David Rhys-Jones

David Rhys-Jones (born 16 June 1962) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club and the Sydney Swans in the VFL/AFL. The highlight of his 182-game career was winning the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in Carlton's 1987 Grand Final victory. Rhys-Jones played junior football in the same side as Warwick Capper while at the Oakleigh Districts.

Rhys-Jones began his career with South Melbourne in 1980 which then relocated becoming the Sydney Swans in 1982. He moved back south to join Carlton Football Club in 1985. Rhys-Jones remained with Carlton until his retirement in 1992. A controversial player, Rhys-Jones stood out on this field with his blond locks and aggressive nature. At the time of his retirement he held the record for the most tribunal appearances with 42. Rhys-Jones was charged 25 times and suspended for a total of 22 matches as well as appearing 17 times as the victim. The former AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou was once reported for striking Rhys-Jones.

In 1992 Rhys-Jones was appointed captain-coach of the North Launceston Football Club. After playing his 50th game in the 1995 winning grand final team Rhys-Jones left to coach Frankston in the Victorian Football Association. After three years of successive finals appearances, including two grand finals, Rhys-Jones quit Frankston to concentrate on media commitments.

In 2000 he was appointed coach of Heidelberg Football Club. After a run of injuries in 2001 he decided to pull on the boots himself and was quickly suspended by the Diamond Valley league from playing football until 2003 and fined $3000 after assaulting an opponent. The tribunal ruling that he was not allowed on the field forced Rhys-Jones to give his quarter-time team addresses from behind the boundary line. The following year he announced in his biography that he used cocaine during his playing career.

Rhys-Jones married his second wife Cheri Donnelly in Queensland in 2001. They have a son together, Cooper, who has Prader-Willi Syndrome,^[1] and a daughter Madison.^[2] Rhys-Jones and wife Cheri took over the Canada Hotel in [Melbourne Swanston st], Carlton in 2002 renaming it the Plough and Harrow Hotel. That year Rhys-Jones joined a reality show on Channel 7, called The Club; and was chosen by audience votes to coach a new Australian rules football team in the Western Region Football League. The team was named the Kensington Hill Hammerheads, which Rhys-Jones coached to a premiership in its first (and only) year. Rhys-Jones has three children from his first marriage, Sharna, Molly, and Dakota. Rhys-Jones currently lives in Melbourne.

References

• Duffield, Mark (27 June 2002). "Rhys-Jones admits drug use". The Age. Retrieved 31 July 2011. 
• "1974–79 Tin Sheds". Oakleigh Dragons. Retrieved 31 July 2011.