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Danny Frawley

Daniel Patrick "Spud" Frawley (8 September 1963 – 9 September 2019) was an Australian rules football player, coach, administrator, commentator and media personality. He played 240 games for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL)/Australian Football League (AFL) from 1984 to 1995, captaining the club for nine seasons, and won All-Australian selection and the St Kilda best and fairest award in 1988. Frawley coached the Richmond Football Club from 2000 to 2004, with his most successful season coming in 2001, when he coached Richmond to a preliminary final. He later served as chief executive officer of the AFL Coaches Association from 2008 to 2014, and had part-time roles with the Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda.

Danny Frawley
Frawley during a pre-season match in 2017
Personal information
Full name Daniel Patrick Frawley
Nickname(s) Spud
Date of birth (1963-09-08)8 September 1963
Place of birth Ballarat, Victoria
Date of death 9 September 2019(2019-09-09) (aged 56)
Place of death Millbrook, Victoria
Original team(s) Bungaree (CHFL)
Debut Round 4, 1984, St Kilda vs. Hawthorn, at Princes Park
Height 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight 95 kg (209 lb)
Position(s) Full back
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1984–1995 St Kilda 240 (13)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1987–1994 Victoria 11 (0)
International team honours
1987–1990 Australia 6 (2)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
2000–2004 Richmond 113 (45–68–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 1995 season.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 1994.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Following his coaching career, Frawley was an AFL commentator for Fox Footy, Triple M and 1116 SEN, and also appeared on The Sunday Footy Show on the Nine Network. On television, he is best remembered for his work on the Fox Footy program Bounce, which he co-hosted alongside contemporary Jason Dunstall for over 350 episodes from 2007 to his death in 2019; on radio, he is best remembered for his work on Triple M, most notably his appearances on The Saturday Rub, from 2005 to 2016. Frawley quietly struggled with mental health problems throughout most of his time in football, but he became more open in his later years, leading him to host his own podcast on SEN dedicated to mental health, No Man Should Ever Walk Alone, from 2017 to 2018.

Frawley died by suicide in a single-vehicle car crash in Millbrook, Victoria, on 9 September 2019. His death devastated the wider football community and led to tributes from footballers, coaches, media and fans alike, including a private but broadcast memorial service on 18 September 2019.

Early life and family

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Frawley was educated at St Patrick's College, Ballarat, and played country football for East Ballarat in the Ballarat Football League (BFL) and Bungaree in the Central Highlands Football League (CHFL).[1] He grew up and worked on a potato farm in Bungaree, which led to his nickname of "Spud".[1][2][3]

Frawley was the nephew of former Collingwood player Des Tuddenham[3][4] and the uncle of Melbourne, Hawthorn St Kilda and Current Gold Coast Reserves player James Frawley.[3][5] His brother Tony was the chief executive officer of AFL Northern Territory from 2005 to 2015.[6]

Playing career

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St Kilda

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As of 2023, Frawley is one of only 16 players to play their first 90 games consecutively.[7] Frawley initially played as a forward but soon became a renowned full-back.[1] He captained the St Kilda Football Club for nine seasons over his 240-game playing career from 1984 to 1995.[8] He was the club's best and fairest winner in 1988 and was named in the All-Australian team the same year. He was the longest-serving captain of the St Kilda Football Club.[9] He was inducted into the Saints' hall of fame in 2007.[10]

Honours and achievements

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Individual

Coaching career

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Collingwood Football Club assistant coach (1996–1999)

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After his retirement from playing, Frawley spent four years as an assistant coach at Collingwood Football Club from 1996 until 1999 under senior coach Tony Shaw.[11][12][13][14]

Richmond Football Club senior coach (2000–2004)

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Frawley became the senior coach of the Richmond Football Club in 2000 when he replaced Jeff Gieschen.[13][14] In his first year in the 2000 season, Richmond under Frawley just missed out of the finals by finishing ninth. In the 2001 season, he took the Tigers into the finals, where, in the preliminary finals, they were eliminated by the Brisbane Lions, who were the eventual premiers.[15] Under Frawley, the club moved to fourth on the ladder and their first preliminary final since 1995.[3] In the 2002 season, however, Richmond under Frawley struggled and finished 14th. At the start of the 2003 season, the initial signs were positive, with Richmond under Frawley starting with six wins and two losses to start the season; however, the club's on-field performance dropped when they lost 13 of their next 14 matches and finished 13th.[16][17]

In the 2004 season, Richmond under Frawley kept struggling and finished 16th for the "wooden spoon", which was the last position on the ladder at the time. Midway through the season, Frawley announced that he would resign at the end of the 2004 season.[18][19] Richmond under Frawley lost their last 14 matches of the 2004 season.[16] Frawley was then replaced by Terry Wallace as Richmond Football Club senior coach.[20][21]

Hawthorn Football Club assistant coach (2008–2014)

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From 2008 until 2014, Frawley worked at Hawthorn as a part-time assistant coach.[22]

St Kilda Football Club assistant coach (2014–2018)

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He rejoined St Kilda as a backline and key-position assistant coach in November 2014.[23] Later, and until 2018, Frawley was a part-time specialist defence coach at the St Kilda Football Club.[2][24]

Post-coaching roles

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After leaving senior coaching, Frawley was a special commentator for Triple M.[25] In June 2006, he coached a winning Victorian state of origin side in the E. J. Whitten Legends Match and became the chief executive of the AFL Coaches Association.[18]

Media career and post-football

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During his playing career, Frawley was a regular cast member on AFL Squadron alongside Garry Lyon. When he transitioned to being a commentator primarily, Frawley was a commentator for Fox Footy and was a co-host of Bounce with Jason Dunstall and Cameron Mooney, as well as a part of the 1116 SEN Footy team on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.[2] Earlier in his career, he was also involved with the Nine Network and Triple M as a commentator and a regular co-host on The Saturday Rub.[26] He also hosted a Monday night show on SEN called No Man Should Ever Walk Alone on men's health topics including mental health, addiction, and lifestyle.[27]

Personal life and death

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Frawley was married to Anita,[2][3][26] who made regular appearances on the Fox Footy Channel program Living with Footballers.[28] They had three daughters: Chelsea, Danielle, and Keeley.[2][3][26]

On 9 September 2019, a day after his 56th birthday, Frawley died in a single-vehicle car crash in Millbrook, Victoria.[26][29] The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 pm when his car left the road and struck a tree on Old Melbourne Road between Ryans and Chapmans Roads.[30][31] He was the only passenger and died at the scene of the crash.[3] The coroner ruled his death a suicide.[32] An examination of his brain nearly a year later found that Frawley had stage two chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries; his wife Anita said she had "strongly suspected there was more going on with Danny than straightforward depression".[33][34][35][36][37]

Tributes

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The Trevor Barker Award, St Kilda's award for best and fairest player, proceeded two nights after Frawley's death and was filled with tributes to him, including speeches from teammates Stewart Loewe and Robert Harvey.[38][39] The AFL announced that a moment of silence would be observed in Frawley's honour before both semifinals the following weekend (Geelong–West Coast and Brisbane–Greater Western Sydney), with all four teams also wearing black armbands.[40] The Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders also observed a moment of silence for Frawley before their NRL qualifying final at AAMI Park.[41] AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan also revealed that it was being considered that the Golden Fist award, an award for best defender that Frawley had famously created on Bounce, should become an official AFL honour. A Change.org petition about the matter had garnered 33,000 signatures in less than 48 hours.[42]

Who was Danny Frawley? He was larger than life. He was the country kid. He was a footballer, he was our skipper, he was a coach, he was a spud farmer, a media personality...he was a husband, he was a dad, he was a brother, he was a friend to many, and he was one of my best mates...and he will always be my hero. When Matt Finnis (St Kilda CEO) then asked me yesterday if I'd like to pay tribute to Danny tonight at the best & fairest, I couldn't answer him...But after an hour or so by myself, I started to think, what would Spud want? What would he do? The answer was pretty obvious. "Put your suit on, roll up your sleeves, and get the bloody job done." That's just who he was.

Stewart Loewe at the 2019 Trevor Barker Award two days after Frawley's death[38]

Good morning. But it's not really. It's a time where we grapple and fumble around and search for a meaning that's not really there. It's an imprecise morning, one that we spend together and do our best.

Danny Frawley's death is a hammer blow to our community. Watching and reading and listening to all the reactions makes me think of the truism "The love you give is the love you get."

There's no solace at a time like this, but there is a collective embrace, and hopefully Anita and Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley can at least feel it. Danny was a great football person from the grassroots, to the top level. He belonged to many, from Bungaree to St Kilda and beyond.

In the media, he was a tremendous character, in the way that he gave of himself, to enhance your connection or enjoyment, and often at his own expense. He's done that for many years at Crocmedia and, in more recent times, on SEN. He maintained an infectious enthusiasm and vibrancy. It's the sort of thing people say, but you know that it's true, because you watched it and listened to it. When the footy got exciting, he was jumping, metaphorically and literally, all over the broadcast, and he could mangle the language in the most wonderful way. And I think he leaves us with "Yeah nah"...maybe it predates Danny, but he normalised it in our football world.

He was a latter day cyclist, in questionable Lycra, he was a hobby horse breeder, and he was an optimistic golfer. He was a friend to many, and I suspect you will feel that whether you knew him or not.

How footy touched his soul...well, that was evidence in the tears he shed for Teddy Whitten during that lap at the MCG, when he couldn't finish that famous induction speech for Tony Lockett and as he choked up honouring Trevor Barker just this year as he took his place in the Hall of Fame.

And now, those tears are for Spud.

[Plays When the Saints Go Marching In]

They play that in the terraces at St Kilda games, and I suspect the next time it's done, it'll have additional poignancy and carry the images...

Gerard Whateley opening Whateley on SEN the day after Frawley's death[43]

Both radio stations Frawley had worked at — Triple M and SEN — broadcast a special joint edition of The Saturday Rub in Frawley's honour co-hosted by friends and colleagues James Brayshaw, Brian Taylor, Damian Barrett and Garry Lyon.[44][45][46][47]

A private but broadcast memorial was held for Frawley, followed by the hearse travelling to Moorabbin Oval for a lap of honour.[48]

In November 2020, St Kilda and the Victorian and federal governments announced the plans for a $16 million (AUD) Moorabbin Oval centre, including classroom spaces, consultation suites and breakout areas to be named the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing.[49] The centre launched on 1 March 2022, with the attendees including St Kilda greats Loewe and Nick Riewoldt, club CEO Matt Finnis, Frawley's broadcast colleagues Lyon and Jason Dunstall, actor and former St Kilda #1 ticket holder Eric Bana, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan,[50] Victorian Tourism Minister Martin Pakula and Senator Jane Hume. Frawley's #2 was also retired by the club and hangs in the centre.[51] In January 2021, it was announced that Frawley's nephew James, who had joined St Kilda after a brief retirement at the end of the 2020 season with Hawthorn, would wear the #24 guernsey, which Danny had worn from 1985 to 1987 before switching to #2.[52]

In March 2021, St Kilda announced that their Round 2 game, beginning that season against Melbourne, would be called "Spud's Game: Time 2 Talk"[53] in partnership with Movember to promote mental health. Prior to the match, the game was delayed by two minutes with Frawley's close friends Lyon, Loewe and Tony Lockett paying tribute to Frawley in the middle of the ground and asking for those that were watching to check with their mates with both teams surrounding them and his family watching on.[54]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hobbs, Greg (1993). "Spot On Spud". AFL Record (Round 15): 10–11. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Aimee (9 September 2019). "Danny Frawley, 'larger than life' AFL great, dies in car crash". CNN. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Valencich, Glenn (9 September 2019). "Danny Frawley: St Kilda AFL great killed in car crash outside Ballarat". Seven News. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  4. ^ Baum, Greg (14 November 2009). "Coaches captivate with salt-of-the-earth yarns". The Age. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Frawley duo set for family reunion". Herald Sun. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  6. ^ "AFLNT boss calls it quits". Northern Territory News. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  7. ^ "AFL Tables - Miscellaneous Player Records". afltables.com. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ^ "DANNY FRAWLEY". Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Hall of Fame: Danny Frawley". Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  10. ^ "Saints Hall of Fame list". Archived from the original on 6 April 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Danny Frawley remembered for his charisma and humour". 10 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Sacked Podcast: Tony Shaw's mistakes at the Pies and the backstabbing he never saw coming". 4 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Remembering Spud Frawley, a much-loved son of football". 9 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Danny Frawley, former St Kilda captain and Richmond coach, dies in car crash". ABC News. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  15. ^ "AFL Tables - 2001 Season Scores". afltables.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  16. ^ a b "AFL Tables - Danny Frawley - Coaching Record". afltables.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  17. ^ "AFL Tables - 2003 Season Scores". afltables.com. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  18. ^ a b Robinson, Mark (14 April 2009). "Former Richmond coach Danny Frawley feels Terry Wallace's pain". The Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  19. ^ "Danny Frawley bravely shares the story of his battle with depression after Richmond sacking". 11 September 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  20. ^ "AFL finals 2004 - then there were six". 5 September 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Wallace to coach Tigers". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 August 2004. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Danny Frawley spurns Hawks, will join St Kilda". 16 November 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  23. ^ "Frawley ready for 'bumps in the road' after choosing St Kilda". afl.com.au. 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 19 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  24. ^ "St Kilda Football Club Coaching Staff". saints.com.au. St Kilda Football Club. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  25. ^ "Triple M team". Archived from the original on 27 February 2011.
  26. ^ a b c d "Footy personality dead after Victorian car crash". News.com.au. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  27. ^ No Man Should Ever Walk Alone with Danny Frawley 1116 SEN
  28. ^ "Sporting Life". The Age. 16 July 2003.
  29. ^ Hope, Zach (9 September 2019). "AFL legend Danny Frawley killed in crash near Ballarat". The Age. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  30. ^ Kirkham, Rochelle; Gliddon, Greg (9 September 2019). "Danny Frawley death: AFL legend dies in crash near Gordon". The Courier. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
  31. ^ Batty, Belinda (9 September 2019). "Driver dies following Millbrook crash". Victoria Police. Retrieved 9 September 2019.[permanent dead link]
  32. ^ "Calls for brain research following Danny Frawley's death | Coroners Court of Victoria".
  33. ^ Canil, Jourdan (1 September 2020). "AFL responds after analysis reveals Danny Frawley had stage two CTE". afl.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  34. ^ Laughton, Max (1 September 2020). "Family of late AFL great Frawley reveals heartbreaking diagnosis". Fox Sports (Australia). Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  35. ^ McMurty, Andrew (1 September 2020). "AFL 2020: Sad detail about Danny Frawley's death revealed by wife". News.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  36. ^ Goodall, Hamish (1 September 2020). "Danny Frawley was suffering from head knock condition CTE when he died". Seven News. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  37. ^ "Danny Frawley was suffering from chronic brain disease when he died". The Age. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  38. ^ a b "Stewart Loewe's tribute to Danny Frawley". YouTube. Fox Footy. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Danny Frawley remembered at St Kilda's best and fairest". YouTube. Seven Network News. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  40. ^ AFL Statement - Danny Frawley tribute Australian Football League
  41. ^ @FootyonNine (14 September 2019). "A moment of silence for Danny Frawley in the NRL, awesome stuff. ❤️️ #9WWOS #NRL #AFL" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  42. ^ AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says "golden fist" award in Danny Frawley’s honour will be considered by Max Laughton and Sarah Olle Fox Sports (hosted by the Adelaide Advertiser)
  43. ^ Whateley Full Show – 10 September 2019 SEN 1116
  44. ^ Triple M [@TripleMFooty] (10 September 2019). "This Saturday at 12pm we are uniting with SEN for a special edition of The Rub with JB, Garry Lyon, BT and Damo as…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  45. ^ 1116 SEN [@1116SEN] (10 September 2019). "This Saturday, SEN and Triple M will unite to simulcast a very special edition of The Saturday Rub in honour of Spud.…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  46. ^ Brayshaw, James; Taylor, Brian; Barrett, Damian; Lyon, Garry (14 September 2019). "SPECIAL: The Saturday Rub pays Tribute to Danny Frawley – Triple M Footy AFL". Omny. Triple M. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  47. ^ Lyon, Garry; Brayshaw, James; Taylor, Brian; Barrett, Damian (14 September 2019). "Saturday Rub Special: The Full Show". Whooshkaa. 1116 SEN. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  48. ^ "Hundreds gather say final goodbye to AFL great Danny Frawley", Nine Network News on YouTube
  49. ^ Danny Frawley’s legacy lives on at RSEA Park St Kilda Football Club
  50. ^ St Kilda Football Club (March 2022). "'New beginning': Stars and Saints gather to open Danny Frawley Centre". Saints.com.au. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  51. ^ Gabelich, Josh (28 February 2022). "Saints officially launch the Danny Frawley Centre". saints.com.au. AFL Media. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  52. ^ Locked and loaded: New 2021 guernsey numbers confirmed St Kilda Football Club
  53. ^ Saints launch "Spud’s Game" for mental health St Kilda Football Club
  54. ^ "'That's what Spud would've wanted you to do': Tears flow in beautiful tributes to Danny Frawley". Fox Sports. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
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