Terry Wheeler
Footscray
AFL career
157 games18 goals
- Debut
- R7 1974 v FIT18 May 1974
- Most recent
- R15 1983 v HAW2 July 1983
Coaching career
91 games50 wins40 losses1 draws
- First
- R1 1990 v STK1 Apr 1990
- Most recent
- R2 1994 v GEE4 Apr 1994
Stats
1983 | FSC | 2 | 10.5 | 3.5 | 14.0 | 0.5 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1982 | FSC | 18 | 10.6 | 3.6 | 14.2 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
1981 | FSC | 20 | 14.1 | 4.2 | 18.3 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.5 |
1980 | FSC | 17 | 14.3 | 3.7 | 18.0 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
1979 | FSC | 9 | 9.0 | 3.7 | 12.7 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
1978 | FSC | 22 | 10.7 | 5.2 | 16.0 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1977 | FSC | 22 | 10.2 | 4.0 | 14.2 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
1976 | FSC | 23 | 12.1 | 3.0 | 15.1 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1975 | FSC | 19 | 11.7 | 2.7 | 14.4 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
1974 | FSC | 5 | 5.0 | 2.8 | 7.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
Bio
Recruited from Warburton in the Yarra Valley after being spotted by talent scout Max Jenkins, Terry Wheeler arrived at the Western Oval as an aspiring on-baller before finding his true calling in the back pocket. He established himself as a tough, uncompromising defender who was regularly tasked with curbing the league’s most dangerous small forwards, including famous duels with the likes of Kevin Bartlett and Leigh Matthews. A teacher by trade, Wheeler was a student of the game known for his discipline and close-checking style, rarely conceding an inch to his opponents during a gritty decade-long tenure in the Bulldogs' defence.
Despite being a consistent senior regular, Wheeler retired from VFL football at just 28 years of age after the 1983 season, realising his opportunities were dwindling with the emergence of younger defenders like Mick Egan. He immediately transitioned into coaching, captain-coaching Williamstown to VFA success before returning to Footscray to eventually take the senior coaching reins. His legacy at the club is immense; while he was a serviceable and courageous player, he is perhaps best revered for his leadership during the tumultuous "fightback" era of 1989-1990, where he became a key figure in the club's survival and resurgence.
Profile
- Born
- 13 Mar 1955 (age 71y 222d)
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 89 kg
Teams
Coaching
- Footscray (Senior Coach)1990–199491 games (W50 L40 D1), 54.9%
Honours
- Western Bulldogs B&F
- 2nd
- 1976
Family
- Brother:Garry Wheeler
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Warburton in the Yarra Valley after being spotted by talent scout Max Jenkins, Terry Wheeler arrived at the Western Oval as an aspiring on-baller before finding his true calling in the back pocket. He established himself as a tough, uncompromising defender who was regularly tasked with curbing the league’s most dangerous small forwards, including famous duels with the likes of Kevin Bartlett and Leigh Matthews. A teacher by trade, Wheeler was a student of the game known for his discipline and close-checking style, rarely conceding an inch to his opponents during a gritty decade-long tenure in the Bulldogs' defence.
Despite being a consistent senior regular, Wheeler retired from VFL football at just 28 years of age after the 1983 season, realising his opportunities were dwindling with the emergence of younger defenders like Mick Egan. He immediately transitioned into coaching, captain-coaching Williamstown to VFA success before returning to Footscray to eventually take the senior coaching reins. His legacy at the club is immense; while he was a serviceable and courageous player, he is perhaps best revered for his leadership during the tumultuous "fightback" era of 1989-1990, where he became a key figure in the club's survival and resurgence.