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Like
the Aish's and the
Oatey's, the Fosdike
name has a rich
history spanning
over three generations
in the Norwood Football
Clubs famed blue
and red colours.
With a distinctive
gate and a long
raking left foot
kick Duncan Fosdike
was the most successful
of the second cohort.
He was a member
of the accomplished
group of Norwood
players who had
dual premiership
success under Neil
Balme in 1982 and
1984 in one of the
Redlegs triumphant
eras.
Coming from the
renowned football
nursery at Sacred
Heart College, Duncan
was already earmarked
as a long-term senior
player at the club,
before he led the
Norwood under 19s
to a premiership
in 1980 and along
the way secured
the award for the
most impressive
player in that competition,
the Tomkins Medal.
He made his SANFL
league debut against
Sturt in the opening
round of the 1981
season and along
the way, in a tenure
which last 11 years,
he played 176 games
and kicked 104 goals.
Like his father
Bob, Duncan was
achieved player
life member status
at the Parade in
1991 and looks back
on his footballing
days with some pride.
"Dad played
in five losing Grand
Finals during the
1950's while I've
been lucky enough
to have a 100 percent
success rate on
this day, even including
a couple of tennis
victories,"
Duncan said.
In this stellar
era where SANFL
football was at
its peak, Fosdike
fondly remembers
duels against the
cream on local football
talent. Playing
predominately on
a wing he stood
the likes of 1986
Magarey Medallist
Greg Anderson, smooth
moving Bays player
David Marshall,
Kym Kinnear, current
Sturt coach Brenton
Phillips and Eagle
Andrew Payze.
Of his team mates,
Fosdike confirmed
that they had an
interesting group
of characters.
"The biggest
of then was John
Wynne, but guys
like Greg Turbill,
a young Garry McIntosh,
Neil Craig, Keith
Thomas, Ugo Colosanti,
and Neville Roberts
were among a number
which we had around
the club,"
he said.
His passion for
football started
in the mid north
town of Jamestown
at Junior Colts
level, and he had
stints at Penola
and Brighton High
during his early
days as well.
On completion of
a strong and rewarding
league career Fosdike
spent four years
with Sacred Heart
Old Collegians.
Starting coaching
the club in his
second season, Fosdike
led the club to
a flag in his initial
winter in charge
- 1993.
The Fosdike family
continues to prosper,
as Duncan brother,
Craig's son Nick
was a part of the
Swans inaugural
flag as a Sydney
based club, following
his uncles winning
tradition.
A sales manager
with 5AA, with Keith
Thomas as his boss,
they can reflect
on a number of great
years together in
the Norwood jumper.
*By Peter Argent
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