Danny Frawley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Danny Frawley |
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Frawley during a pre-season match in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Daniel Patrick Frawley | ||
| Nickname(s) | Spud | ||
| Date of birth | 8 September 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Ballarat, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 9 September 2019 (aged 56) | ||
| Place of death | Millbrook, Victoria | ||
| Original team | Bungaree (CHFL) | ||
| Debut | Round 4, 1984, St Kilda v. Hawthorn, at Princes Park |
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| Position(s) | Full back | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Daniel Patrick Frawley (born September 8, 1963 – died September 9, 2019) was a famous person in Australian rules football. He was a player, coach, and later a popular TV and radio host.
He played 240 games for the St Kilda Football Club from 1984 to 1995. He was the team's captain for nine seasons. In 1988, he was named an All-Australian player. He also won St Kilda's best player award, the Trevor Barker Award.
After playing, Frawley coached the Richmond Football Club from 2000 to 2004. In 2001, he led Richmond to a preliminary final, which is like a semi-final. He also worked for the AFL Coaches Association.
Later, Danny became well-known as a sports commentator. He worked for Fox Footy, Triple M, and 1116 SEN. Many people remember him from the Fox Footy show Bounce. He co-hosted this show for many years.
Danny Frawley also spoke openly about his struggles with mental health. He even hosted a podcast called No Man Should Ever Walk Alone. This podcast helped others talk about their mental health.
Danny passed away in a car accident on September 9, 2019. His death saddened many people in the football world.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Danny Frawley grew up in Bungaree, a town in Victoria, Australia. He worked on a potato farm there. This is how he got his famous nickname, "Spud."
He went to St Patrick's College in Ballarat. He played local football for East Ballarat and Bungaree.
Danny had family connections in football. His uncle, Des Tuddenham, played for Collingwood. His nephew, James Frawley, also became an AFL player.
Playing Career
Playing for St Kilda
Danny Frawley started as a forward player. But he soon became a well-known full back. A full back is a key defensive player.
He played 240 games for the St Kilda Football Club. He was the team's captain for nine seasons, from 1987 to 1995. This makes him the longest-serving captain in St Kilda's history.
In 1988, he had a great year. He won the club's best and fairest award. He was also chosen for the All-Australian team, which features the best players from all teams. In 2007, he was added to the St Kilda Hall of Fame.
Awards and Achievements
- St Kilda Football Club Hall of Fame (inducted 2006)
- St Kilda captain: 1987–1995
- All-Australian team: 1988
- St Kilda best and fairest: 1988
- 2× Australia representative honours in international rules football: 1987, 1990
Coaching Career
Assistant Coach at Collingwood (1996–1999)
After he stopped playing, Danny became an assistant coach. He worked for the Collingwood Football Club for four years. He helped the senior coach, Tony Shaw.
Senior Coach at Richmond (2000–2004)
In 2000, Danny Frawley became the main coach for the Richmond Football Club. In his first year, Richmond almost made the finals.
In 2001, he led the Tigers into the finals. They reached the preliminary final, which was a big achievement. This was their best result since 1995. However, they lost to the Brisbane Lions, who went on to win the championship.
After that successful year, Richmond struggled. In 2004, the team finished last on the ladder. Danny announced he would step down as coach at the end of that season.
Assistant Coach Roles (2008–2018)
From 2008 to 2014, Danny worked as a part-time assistant coach for the Hawthorn.
In 2014, he returned to the St Kilda Football Club. He was a specialist coach for the team's defenders. He continued this role until 2018.
Media Career and Advocacy
After his coaching career, Danny Frawley became a very popular media personality. He was a special commentator for Triple M radio.
He was also a co-host on the TV show Bounce on Fox Footy. He hosted it with Jason Dunstall and Cameron Mooney. He also worked for 1116 SEN radio.
Danny was passionate about men's health. He hosted a Monday night show on SEN called No Man Should Ever Walk Alone. On this show, he talked about important topics like mental health. He wanted to encourage men to speak up and seek help.
Personal Life and Passing
Danny Frawley was married to Anita, and they had three daughters: Chelsea, Danielle, and Keeley.
Danny passed away on September 9, 2019, the day after his 56th birthday. He died in a car accident in Millbrook, Victoria. Later, doctors found he had a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition can affect people who have had many head injuries.
Tributes and Legacy
Danny's death deeply affected the football community. Many tributes were held in his honor.
The Trevor Barker Award ceremony, St Kilda's best and fairest award, was filled with speeches remembering him. The AFL held a moment of silence before games.
A special memorial service was held for Danny. His hearse even did a lap of honor at Moorabbin Oval, St Kilda's home ground.
In 2020, plans were announced for the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing. This center at Moorabbin Oval helps people with their health. It opened in 2022. St Kilda also retired his famous number 2 jersey.
In 2021, St Kilda started "Spud's Game: Time 2 Talk." This special game, in partnership with Movember, promotes mental health awareness. Before the game, Danny's close friends paid tribute to him. They encouraged everyone to check in with their friends and talk about how they are feeling.
