JOHN PLATTEN

Commencing with Central's Under 17's in 1979, John Platten progressed through the ranks until 1981 where he was rated best-on-ground in his League debut. Just four seasons later he was a Magarey Medallist, had been given the Key to the City of Elizabeth, played State football and was selected in the All-Australian side to tour Ireland.

John Patrick Platten was born 17th March 1963, the seventh child of Fred and Kathleen Platten. John attended St. Mary Magdelene Primary School where he played cricket, football and even soccer. Aged 6 he played for Elizabeth Football Club Under 9 side and was awarded life membership after seven seasons at the age of thirteen! He continued his sporting prowess at Fremont High School and excelled in basketball culminating in a visit to the US as part of an inter-club tour. John progressed from Elizabeth Under 15's to Central District Under 17's in 1979.

John's progression to Under 19's was swift with Teal Cup selection in 1980. He was rated as South australia's Best Player and was chosen in the All-Australian Teal Cup side along with team mates Darel Hart and Robert Fraser.

In 1981 came John's break. Coach Daryl Hicks had intended to start him with the Under 19's but was elevated to the Reserves after Mark Norsworthy transferred to Perth and Lindsay Ruciak was injured. In his only Reserves appearance John kicked 7 goals, and then at just eighteen became a League player.

John played 21 League games in his first season, kicked 51 goals and was runner-up to Central's Best & Fairest behind Terry Moore. By the end of 1982 John had played 43 senior games, kicked 88 goals and was fifth in Central's Best & Fairest (won by Peter Krieg). He had also played all three State games for SA. 1983 was a season hampered by injury yet he still managed 31 goals and 11 Magarey Medal votes in his 12 games as well as representing the State again.

Kevin "Cowboy" Neale brought a new aggressive style to the Club in 1984 and John revelled in it and raised his standard to another level. The Club won a record number of games and the mighty rover with the long curly hair won the seventy-ninth Magarey Medal with a record 66 votes (16 more than favourite Port Adelaide's Craig Bradley). John also won Central's Norm Russell Medal as Club Best & Fairest and was selected to tour Ireland after another exceptional performance for the State side.

By 1985 John was targetted by opposition clubs who used dumping tactics on the young star. The excessive hits even resulted in his hospitalisation but the rover refused to wear a helmet of any kind and instead improved his disposal and hard play. He won another Norm Russell Medal later that year.

The war for his services between two VFL clubs - Carlton and Hawthorn - soon hotted up. Hawthorn originally claimed John in the first interstate draft of 1981. Carlton then signed John up in 1983 believing he was unattached after interstate drafted player problems had afflicited other VFL clubs. Both clubs fought it out in the courts with Hawthorn eventually with Hawthorn winning his services with a $300,000 three year contract.

In 1986 John left his job as a salesman at Parabanks Sport Centre and started his new job in Melbourne with TNT Road Fast. He moved to Doncaster with new wife Jacqui who he had married in January. Training five nights a week took a little adjusting to but John took his South Australian and State form with him to Melbourne. With a touch of irony, his first game was against Carlton, the team he barracked for as a child and who tried so hard to get him. He was best on the ground.

John had no fear of failing in the VFL and adjusted quickly to the more aggressive media and quickly endeared himself to Hawthorn fans. He did not go on in sebsequent games and the incredibly parochial Melbourne press were not kind. With strength of mind he persevered and was in a Premiership side in his first season. The team they had beaten was again Carlton, and they did it again in Tokyo in an Exhibition game. John was 6th in the Brownlow Medal and 3rd in Hawthorn's Best & Fairest. He won both awards in 1987 with a tie with Tony Lockett and joined Malcolm Blight in the Magarey/Brownlow double.

John was runner-up for both the Brownlow and the Hawk's best & Fairest in 1989. He also took part in another Premiership win despite being concussed and forced out of the game during the first quarter. In 1991 Hawthorn bestowed life membership to John for his services to the club. For 1996 and 1997 John was apponted Vice Captain.

John retired from AFL football at the completion of the 1997 season. His illustrious career at Hawthorn included 4 ('86, '88, '89 and '91) VFL/AFL Premierships and 4 Night Premierships and the distinction of representing South Australia in State of Origin a record 15 occasions (since equalled by Carlton's Craig Bradley). John was also named All-Australlian five times; 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1995.

John returned to Centrals for the 1998 season and in a first for the Club, was appointed Co-Captain with Scott Lee. Ironically it was Scott who was part of the trade between Centrals and Hawthorn for John's services way back in 1985! Despite a stellar start to the season, John twice broke down with an aggravated knee injury that finally took its toll after 15 years of League Football and surgery halted his dream to play for the Dogs.

At the end of the 1998 season John realised that the body could take no more and he announced his retirement from League football. He is currently a special commentator with Channel 7's AFL team and is part of the junior development program for the SANFL.