Lyle Ernest Downs (26 July 1896 – 7 July 1921) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Lyle Downs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Lyle Ernest Downs | ||
| Nickname(s) | Packet | ||
| Date of birth | 26 July 1896 | ||
| Place of birth | Carlton, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 7 July 1921 (aged 24) | ||
| Place of death | Princes Park, Carlton, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Clifton Hill Juniors | ||
| Position(s) | Rover | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1917–21 | Carlton | 47 (31) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editThe son of John Downs (1862-1933),[1] and Felicia (a.k.a. Valetia) Downs (1867-1945), née Messina,[2] Lyle Ernest Downs was born at Carlton, Victoria on 26 July 1896. One of his brothers, John Downs (1890–1975), and one of his cousins, Tommy Downs (1901-1981), also played VFL football with Carlton; another of his cousins, Albert Downs (1905–1985), played VFL football with Collingwood.
Education
editHe was educated at the Alfred Crescent State School, in North Fitzroy.[3]
Football
editDowns, who also played for the Carlton Cricket Club as a wicket-keeper and batsman,[4] was a rover and played in the semi-finals in each of his first three seasons. He played for Carlton with his brother John, against Collingwood, at Victoria Park, on 19 June 1920, when John played his only game for Carlton.[5][6]
Death
editDuring the third quarter of the match against Richmond, at Princes Park on 28 June 1919 Downs "left the field with a strained heart, and it is not likely that he will play again".[7] Six rounds later he returned to the field, and played against St Kilda, at Princes Park, on 23 August 1919.[8]
After a training session at Princes Park on 7 July 1921, Downs (aged 24) collapsed and died in the training room of a heart attack.[9][10][11][12][13]
- On the previous Saturday [2 July 1921], in the match against Collingwood, he had received a severe bump on the shoulder, which had not thoroughly recovered during the week. He was in the act of getting the injured shoulder massaged when he suddenly fell forward and died without speaking. Two years ago, acting on medical advice, Downs ceased playing, as his heart was over-strained. However, he played again at the latter end of the [1919] season, being apparently quite sound in health. Evidently his heart had not thoroughly recovered." — Jack Worrall, The Australasian, 16 July 1921.[14]
He was buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery on 10 July 1921.[15][16]
Notes
edit- ^ Deaths: Downs, The Age, (Friday, 21 April 1933), p. 1.
- ^ Deaths: Downs, The Argus, (Monday, 20 August 1945), p. 2.
- ^ Death of Lyle Downs, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Tuesday, 19 July 1921), p. 2.
- ^ A Coming Champion: Down's Career Sketched, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 13 October 1917), p. 22.
- ^ Play and Players, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 18 June 1920), p. 3.
- ^ Football: Collingwood 12.13 v. Carlton 10.6: Lee's 600th Goal, The Age, (Monday, 21 June 1920), p. 7.
- ^ Football: A Sensational Game: Richmond beat Carlton, The Argus, (Monday, 30 June 1919), p. 3.
- ^ Football: League: Carlton v. St. Kilda, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 23 August 1919), p. 3.
- ^ Deaths: Downs, The Argus, (Friday, 8 July 1921), p. 1.
- ^ Footballer Dies Suddenly: Collapse after Training, The Argus, (Friday, 8 July 1921), p. 6.
- ^ Footballer's Sudden Death: Downs, of Carlton, Collapses after Training, The Age, (Friday, 8 July 1921), p. 9.
- ^ Death Closes Career of Lyle Downs, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 8 July 1921), p. 3.
- ^ Obituary: The Late Mr L. Downs, The Camperdown Chronicle, (9 July 1921), p. 2.
- ^ Worrall, Jack, "Notes and Comments", The Australasian, (Saturday 16 July 1921), p. 21.
- ^ L. Downs's Funeral, The Argus, (Monday, 11 July 1921), p. 3.
- ^ De Bolfo, Tony, "When Clover and co. lost their mate", Carlton Media, 12 December 2014.
References
edit- Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
External links
edit- Lyle Downs's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Lyle Downs at AustralianFootball.com
- Lyle Downs, at Blueseum.
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