Laurie Icke (22 July 1929 – 26 September 2010) 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 North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Icke, a half back, started his career at

Ballarat East Ballarat East is a suburb of Ballarat in Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia. From 1857 until 1921 the suburb had its own council (see below). The suburb covers a large area east of the city centre. It is the oldest urban area in Ballara ...

, in the Ballarat Football League. In 1952 he was granted a permit to play for North Melbourne, after the VFL Permit Committee rejected a claim by

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 ...

that the defender had lived in Preston for 13 weeks, which would have tied him to the club, but Icke said it had only been six weeks. He missed just one game in 1952 and played 15 of the first 16 rounds of the 1953 season, before suffering a thigh injury. In 1954 he made 13 appearances, including North Melbourne's semi-final loss to Melbourne, which he played as a full-back. During the semi-final he was reporting for striking

Ron Barassi Ronald Dale Barassi Jr. (born 27 February 1936) is a former Australian rules footballer, coach and media personality. Regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the game, Barassi was the first player to be inaugurated into ...

and was suspended for the opening four rounds of the 1955 season. Icke was welcomed back into the North Melbourne team in round six, but following their round 11 loss to a weak St Kilda side by seven points, was dismissed from the club, along with Mick Grambeau. The pair were notified of the committee's decision by mail, with no reason given. The two players received support from their teammates, who held a club meeting on the Sunday where they unanimously agreed that the action of the committee was unconstitutional. Some of them had earlier considered pulling out of their game against

Carlton Carlton may refer to: People * Carlton (name), a list of those with the given name or surname * Carlton (singer), English soul singer Carlton McCarthy * Carlton, a pen name used by Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), American educator, Presbyterian ...

that weekend, in protest. More than 2000 club supporters held a demonstration after the Carlton game, backing Icke and Grambeau. On the next Tuesday, the two players appeared before the North Melbourne committee and were reinstated on the club's training list, after signing a statement which said that the "committee of the North Melbourne Football Club acted correctly in dispensing of our services" and expressed a desire to "withdraw and apologise for statements made by us to the press". The reason for Icke and Grambeau being sacked was not revealed to the public, but was believed to be because the committee felt that they had not tried hard enough in the St Kilda game. Icke went straight back into the North Melbourne team, which played Collingwood in round 13. He played out the 1955 season, then in 1956 was cleared to Wimmera Football League club Minyip, as playing coach. Under Icke, Minyip made the 1956 Grand Final, which they lost to

Ararat Ararat or in Western Armenian Ararad may refer to: Personal names * Ararat ( hy, Արարատ), a common first name for Armenian males (pronounced Ararad in Western Armenian) * Ararat or Araratian, a common family name for Armenians (pronounced A ...

by 13 points. His son,

Steven Icke Steven Icke (born 7 March 1956) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Originally from Federal Football League club Noble Park, Icke was a versatile player, ...

, was a member of North Melbourne's 1977 premiership team. He also played for Melbourne.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Icke, Laurie 1929 births North Melbourne Football Club players East Ballarat Football Club players Minyip Football Club players Australian rules footballers from Ballarat 2010 deaths