Ken Smale

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Ken Smale
Personal information
Born (1933-11-05)5 November 1933
Died 28 March 2026(2026-03-28) (aged 92)
Original team Warracknabeal (Wimmera FL)
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1955–1958 Collingwood 60 (98)
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Kenneth MacKenzie Smale (5 November 1933 – 28 March 2026) was an Australian rules footballer, who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for Collingwood.

Biography

Born in Warracknabeal, Smale played as a forward for the town team and he won the Wimmera Football League goalkicking award in 1952[1] and 1953.[2] Footscray were very interested in Smale in 1953,[3] but he was keen to have a go in the VFL, he wrote to Collingwood asking for a try out. He spent the Easter Saturday in Melbourne with a six-game permit in case he was wanted. Collingwood was impressed and he finally got a clearance from Warracknabeal Football Club.[4]

Smale was a forward player in the losing Grand Finals against Melbourne in 1955 and 1956 but he was on the bench when Collingwood won the 1958 VFL Grand Final.

He left Collingwood after the premiership win to return to his hometown of Warracknabeal, finishing with 324 games for the club, and winning two premierships in 1953[5][6] and 1966.[7]

In 2008 Collingwood granted him a life membership.[8] Smale died on 28 March 2026, at the age of 92.[9]

References

  1. "1952 - Still leads with goals". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 19 September 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  2. "1953 - Warracknabeal, Minyip clash in Wimmera League 'FORM TEAMS' TO FIGHT OUT SECOND SEMI". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 4 September 1953. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  3. "1953 - FOOTSCRAY AFTER SMALE". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 15 May 1953. p. 10. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  4. "1955 - MAGPIES LOSE SMALE". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 27 May 1955. p. 26. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  5. "1953 - Fists fly when player floored". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 21 September 1953. p. 15. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  6. "1953 - MAROONS WIN 1953 GRAND FINAL". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 22 September 1953. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  7. "1966 - Country Football". Google. The Age. 26 September 1966. p. 23. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  8. "Pies honour Smale for [sic] life". 4 November 2008.
  9. "Ken Smale". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 27 April 2026.