Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

Graham Arthur

Graham Francis Arthur was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

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Graham Arthur
Personal information
Full name Graham Francis Arthur
Born (1936-06-09)9 June 1936
Died 10 January 2021(2021-01-10) (aged 84)
Original team Sandhurst (BFL)
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1955–1968 Hawthorn 232 (201)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
Victoria 12 (7)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1964–1965 Hawthorn 36 (17–19–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1968.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1965.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Graham Francis Arthur (9 June 1936 – 10 January 2021) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Career

Arthur played primarily as a half forward, debuting while still only 18 years old.

He was the captain of the first Hawthorn side to win the Grand Final and made a dozen appearances for the Victorian state team.

Following his career at Hawthorn, Arthur was appointed playing coach of Bendigo Football League club Echuca1 and led them to the 1970 premiership.

Arthur was named captain of Hawthorn's official Team of the Century.2

Arthur supported the planned merger between Hawthorn and Melbourne in 1996.34

Arthur was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in the initial intake in 1996, his citation reading:5

Hawthorn's first premiership captain was a brilliant half-forward flanker/centreman.

Arthur's father Alan Arthur played for Essendon.6

On 24 October 2000, Arthur was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australian football.7

Statistics

Coaching statistics

Legend
 W  Wins  L  Losses  D  Draws  W%  Winning percentage  LP  Ladder position  LT  League teams
Season Team Games W L D W % LP LT
1964 Hawthorn 18 13 5 0 72.2% 5 12
1965 Hawthorn 18 4 14 0 22.2% 12 12
Career totals 36 17 19 0 47.2%

Honours and achievements

Team

Individual

References

References

  1. "Farewell to Departed Stars", The Football Record, 5 April 1969, p. 8.
  2. "AFL 2021: Graham Arthur dead at 84, Hawthorn legend, first premiership captain, Australian Football Hall of Fame member". Fox Sports. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  3. Sheahan, Mike (16 September 1996). "MERGE – It's time to look ahead not back". hawkheadquarters.com. Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 16 March 2003. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  4. Linnell, Stephen; Rielly, Stephen (17 September 1996). "Proposed Demons, Hawks merger sparks outrage". The Age. Archived from the original on 23 January 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  5. "Hall of Fame Players". afl.com.au. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  6. Hillier, Kevin (2004). Like Father Like Son. Melbourne: Pennon Publishing. p. 158. ISBN 1-877029-73-4.
  7. "Graham Francis Arthur". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
External links