David Crutchfield (2 August 1965 – 29 November 2002) was an

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played with

Fitzroy Fitzroy or FitzRoy may refer to: People As a given name *Several members of the Somerset family (Dukes of Beaufort) have this as a middle-name: **FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1788–1855) ** Henry Charles FitzRoy Somerset, 8th Duke of Beau ...

in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL)

Career

Recruited from South Warrnambool, Crutchfield played in the final four rounds of the

1985 VFL season The 1985 VFL season was the 89th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 23 March until 28 September, and comprised a ...

. His most productive game was against Geelong, when he had 17 disposals. He didn't make any further appearances and ended up in Queensland playing for

Southport Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. Southport lies on the Irish ...

. In 1992 he was involved in a three-way tie for the

Grogan Medal The Grogan Medal is an Australian rules football award given to the best and fairest player in home and away rounds of each season's Queensland State League (Australian rules football), QAFL/Queensland State League competition. From 2011 to presen ...

. Crutchfield was later a successful player coach in South Australia's

Riverland Football League The Riverland Football League is an Australian rules football league located in South Australia's Riverland region. The league has two divisions - the first division is for the main towns of the Riverland and the second division, called the Riv ...

. He steered Loxton North to four premierships in a row, from 1997 to 2000.

Personal life

Crutchfield suffered from depression and committed suicide in 2002 at the age of 37. His elder brother,

Michael Crutchfield Michael Paul Crutchfield (born 12 December 1961) is an Australian politician. He was formerly the member for South Barwon in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Early life Crutchfield was born in Melbourne, but attended high school in the co ...

, is the member for South Barwon in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Crutchfield, David 1965 births Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) Fitzroy Football Club players Southport Australian Football Club players South Warrnambool Football Club players 2002 suicides Suicides in Australia