inducted 2012 Sports
The family lived in the clubs house until Leo purchased Auto Rewind Service where the family resided in Fairy Street. Michael attended St Ann's as a Primary School student (1959 to 1961) and in those days was taught exclusively by the Sisters. Michael then moved on to St Joseph's where he completed Years 3 - 8 (1962-67). At the time Michael was developing as a footballer but was more accomplished as an athlete winning, the College Athletics Championships in each year level and representing his school at the State Championships at Olympic Park in Melbourne.
Michael was sent to Monivae for a period but became increasingly frustrated at being away from home and family and asked his father if he could return home to Warrnambool.
In 1971 Michael returned to St Josephs (to complete Year 12), return to his family, friends and beloved Warrnambool where he threw himself back into his social life, football and surfing - so much so that he returned to complete Year 12 VCE in 1972 as well! During these two years Michael matured physically and grew from a height of just over 5 feet and to over 6 feet. This physical transformation had a dramatic affect on his football development. Starting the 1971 season on the bench for CBC U/17 Michael went on to win the club Best and Fairest that year. In 1972 he progressed to his father's old club - Warrnambool - where he won the U/18 club Best and Fairest and the Hampden League Judd Cup (Best and Fairest).
After finally completing VCE in 1971/2 and a pre-season with Geelong Football Club it was decided that he stay in Warrnambool to mature some more and work in the family business and play senior football with Warrnambool in the Hampden Football League. In that 1973 season Michael won the club Best and Fairest, 3YB Player of the Year and was runner up in the Maskell Medal (Hampden League Best and Fairest).
So in 1974 it was off to Geelong Football Club where Michael played from 1974-1988 in a fifteen-year career. Geelong Football Club at that time also got Michael into Geelong Teachers College as a private student where he completed a Diploma in Primary Teaching (Major in Physical Education) from 1974-1977.
During Michael's fifteen- year VFL/AFL career he: played 270 games, represented Victoria in 12 State of Origin games, was All Australian (1979), Club Captain (1984, 1985, 1986), Runner up in Best and Fairest three times, leading goal kicker 1986 and selected in Team of the Century (with his father Leo) on the wings - the only father/son combination in AFL history to do so.
From 1978-1994 Michael had a 17 year career teaching in Werribee and Geelong Primary Schools. After his career at the Geelong Football Club Michael coached Werribee Football Club in the VFA in 1989 and then
worked in the Geelong media as a football commentator for the Geelong Advertiser and K-Rock FM as well as Manager to AFL players - Billy Brownless, Barry Stoneham, Robert Scott and Shaun Simpson.
In 1995 Michael was appointed by AFL Victoria as Region Manager of the Geelong Falcons and resigned from the Education Department. Michael has held this position to this day and has just completed his 18th year.
In this time the Geelong Falcons/AFL Academy Program has become the number 1 club in Australia at providing players to the AFL in all Key Perfromance Indicators - the number of players drafted, games played in AFL by drafted players, awards won, Premiership players, All Australians and the list goes on.
The Geelong Falcons have produced some of the superstars of the AFL - Scarlett, Maxwell, Hodge, Bartel, Boak, Lewis, Brown, Lucas, Primus, Ling, Ablett and Dangerfield - to name a few. The club has also produced AFL Captains - Primus, Ling, Ablett, Brown, Maxwell and Hodge - with more to follow. Currently the Falcons have 50 players on AFL lists. Add to this two Bronlow Medalists in Ablett and Bartell and the strength of the program is confirmed. The Geelong Falcons are the most successful club in Australia at producing players for the AFL.
Michael is married to Karen (30 years in 2013) and has two sons Levi (Degree in Management and Sport Science) and Che (Commercial Builder). Karen is Principal of Winchelsea Primary School and the family live between residences in Barwon Heads and Lorne.
