David Dench

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David Dench
Personal information
Birth August 23, 1951,
Recruited from West Coburg
Playing career¹
Debut , North Melbourne vs. , at
Team(s) North Melbourne (1969-1984)

275 games, 29 goals

¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season
Career highlights

  • North Melbourne Best & Fairest 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981
  • North Melbourne captain 1972
  • North Melbourne Premierships 1975, 1977 (acting capt.)
  • Kangaroos Team of the Century
  • Victorian representative(4 games, 0 goals).


David Dench (born 23 August 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League. He played his whole career with North Melbourne Football Club (later to change its name to Kangaroos) at one of its most successful periods.

Dench was a dashing full-back who would turn defense into attack in an instant. Dench won the North Melbourne club's best and fairest award, the Syd Barker Medal, on four occasions - 1971, 1976, 1977, 1981. David Dench was the youngest captain appointed in the club's history. He also captained the 1977 premiership team, due to Keith Greig's absence because of an injury. In the 1977 VFL Grand Final, Ron Barassi moved him to the forward line, where he sparked North Melbourne Football Club's revival by contributing to the forward line and kicking goals, to draw with Collingwood Football Club.

In 2000 Dench was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

His daughter, Michelle is a distinguished Australian sportswoman.

He's the owner of an exclusive South Yarra restaurant and is among five people charged over their alleged involvement in a scam that defrauded Victoria University of $30 million.

Dench is charged with 608 counts including conspiracy to defraud, theft, obtaining property by deception and furnishing false information.

Police allege the two-time premiership defender helped co-conspirators net $4.7 million in the scam.

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