STUCKEY, George

George Stuckey was a great Essendon captain, leading the Club from 1896 until 1900 and again in 1902 when Tod Collins was injured while playing for Victoria. He was a splendid leader who lifted the team whenever he was in command.

He was a half-back and wingman and it was written of him that "no-one but himself could be his parallel".

Stuckey had played 60 games for Essendon in the VFA from 1892 to 1896. He was a member of the premiership sides between 1892 and 1894 and he brilliantly led the new League side to the 1897 premiership, thus having the honour of being the captain of the Club's first VFL premiership side. He was also in the forward pocket in the 1901 premiership team, giving him the impressive record of six premierships in ten years.

He nearly retired at the start of 1899 and he is reported to have gone to the first game as a selector. When Essendon was hard hit by injury, he decided to play and did so well that he continued to play for another four years.

He represented Victoria in State games in both 1899 and 1900. In 1900, in the divisional final, he ran into the open goal and mistakenly kicked a point which cost Essendon the game and possibly the flag.

Stuckey was a fine all-round sportsman. As well as being a champion footballer, he also played cricket for Victoria from 1894/95 to 1902/03. His versatility was further demonstrated when he won the 1897 Stawell Gift just a few weeks before the start of the football season. He was the first of three Essendon players to win this blue ribbon event.

He remained with Essendon as a member of the committee until 1913 when he retired through ill health.

He was ranked no. 57 in the Champions of Essendon and was inducted as an inaugural member of the Hall of Fame.

George's brother, Bill, played one game for Essendon in 1893 then transferred to Carlton where he played until 1900, captaining the side in 1899. George had five children and three of them were triplets.

George Stuckey died on 15th March, 1932.