Ivor Warne-Smith

DOB: 29 October, 1897
Died : 4 March, 1960

Debut: Round 10, 1919 against St. Kilda at MCG
Last Game: Round 18, 1932 against St. Kilda at MCG

Games: 146
Goals: 110
Career Statistics

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
85	3	58	58.21

From: Wesley College

Number: 33 1919, 14 1925-1932

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1926
Captain - Coach - 1928 - 1932
Captain - 1933
Brownlow Medal - 1926, 1928
Victorian state representative - 6 times from 1926-1929 (Captain in 1928/1929)
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee - 1996
Team Of The Century member
150 Heroes selection
MFC Hall of Fame member
Life Member - 1952

Born in Sydney, Warne-Smith started his career in the Metropolitan Amateurs competition after coming to Melbourne as a boarder at Wesley College and discovering Australian Football. He lied about his age while under 18 to join the army during World War I and was gassed by the Germans. Both Warne-Smith's brothers were killed in the conflict.

Upon Melbourne's return to the competition after a break during the war, Warne-Smith joined the Redlegs and played 8 games at centre half-back before moving to Tasmania for four seasons. He captain-coached Latrobe to NWFU premierships in 1922 and 1924, and was runner-up in the competition's Best and Fairest award for the 1923 and 1924 seasons. Warne-Smith returned to Melbourne in 1925 with a growing reputation despite fierce competition from the other league clubs. Richmond had attempted to sign him but he was still tied to the Redlegs.

Despite suffering breathing difficulties as a result of being gassesd, Warne-Smith was still renowned as one of the fittest players in the competition. In 1926 he was made vice-captain and won his first Brownlow Medal with nine votes, four clear of his nearest rivals. The same year the Demons won their second premiership. The next year he was named vice-captain, and in 1928 captain-coach. He would win his second Brownlow Medal that year.

Warne-Smith was named at centre-half forward in both the Melbourne and Tasmanian teams of the century.

Year	Games	Goals	Brownlow
1919	8	2	n/a
1925	18	7	1
1926	20	17	9
1927	16	6	1
1928	20	13	8
1929	18	19	4
1930	17	23	2
1931	16	9	3
1932	13	14	0

Coaching

First game: Round 1, 1928 vs Essendon at Windy Hill
Last game: Round 18, 1932 vs Collingwood at MCG

Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	%
92	48	1	15	53.26

The Redlegs won the premiership in Warne-Smith's first season, but missed out on the finals thereafter. He initially retired from playing at the end of 1931, but was forced to suit up again in 1932 due to a lack of players.

Frank 'Checker' Hughes succeeded him as coach in 1933.

Warne-Smith retired after being replaced as coach and became a writer for the Melbourne Argus, as well as a veteran of the Second World War when he re-enlisted at 43 and served in the Middle East, New Guinea and Borneo.

In 1947 he returned to the Demons as a member of the Committee of Management and as a selector. In 1949 he became chairman of selectors and served in that role until his death. He was also on the board of the Melbourne Cricket Club at the same time.

Warne-Smith died of heart disease at the age of 60 on 4 March 1960. The MFC annual report of that year said "We mourn his passing with the certain knowledge that, in having known him, our club has been much the better for it".

Links
Wikipedia profile
Brownlow Medal Winners - demons.com.au 27/05/2002
Full Points Footy profile
Profile image courtesy of Footycards.com.au

---