John Lord

DOB: 2 April, 1937
Debut: Round 1, 1957 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street
Last Game: Round 17, 1965 against Collingwood at Victoria Park

Games: 132
Goals: 80
Career Statistics

From: Echuca/Lismore

Number: 4 1957-1965

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1957, 1959, 1960, 1964
150 Heroes selection

The son of John Lord Sr., the younger Lord was playing in the Western Plains League when he came to the attention of Geelong. He worked for a company with close links to the Cats, but when the Geelong brains trust travelled to watch him play they went to the wrong ground and missed Lord's entire contribution to the match - he was knocked out in the first minute.

Desperate to secure the son of their ex-player the Demons signed Lord to the Under 19's to secure him. At the end of 1956 he played in a reserves premiership team and broke into the senior side in the first round of 1957. By the end of that year he was a premiership player, having held down centre-half back in the Grand Final.

Having tasted premiership glory in his first season, Lord suffered a downturn in 1958, playing just 11 games and none after round 16. The next year he also spent considerable amounts of time in the reserves, playing the first two games of 1959 before returning to the seconds until a recall for the round 15 loss to Footscray. He held his place though, and the team went on steamroll through to another Grand Final without losing another game. Melbourne won, and despite spending much of the year out of the senior side Lord had his second flag.

In 1960 he finally secured his place in the first team and alternated between the ruck and backline. Playing all 20 matches for the season he was considered one of the best on ground in the Grand Final for his performance at centre-half back.

Used in both defence and attack throughout his career, Lord moved into the forward line more from 1962 onwards. With just nine career goals before that year he booted 16 and went on to kick double figures in each of his remaining seasons including two goals in a forward pocket to help the Demons win the 1964 Grand Final

Lord played in four premierships but saw his 1963 finals campaign hampered by a serious shoulder injury. He coached East Ringwood in 1966 and worked as a television executive with Channel 10 and Channel Seven. In retirement Lord served as an MCG tour guide.

Links
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