Doug Gillespie

Douglas James Gillespie (13 December 1887 – 6 January 1947) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]

For the American politician, see Doug Gillespie (politician).

Doug Gillespie
Gillespie in 1910
Personal information
Full name Douglas James Gillespie
Date of birth 13 December 1887
Place of birth Parkville, Victoria
Date of death 6 January 1947(1947-01-06) (aged 59)[1]
Place of death Malvern East, Victoria
Original team(s) Carlton Colts
Height 177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Position(s) Full-back
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1906–10, 1912 Carlton 90 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1912.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

One of the eight children (five boys and three girls) of James Gillespie (1856–1913),[3] and Mary Gillespie (1859–1924), née Gallagher,[4][5] Douglas James Gillespie was born at the Melbourne Zoo, in Royal Park, in Parkville, Victoria on 14 December 1887.[6]

His younger twin brother, Dave Gillespie, also played for Carlton (90 games from 1906 to 1912, including the 1906 and 1907 premierships).

All five Gillespie brothers served in the First AIF: David Francis Gillespie (1887–1917),[7] Douglas James Gillespie (1887–1947),[8] Gordon Charles Gillespie (1890–1937),[9] Robert Bruce Gillespie (1895–1969),[10] and William Wallace Gillespie (1898–1967).[11]

Football

Gillespie was discovered by Jack Worrall when the Carlton coach saw him kicking the ball with some friends at Princes Park. He was used at full-back by Carlton and played in premiership teams in 1906 and 1907, his first two seasons. Gillespie missed out on being part of Carlton's third successive premiership in 1908 due to injury.

He was embroiled in controversy during the 1910 VFL season when he was implicated in a bribery scandal at Carlton. Along with Alex Lang and Doug Fraser, Gillespie was dropped for the Semi Final against South Melbourne while the club and league investigated the allegations that they had been paid to play poorly. However, unlike his two teammates, Gillespie was exonerated and picked for the Grand Final. For the second year in a row he finished the premiership decider on the losing team.

The full-back spent the 1911 football season with Brunswick in the VFA before returning to Carlton the following year where he made his tenth finals appearance before retiring. Out of Gillespie's 90 VFL matches at Carlton, he finished in the winning side 75 times.

His twin brother David Francis Gillespie (1887–1917) also played at Carlton but was killed in World War I.

Gillespie was head keeper at the Melbourne Zoo for many years, having been born there and working there for most of his life.[1]

References
  1. "OBITUARY". The Age (28, 613). Victoria, Australia. 8 January 1947. p. 2.
  2. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 319. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  3. Deaths: Gillespie, The Age, (Thursday, 27 November 1913), p.1.
  4. Deaths: Gillespie, The Advocate, (Thursday, 21 February 1924), p.23.
  5. Mrs. Mary Gillespie, The Advocate, (Thursday, 21 February 1924), p.17.
  6. Births: Gillespie, The Age (thursday, 2 December 1887), p.1.
  7. First World War Service Record: Company Sergeant Major David Francis Gillespie (3037), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
  8. First World War Nominal Roll: Sergeant Douglas James Gillespie (406), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
  9. First World War Service Record: Private Gordon Charles Gillespie (6647), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
  10. First World War Service Record: Private Robert Bruce Gillespie (1165), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
  11. First World War Service Record: Private Wallace William (sic) Gillespie (3043), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
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