Dick Abikhair
Hawthorn and North Melbourne
AFL career
120 games12 goals
- Debut
- R14 1934 v COL18 Aug 1934
- Most recent
- R19 1945 v HAW25 Aug 1945
Stats
Bio
Dick Abikhair holds a unique place in football history as a pioneer of Lebanese heritage in the VFL. Hailing from Rushworth in country Victoria, the diminutive utility stood just 165cm but used his stocky frame and low centre of gravity to great effect. He broke into the league with Hawthorn in 1934, establishing himself as a tenacious rover and back pocket player who could scrounge the ball at ground level and apply pressure to opposition forwards.
After five seasons and 60 games with the Hawks, Abikhair left the VFL to take up a captain-coach role with Casterton in the Western District, leading them to a premiership in 1939. He returned to Melbourne during the war years, joining North Melbourne in 1941 where he proved his durability and consistency by playing another 60 games. He finished his career with a perfectly symmetrical record—60 games for Hawthorn and 60 for North Melbourne—before moving into coaching in country and amateur leagues.
Profile
- Full name
- Richard Abikhair
- Born
- 07 July 1914
- Died
- 20 Aug 1962 (aged 48y 44d)
- Birthplace
- Rushworth, VIC
- Deathplace
- North Melbourne, VIC
- Height
- 165 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionDick Abikhair holds a unique place in football history as a pioneer of Lebanese heritage in the VFL. Hailing from Rushworth in country Victoria, the diminutive utility stood just 165cm but used his stocky frame and low centre of gravity to great effect. He broke into the league with Hawthorn in 1934, establishing himself as a tenacious rover and back pocket player who could scrounge the ball at ground level and apply pressure to opposition forwards.
After five seasons and 60 games with the Hawks, Abikhair left the VFL to take up a captain-coach role with Casterton in the Western District, leading them to a premiership in 1939. He returned to Melbourne during the war years, joining North Melbourne in 1941 where he proved his durability and consistency by playing another 60 games. He finished his career with a perfectly symmetrical record—60 games for Hawthorn and 60 for North Melbourne—before moving into coaching in country and amateur leagues.