Ted Whitten, Jr.

Ted Whitten, Jr.
Personal information
Full name Edward James Whitten Junior
Date of birth (1957-03-15) 15 March 1957
Original team(s) Yarraville Socials
Height / weight 178 cm / 76 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1974–1982 Footscray 144 (133)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1982.

Edward James "Ted" Whitten Junior (born 15 March 1957) is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.[1]

As the son of Hall of Fame VFL legend Ted Whitten Sr., Whitten was in the media spotlight from a very young age and was expected to achieve big things and follow in the footsteps of his father. As a youngster in junior leagues, he was put on a heavy tag, solely due to his name.[1]

Whitten made his debut in 1974 at his father's club Footscray, but was only recruited after rumours circulated that he was considering joining rival team South Melbourne.[1]

In 1974 Whitten made his VFL debut at 17 years of age, and while he could not live up to the high standards set by one of the greatest footballers of all-time in his father, Whitten turned out to be a very good player. He represented Victoria in State of Origin and went on to play 144 games and kick 133 goals between 1974 and 1982. His career was terminated in the 1982 season after he suffered a terrible knee injury.[1] Due to the less advanced sports medicine of the day, it was a sad way to end his career (at only 25 years of age), the same way that John Coleman's career was ended. The knee has now been reconstructed. When he made his Debut into VFL, he was the first player to play through all levels of the then VFL, from the Little League through Reserves and then the First Team - all for the same Club. In later years, Whitten help set up the EJ Whitten Legends Game, a charity football match raising funds for prostate cancer research, which took his father's life.

On the 4th of December, there were reports that only 6 cents of every dollar raised in the E.J. Whitten legends game went to prostate research.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2003). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (5th ed.). North Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 766–767. ISBN 1-74095-032-1.
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