R.I.P. Ken Whelan

[Frosty]

Was trawling through the death notices on other business this morning and noticed Ken Whelan has passed away.

He played 126 games for Sturt and kicked 441 goals and was a premiership player in 1974.

Don't remember a lot of him playing personally but I've seen footage of him taking a few massive hangers.

RIP

[on the rails]

A great player and in a very very good Sturt team at the height of SANFL Football. RIP.

[Dogwatcher]

RIP. A great player.

[CENTURION]

I must admit, he is one of a very few opposition players that still sticks in my mind, watching him take those screamers against Us at Unley Oval every time We played Sturt, not a bad player he was.

[Sky Pilot]

How old would he have been?

[Long live SAnFL]

Biography
Sturt full forward Ken Whelan’s league career lasted ten seasons, but is best remembered for a halcyon three year spell from 1973 to 1975 which produced 295 goals, including two century-topping seasons. Both prior to and after those three seasons, however, Whelan struggled even to make the Sturt side, as his overall tally of just 126 SANFL games - which spawned 441 goals - confirms.
Very much a confidence player, Whelan’s best was devastating. He booted 10 goals in a match on three occasions, for example. An excellent and sometimes spectacular high mark, he habitually finished his work with deadly accuracy, but was sometimes susceptible to being pressurised out of a game. It is also only fair to point out that he suffered more than his share of injuries, particularly later in his career. One such injury put paid to his chances of helping the Blues defeat Port Adelaide in the 1976 grand final. Two years earlier, Whelan had contributed 2 of Sturt’s 9 goals from full forward as it edged out Glenelg in the first ever Football Park grand final by 15 points.
Whelan’s only interstate appearance for South Australia was at Football Park in 1974 when he booted 3 goals in a 20 point defeat of Western Australia.

[Sky Pilot]

Biography
Sturt full forward Ken Whelan’s league career lasted ten seasons, but is best remembered for a halcyon three year spell from 1973 to 1975 which produced 295 goals, including two century-topping seasons. Both prior to and after those three seasons, however, Whelan struggled even to make the Sturt side, as his overall tally of just 126 SANFL games - which spawned 441 goals - confirms.
Very much a confidence player, Whelan’s best was devastating. He booted 10 goals in a match on three occasions, for example. An excellent and sometimes spectacular high mark, he habitually finished his work with deadly accuracy, but was sometimes susceptible to being pressurised out of a game. It is also only fair to point out that he suffered more than his share of injuries, particularly later in his career. One such injury put paid to his chances of helping the Blues defeat Port Adelaide in the 1976 grand final. Two years earlier, Whelan had contributed 2 of Sturt’s 9 goals from full forward as it edged out Glenelg in the first ever Football Park grand final by 15 points.
Whelan’s only interstate appearance for South Australia was at Football Park in 1974 when he booted 3 goals in a 20 point defeat of Western Australia.

No dob?

[dedja]

Jeez, another one down.

Great player, had a brilliant grab.

RIP.

[Jimmy_041]

[SDK]

Great marks, had me puzzled for awhile to see Whelan in a number 31 jumper, must have been earlier in his career ?
Love the marks from the other number 9 Phil Carmen !!

Very sad to hear about Ken Whelan, he can't have been that old ! Well he gets to stand Staz again in the big game upstairs.

[Frosty]

He was 60

[Oz]

Sad news.

RIP Ken

[GWW]

RIP Ken

(I noticed a death notice in today's paper for Ken, from Keith Kuhlmann and his wife. I assume Ken and Keith may have stood each other..)

[locky801]

RIP Ken, used to love watching him play, great overhead mark and leap but also had a fast lead.

Also great find Jimmy, love watching those old clips with Wally May commentating

[Dog_ger]

Was a good player.

Thanks for the memories ken.

[Bluedemon]

SOUTH Australian football's "Tony Modra of the 1970s" has died.

Sturt spearhead Ken Whelan, fondly remembered by Double Blues fans for his high-flying prowess, died of a brain tumour last Friday. He was 60.

Whelan thrilled crowds at Unley over three brilliant seasons from 1973-75 - during which time be bagged 295 goals, including two hundred-goal seasons.

He played in Sturt's 1974 premiership team.

In all, Whelan kicked 441 goals in 126 games but injuries plagued his later years.

Former team-mate Phil Heinrich said Whelan enjoyed cult status at Unley in his prime, with crowds flocking to the ground to watch his high marking brilliance.

"When he was at his best he would have walked into any of today's AFL sides," Heinrich said.

"He was just a superstar. He was the Tony Modra of the 1970s.

"Ken spent more time on opposition players' shoulders than any other player I can remember.

"His leap was just unbelievable."

Heinrich said Whelan was as popular off the field as he was on it, and treated everyone he knew with respect.

"I've never met anyone who had a bad word to say about Ken Whelan," Heinrich said.

"He was never one to want to be in the limelight, which was pretty dificult because he was a superstar, but he was happy just sitting back and being one of the boys ... He was just an absolute gentleman."

Away from football Whelan was a primary school teacher, music enthusiast and devoted family man, and lived in O'Halloran Hill.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and children Ben and Kate.

[Dutchy]

After Sturt he played at Flagstaff Hill FC in the early 80's

[Ken Whelan Fan]

What can I say about him? he was my hero in the seventies
I have showed the kids his photos some fantastic screamers. Gone to Soon.

[therisingblues]

Before my time, but the old clips show he was a fantastic player. Quite a solid build for a player in the 70's also, had the physique of a modern day AFL player.

R.I.P Ken.