Gordon Coventry
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| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | September 25, 1901, Victoria |
| Recruited from | Diamond Creek |
| Death | November 7, 1968, |
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | 1920, Collingwood vs. , at |
| Team(s) | Collingwood (1920-1937)
306 games, 1299 goals |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 1937 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
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Gordon 'Nuts' Coventry (born September 25, 1901, died November 7, 1968) was an Australian rules footballer who played in the VFL/AFL.
Coventry was selected to play with the Collingwood Football Club in 1920 after his brilliance shown at centre half-forward for grassroots club Diamond Creek. He wouldn't make an immediate impact, but was enough to ensure keep his spot after two valuable seasons, and his brother, Syd would also be welcomed at the club in 1922. Gordon had kicked 32 goals in those first two seasons, but would play in his prime position in the losing grand final side of 1920.
In 1922 Coventry started a move closer to goals and as the team continued it's dominance, Coventry would become a focal point, and would win the club's goalkicking with 42 goals. Coventry would remain the club's leading goalkicker for the next five seasons, and play in three more losing grand final sides. In 1926 he would win his first league leading goalkicking title with 83 goals. When his brother became captain of the side in 1927, success came to the club in more ways than ever achieved. Coventry would play in the four consecutive premierships between 1927-1930, and in the same years would continue his league dominance, being the best goalkicker in the league. In the 1928 Grand Final he would kick 9 goals, a league record, and in 1929 he would become the first player to kick 100 goals in a season, where he kicked 124 goals, and would follow up in 1930 with 118. Coventry would continue being Collingwood's leading goalkicker during the years 1931-34, and would win his first, and only, Copeland Trophy in 1933, where he kicked another 108 goals for the season.
In 1935 Coventry played in his fifth premiership, kicking 4 goals to get his side across the line. He would, however, miss the 1936 Grand Final due to suspension, where he was found guilty of striking Richmond defender Joe Murdoch. The cause was due to Coventry playing the match against the Tigers with boils on his neck, and when Murdoch struck his neck, Coventry hit Murdoch. In 1937 Coventry would retire after winning his sixth league leading goalkicker award, and his 16th consecutive club leading goalkicker award. He would coach in the amateurs after retirement. He kicked 1299 goals, a record that stood for more than six decades, and would be the first player to pass 300 VFL/AFL games, and would hold the record at the club for many years. Tony Lockett and Tony Shaw breaking his records in 1999 and 1994 respectively.
Coventry would pass away, aged 67, on November 7, 1968. In 1996 he was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, and would be elevated to legend status two years later. In 1997 he would be selected at full-forward in the Collingwood team of the century, and would be inducted in the club's Hall of Fame. In the completion of the Docklands Stadium, an end would be named after him and Lockett.
| Preceded by: Syd Coventry |
Copeland Trophy winner 1933 |
Succeeded by: Albert Collier |
| Preceded by: Lloyd Hagger |
Leading Goalkicker Medal 1926-30 |
Succeeded by: Harry Valence |
| Preceded by: George Moloney |
Leading Goalkicker Medal 1933 |
Succeeded by: Bob Pratt |
