Players /
S /
Earl Spalding
Earl George Spalding
11 March 1965 (age 57)
South Perth, WA (6151)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 17d
Last game: 32y 151d
Senior clubs
Perth; Melbourne; Carlton; East Fremantle
Jumper numbers
Melbourne:&nbsp35, 5
Carlton:&nbsp11
Recruited from
Perth (1987); Melbourne (1992); Carlton (1998)
George Spalding (Father)Scott Spalding (Brother)
Every game by season
Home and away
By Opposition
Every game by opposition
Every game by venue
Top 3 Performances
Perth WAFL 1983-1986 63 79 1.25 — — — — —
Melbourne V/AFL 1987-1991 109 63 0.58 64% 8.48 4.68 4.08 17
Carlton AFL 1992-1997 102 106 1.04 70% 8.07 5.67 4.31 16
East Fremantle WR 1998-1999 32 41 1.28 — — — — —
WR 1983-1986, 1998-1999 95 120 1.26 — — — — —
V/AFL 1987-1997 211 169 0.80 67% 8.28 5.16 4.19 33
Total 1983-1999 306 289 0.94 — — — — —
AFL: 9,775th player to appear, 529th most games played, 539th most goals kickedMelbourne: 1,090th player to appear, 144th most games played, 113th most goals kickedCarlton: 980th player to appear, 170th most games played, 82nd most goals kicked
One of a rare group of footballers to have played in excess of 100 V/AFL games at two different clubs, Earl Spalding, nicknamed 'The Duke', was a fine all round sportsman as a youngster when he attended Wesley College. In 1983 he commenced his league football career with Perth and he went on to play 63 games and kick 79 goals over the course of a four season stint at the club.
Solidly built at 198cm and 110kg Spalding was excellent overhead but his kicking style was awkward and lacking in both accuracy and penetration. Nevertheless, he was a solid performer for Melbourne, whom he joined in preference to VFL debutant West Coast, in 109 V/AFL games from 1987 to 1991, registering 63 goals. It was while with Carlton though where he played 102 games and kicked 106 goals between 1992 and 1997 that he produced his best football. He arguably reached his peak during a 1995 season which was crowned with participation in a Blues premiership.
A thoroughly unselfish player, his value to the team was immense, and he could always be relied upon to provide a contest whether aerially or at ground level. Together with fellow tall Stephen Kernahan and elusive goalsneak Brad Pearce he gave Carlton one of the most damaging forward set-ups in the club's history.
Spalding finished his playing career at East Fremantle where his 32 games in 1998-9 included the winning grand final of 1998 against West Perth.
Since retiring as a player Earl Spalding has spent time as coach of both of the WAFL clubs for which he played, Perth and East Fremantle, and he also had a long stint as assistant coach at Fremantle.
Spalding is the son of former Perth player George Spalding and the brother of Scott Spalding, who played one game for Carlton as well as enjoying a long WAFL career with Perth and East Fremantle.
Author - John Devaney
Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article; http://www.blueseum.org/Earl+Spalding