| Dennis Carroll | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | (1960-11-07)7 November 1960 (age 64) | ||
| Place of birth | Ganmain,New South Wales | ||
| Original team(s) | Ganmain,Albury | ||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Half-back flank | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1981–1993 | South Melbourne/Sydney | 219 (117) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1993. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Dennis Carroll (born 7 November 1960) is a formerAustralian rules footballer who played with theSydney Swans in theVictorian Football League (VFL). He was the last South Melbourne player to retire for Sydney.
FromGanmain, a small town outsideWagga Wagga,New South Wales, Carroll came from a football family. Carroll's fatherLaurie (St Kilda Football Club) and uncleTom (Carlton Football Club) also played in the VFL.[1]
Carroll was recruited by the Swans in the VFL via a zoning rule, which enabled the Swans to recruit players from New South Wales. His first season was playing out of theLake Oval in Melbourne in 1981, before moving with the Swans permanently to Sydney.
Carroll, a back flanker, became known as one of the finest kicks in the VFL, with the ability to dispose of the ball equally well on either foot. As an experienced campaigner and local product, Carroll was selected to captain theSydney Swans in theAustralian Football League, an honour which he held for seven seasons between 1986 and 1992, during some of the club's darkest days and the brink of extinction. He represented both Victoria and New South Wales atState of Origin level.
Carroll retired from the AFL in 1993. During his career he totalled 219 games for the Swans and was named on the Swans team of the century.[2] The award for the most improved player at the Sydney Swans, the Dennis Carroll Award is named in his honour.[3] TheSydney Cricket Ground has named a room the Kippax/Carroll room in honour of Dennis Carroll and cricketerAlan Kippax.[4]
After retiring in 1993, Dennis spent four years as Sydney reserves coach and was later the Swans' match committee chairman.