Joe Kirkley
North Melbourne
AFL career
2 games0 goals
- Debut
- R3 1925 v SME16 May 1925
- Most recent
- R3 1926 v MEL15 May 1926
Stats
1926 | NTH | 1 | 0.0 |
1925 | NTH | 1 | 0.0 |
Bio
A hairdresser by trade, Joe Kirkley holds a permanent place in North Melbourne history as one of the club's "Original Shinboners," listed as Shinboner #20 on their inaugural VFL list. He made his debut in Round 3 of the 1925 season against South Melbourne but found it difficult to command a regular spot in the senior side, managing just one more appearance the following year when he was called up as a late replacement against Melbourne. While his on-field contribution was limited to two games as a depth utility, his legacy is firmly defined by his remarkable service off the field; after relocating to Wagga Wagga, Kirkley enlisted for World War II at the mature age of 39. He went on to serve with the 2/13 Battalion in the Middle East, becoming one of the famed "Rats of Tobruk," before later seeing action in New Guinea.
Profile
- Born
- 13 Apr 1903
- Died
- 14 Feb 1971 (aged 67y 307d)
- Birthplace
- Carlton, VIC
- Deathplace
- Wagga Wagga, NSW
Teams
Bio
1 revisionA hairdresser by trade, Joe Kirkley holds a permanent place in North Melbourne history as one of the club's "Original Shinboners," listed as Shinboner #20 on their inaugural VFL list. He made his debut in Round 3 of the 1925 season against South Melbourne but found it difficult to command a regular spot in the senior side, managing just one more appearance the following year when he was called up as a late replacement against Melbourne. While his on-field contribution was limited to two games as a depth utility, his legacy is firmly defined by his remarkable service off the field; after relocating to Wagga Wagga, Kirkley enlisted for World War II at the mature age of 39. He went on to serve with the 2/13 Battalion in the Middle East, becoming one of the famed "Rats of Tobruk," before later seeing action in New Guinea.