) Key position player
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1922 Collingwood 02 0(0)
1923–1924 Hawthorn (VFA) 19 (12)
1925–1927 Hawthorn 20 0(1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1927.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Clement Reginald "Clem" Splatt (17 September 1899 – 18 May 1963) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Family

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The son of Henry Bartlett Splatt (1863–1938),[2][3] and Mary Ann Splatt (1871–1937), née Ely,[4] Clement Reginald Splatt was born at Greensborough, Victoria on 17 September 1899.

He married Annie Doris Vera Jack (1905–1955) in 1926.[5] They had two children: Valma Beryl Splatt (1927–1959), later Mrs. Albert Clack,[6] and John Robert Henry Splatt (1932–1997).

Football

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A very tall player for his era, Splatt was a key position player who was noted for his marking.

Diamond Creek

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Splatt commenced his football career at Diamond Creek Football Club where he played with Gordon and Syd Coventry.

Collingwood (VFL)

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Clem and Syd joined Gordon at Collingwood for the 1922 VFL season,[7] but Splatt only managed two games.

Hawthorn (VFA)

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In 1923 he transferred to Hawthorn, who were then in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).[8]

Hawthorn (VFL)

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He continued playing for Hawthorn as they joined the VFL in 1925 and, playing at centre half-forward, was a member of their inaugural VFL side, which played against Richmond, at Glenferrie Oval, on 2 May 1925.[9] Splatt was Hawthorn's leading Brownlow Medal vote winner (with three) in 1925.[10]

Injuries limited him to a further five games over the next two seasons and he retired from senior football.

Hastings

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In 1929 Splatt took a position as captain-coach of the Hastings Football Club (replacing the team's 1928 coach, ex-Fitzroy footballer Bill Thorpe) where he played for four years.[11]

After football

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He subsequently took a position on the committee of the Alexandra Football Club.[12]

Death

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Clem Splatt died at East Melbourne on 18 August 1963 and is buried at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.[13]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ Holmesby & Main (2009).
  2. ^ Deaths: Splatt, The Age, (Tuesday, 28 June 1938), p.1.
  3. ^ Obituary, The (Hurstbridge) Advertiser, (Friday, 1 July 1938), p.1.
  4. ^ Deaths: Splatt, The Age, (Tuesday, 4 May 1937), p.1.
  5. ^ Deaths: Splatt, The Argus, (Tuesday, 8 March 1955), p.14.
  6. ^ Wedding Bells, The Alexandra Standard, (Friday, 25 November 1949), p.2.
  7. ^ Profile, at Collingwood Forever.
  8. ^ "SPORTING". The Argus. Melbourne. 24 May 1923. p. 4 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ Tiger's Dash: Hawthorn Game But Powerless, The Herald, (Saturday, 2 May 1925), p.3.
  10. ^ Football: Best and Fairest Player, Watson (St. Kilda) Gains Honour, The Argus, (Thursday, 1 October 1925), p.4.
  11. ^ "BERT AUST LOOKS BACK". Frankston Standard. Frankston, Vic. 19 June 1947. p. 2 Supplement – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ Football, The Alexandra and Yea Standard, (Friday, 31 March 1939), p.2.
  13. ^ "Clement Reginald Splatt". Find a Grave.

References

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  • Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (8th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921496-00-4.
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