Stephen Tingay

DOB: 13th August, 1970
MFC Debut: Round 1, 1989 against Fitzroy at MCG
Last Game: Round 9, 1999 against Carlton at Princes Park

Games: 162
Goals: 84
Career Statistics

From: Shepparton/MHSOB, Selection 50, 1987 National Draft

Number: 52 1989, 15 1990-1991,2 1992-2000

Honours:
Night premiership side - 1989
Best First Year Player - 1989
All-Australian - 1994
Victoria state player - 1994
Life Member - 1998

Affectionately nicknamed 'Stinga' and known for his blonde locks, the former BMX champion was an energetic, quick and creative wingman who debuted just as the Demons were starting to become regular finalists. After being selected by the Demons in the second edition of the national draft, Tingay played in the Demons 1988 Under 19 premiership side before making his debut the next year and kicking the winning goal in his first match with his first kick in league football.

After playing 12 games in 1989, Tingay became a regular the next year with 24 games. It was in November of that year that he suffered his first serious injury - playing around with a friend in a Richmodn building he fell through a plate glass window, severed tendons in his right wrist and took a chunk out of his right thigh. Throughout his career Tingay would continue to be troubled by injuries caused by the accident.

He managed 15 games in 1991, but just six in the next season. In 1993 he bounced back to become one of his side's most important players. He had already been given the Robert Flower number 2 in recognition of his dashing wingplay, and Tingay played a big part in Melbourne's successful 1994 season. After finishing third the year before he was runner-up in the Best and Fairest and voted All-Australian.

Having rejected an offer from the Fremantle Dockers to join their inaugural squad, Tingay was elected Vice-captain in 1995.

Missed the opening rounds of 1996 after surgery for a chronic buttock-hamstring injury, stemming from the glass door incident. He was voted Best Clubman that year, but considered giving the game away after his mother was killed and father badly injured in a car accident.

Restricted by chronic hip and buttock injuries to three games in 1997, Tingay bounced back to be part of the successful 1998. Named deputy vice captain 1999, Tingay season returning to some of his best footy for the Demons in the first nine games, however it came to an abrupt halt against Carlton when he was sidelined with ultimately career ending hip and upper hamstring injuries. The injuries persisted with Tingay staying on the long term injury list for the rest of 1999. At the end of that year he underwent an operation to release a nerve which had been mistakenly tethered to a buttock muscle during a previous operation. Despite the operation a reoccurence of the injury meant he was unable to play during 2000 and spent the whole year on the injury list, bar one early season hitout with Sandringham when he failed to play out the full game, before being delisted. During the year he had travelled to Western Australia for three weeks of intensive treatment in an attempt to force his way into the Demon finals side.

After 12 seasons with Melbourne, Tingay was offered the chance to train with a number of league clubs including West Coast. He was eventually granted permission to go to Perth and train with the Eagles but was eventually drafted by Sydney - despite some suggestion he was headed for Richmond, and despite yet another training ground setback with his injuries - for the 2001 season. His continous hip injuries, and a hamstring tendon torn from the bone, forced him into retirement by season end and he never appeared in anything more substantial for Swans than a brief appearance in a VFL practice match. He officially announced his retirement on July 30 of that year. In August 2002 Tingay launched legal action against the Demons over a bonus figure around the time of the extra payments to ward off Fremantle.

After retiring Tingay stayed involved in football having worked with Sydney and returned to the Demons in fitness and training roles. He is currently the weights coach at St Kilda.

Lists
Goal with their first kick

Media
"Tingay to put injury woes in the past" - The Age 30/11/1999
"Tingay close to rock bottom" - 24/02/2000
"Tingay under knife" demons.com.au - 31/03/2001
"Former Demons star sues for cash" - Herald Sun 21/08/2002

Links
Wikipedia profile
Full Points Footy profile