Des Tuddenham
| Des Tuddenham | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Desmond Vincent Tuddenham | ||
| Date of birth | 29 January 1943 | ||
| Place of birth | Ross Creek, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Ballarat YCW | ||
| Height / weight | 180 cm / 84 kg | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1962–1971, 1976–1977 |
Collingwood | 182 (251) | |
| 1972–1975 | Essendon | 69 (66) | |
| Total | 251 (317) | ||
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| Victoria | 5 (2) | ||
| Coaching career3 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1972–1975 | Essendon | 90 (47–43–0) | |
| 1978 | South Melbourne | 22 (9–13–0) | |
| Total | 112 (56–56–0) | ||
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1977.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1978.
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| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Desmond Vincent Tuddenham (born 29 January 1943) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood and Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1960s and 1970s.
Tuddenham was born and raised in Ross Creek, a country town near Ballarat. He and his twin brother, Basil, were two of a large family consisting of nine children (seven boys and two girls) to parents William and Anne Tuddenham.
Tuddenham's upbringing was typical of country footballers who came from farming families. Before and after school and during weekends, he had to help with various farm chores. Sport, usually football or cricket, was played on Saturday, and the family attended church on Sundays. The daily grind of farm work helped to strengthen Tuddenham's shoulders and arms, and a fanatical attitude to fitness hardened his body.
Tuddenham played cricket with five of his brothers for Ross Creek, and football for the Young Christian Worker's club in Ballarat. In the space of three seasons he went from the Under-14s to the Under-19s side, and won the league's best and fairest trophy at 16.
He soon attracted the attention of several VFL clubs. Tuddenham made his VFL debut in 1962 against North Melbourne at Arden Street Oval. His brand of football was fearless and tough, with a habit of grasping the football to his chest with his elbows sticking out dangerously.
In recognition of his toughness and skills, Tuddenham was appointed Collingwood captain in 1966. In the semi-final against St Kilda, he kicked seven goals on Daryl Griffiths in a tense 10-point win to advance to the Grand Final. But St Kilda reversed the result two weeks later to take out the 1966 VFL Grand Final by one point, winning their first premiership.
Collingwood were eliminated from the 1967 finals by eventual runner-up Geelong in the First Semi-final. The Magpies trailed by one point at three-quarter time, but the Cats kicked six goals to one in the final quarter to win by 30 points. To make matters worse, Tuddenham was reported for striking Geelong defender Geoff Ainsworth on the head with his forearm in the last quarter by field umpire Jeff Crouch. He was found guilty and suspended for four matches.
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