Gary Odgers

Gary Odgers
Personal information
Full nameGary W. Odgers
Date of birth15 December 1959
Original teamGolden Point
Height/Weight178 cm / 75 kg
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1981-1987St Kilda91 (28)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1987 season.

Gary Odgers (born 15 December 1959) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

St Kilda career

Odgers came to the VFL from Ballarat club Golden Point and was used in a variety of roles by St Kilda, but mostly as a defender.[1] He first broke into the side in 1981, playing five games that year.[2] In 1982 he appeared in the first 17 rounds of the season, before losing his spot in the team with a shoulder injury.[2][3] Over the next four seasons he was a regular fixture in the St Kilda team and probably had his best year in 1985 when he got eight Brownlow Medal votes, the only time he ever featured in the count.[2] His 1985 season ended in style when in the final round against Footscray he kicked a 60-metre torpedo goal to seal the win, having earlier given his side the lead.[4] It was St Kilda's only win at Moorabbin Oval that year.[4] He was promoted to vice captain in 1986 and played 19 games that season.[2][5] He only made two more appearances for St Kilda, which came in the opening two rounds of the 1987 season.[2]

Ballarat Football League

Odgers went home to Ballarat in 1988 and was an assistant coach at Golden Point for a year, before joining East Ballarat as senior coach.[6] In his five years coaching East Ballarat, they made the Ballarat Football League grand final four times, for three premierships, in 1989, 1990 and 1993.[6] As a player he won two best and fairests (1990, 1992).[7]

Coaching in Queensland

Odgers, who moved to Queensland in 1995, was an assistant coach of the Mt Gravatt team that were premiers in 2002.[6] He was senior coach in 2003, replacing Danny Craven, but resigned during the season for business and health reasons.[6] In 2006 he took over from David Hart as Redland coach and held the job for two years.[6][8]

References

  1. ↑ Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 AFL Tables: Gary Odgers
  3. ↑ The Age, "St Kilda", 25 August 1982, p. 27
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Age, "A champagne win for Saints", 2 September 1985, p. 31
  5. ↑ The Age, "Elphinstone is 'back home' with Saints", 24 March 1986, p. 27
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 "Gary Odgers takes over as Redland coach". SportingPulse.
  7. ↑ "Senior Best and Fairest". SportingPulse.
  8. ↑ "Odgers Steps Down at Redland". SportingPulse.