DOB: 3 March 1964
Debut: Round 4, 1984 against Essendon at Waverley
Last MFC Game: Round 17, 1986 against Sydney at SCG
From: North Launceston
Number: 48 (1983 Reserves), 15 (1984-1986)
Honours
Reserves Premiership player - 1984
Reserves Best and Fairest - 1986
Games: 32 (68 total)
Goals: 28 (57 total)
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
9 | 0 | 23 | 28.12 |
Recruited from the North Launceston thirds side, Withers played in the 1981 Under 19's premiership side and appeared in Reserves games wearing number 57. That year he played for Victoria in the Teal Cup despite having played for his home state a year earlier.
It took him until 1984 to break into the senior side in 1984 and he played five games in a row before a training mishap left him with pinched nerves and torn ligaments in his neck. He was lucky, the damage came within half an inch of an area of his spine that would have caused severe damage. He bounced back to play in that year's Reserves premiership side.
Sold to the Brisbane Bears for $50,000, Withers' first season in Queensland was affected by a broken wrist, but in 1988 he won their Best and Fairest award and was picked in the Victorian squad. Despite his success Withers then missed the entire 1989 season due to a serious calf injury, returning for 14 games in 1990. He remained on the Brisbane list until the end of 1991, when he was delisted.
Nephew of a former VFA player Bob Withers.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1984 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
1985 | 15 | 20 | 4 |
1986 | 12 | 3 | 0 |
Lists
Brisbane Bears
Interstate recruits
Media
Inside Football - 18/04/1985
Football Record R12 1985
Age 20/08/1989
Age - 02/03/1989
Age - 09/03/1992
Link
Wikipedia profile