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Graeme Hunnibell, along with his younger brother Michael were two of the New Norfolk Football clubs favourite sons.
He started his senior football with North Launceston in 1974 playing in
their 1975 premiership team. North Launceston defeated Scottsdale before a
crowd of 8,600. The club then defeated Wynyard in the preliminary State
final before eventually losing to Glenorchy in the State final in a game
which was remembered as being one of the most exciting and high standard
club match ever played in Tasmania. |
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Both teams were literally loaded with talent with five ex-VFL and six future VFL players competing.
Graeme Hunnibell was amongst the best players for North and was achieving recognition as one of the best ever ruckmen the State had produced.
In 1976 he again was part of a grand final team which was defeated by Launceston gaining first mention as best player for North.
He also won the club Best and Fairest award in 1977. This was the year that the club contested their third Grand Final in a row, again losing, this time to Scottsdale.
He represented the NTFA in 1974, 1975, 1977 and again in 1981.
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He transferred to VFL club Melbourne in 1978 and played there until 1980, achieving a total of 12 senior games.
When he returned to Tasmania he joined New Norfolk.
In 1982 he was part of the famous premiership win under Robbie Dykes. This team was famous for the fact it contained four sets of brothers;
Graeme and Michael Hunnibell
, Graeme and Wayne Fox, Ian and Gary Williamson
, and Neville and Rodney Hill.
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The 1982 New Norfolk Premiership team. Pictured
are Wayne Fox; fifth from left in the second row
and next to him sixth from left is Graeme Hunnibell. Also pictured are Gary Williamson
; second from left in the front row, fourth from left is Michael Hunnibell
and third from right is Hedley Thompson. Next to him; fourth from left is Robert Dykes.
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Graeme won the New Norfolk club Best and Fairest award three times; in 1982, 1984 and 1985.
He also won the William Leitch medal in 1985.
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He also added the Lefroy medal for best player in interstate games to his trophy cabinet in 1982 when he was joint winner with Tony Martyn
from the Sandy Bay club in games against Queensland, ACT and New South Wales.
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He captain/coached the Eagles in 1984 and 1985 before
departing the valley to play with Clarence.
He won the club Best and Fairest (the J.E.Bidgood Memorial trophy) in 1989.
Graeme's most recent football
involvement was as bench coach for SFL club Kingston.
He lives at Blackmans Bay. |
