Tony Sullivan
Melbourne
AFL career
191 games1 goals
- Debut
- R13 1967 v GEE22 July 1967
- Most recent
- R13 1979 v GEE30 June 1979
Stats
1979 | MEL | 7 | 12.7 | 4.1 | 16.9 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1978 | MEL | 11 | 9.4 | 3.5 | 12.9 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1977 | MEL | 18 | 12.7 | 2.3 | 14.9 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
1976 | MEL | 15 | 13.5 | 1.3 | 14.8 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1975 | MEL | 15 | 12.2 | 1.6 | 13.8 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1974 | MEL | 18 | 14.8 | 4.1 | 18.9 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1973 | MEL | 21 | 12.5 | 2.2 | 14.7 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
1972 | MEL | 18 | 12.8 | 1.2 | 14.0 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1971 | MEL | 21 | 13.2 | 1.1 | 14.3 | 4.0 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1970 | MEL | 22 | 14.4 | 0.8 | 15.2 | 3.9 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1969 | MEL | 17 | 10.4 | 0.7 | 11.1 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1968 | MEL | 6 | 10.7 | 0.7 | 11.3 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
1967 | MEL | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Bio
Recruited from St Patrick's College in Ballarat, Tony Sullivan found his way to Melbourne after a tip-off to club secretary Jim Cardwell, eventually becoming a defensive anchor during a lean era for the Demons. He did not walk straight into the senior side, spending his first season in the reserves, but by 1969 he had established himself as a dour and relentless defender. Often tasked with stopping the opposition’s most dangerous forwards, Sullivan was a "coach's dream" who prioritised close-checking and discipline over attacking flair. This defensive mindset was statistically evident; across 191 senior games, he managed just a single goal, kicked during the 1970 season.
Despite the Demons' lack of team success during the 1970s, Sullivan was a model of consistency, finishing in the top six of the Best and Fairest count half a dozen times and earning Victorian state selection in 1971. He served as deputy vice-captain and was eventually inducted as a Life Member, a testament to his standing at the club. His VFL career ended in 1979 when captain-coach Carl Ditterich looked to inject more speed into the backline. Sullivan subsequently moved to the VFA, where he became captain-coach of Waverley, lifting the club from the bottom of the ladder to a preliminary final in his first year in charge.
Profile
- Born
- 18 Jan 1949 (age 77y 276d)
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 82 kg
Teams
Family
- Son:Chris Sullivan
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from St Patrick's College in Ballarat, Tony Sullivan found his way to Melbourne after a tip-off to club secretary Jim Cardwell, eventually becoming a defensive anchor during a lean era for the Demons. He did not walk straight into the senior side, spending his first season in the reserves, but by 1969 he had established himself as a dour and relentless defender. Often tasked with stopping the opposition’s most dangerous forwards, Sullivan was a "coach's dream" who prioritised close-checking and discipline over attacking flair. This defensive mindset was statistically evident; across 191 senior games, he managed just a single goal, kicked during the 1970 season.
Despite the Demons' lack of team success during the 1970s, Sullivan was a model of consistency, finishing in the top six of the Best and Fairest count half a dozen times and earning Victorian state selection in 1971. He served as deputy vice-captain and was eventually inducted as a Life Member, a testament to his standing at the club. His VFL career ended in 1979 when captain-coach Carl Ditterich looked to inject more speed into the backline. Sullivan subsequently moved to the VFA, where he became captain-coach of Waverley, lifting the club from the bottom of the ladder to a preliminary final in his first year in charge.