(Click pictures to enlarge)
Trevor Sprigg started his senior career as a 17 year old with East Fremantle. He clocked up 120 senior games and made several state representative appearances before turning his hand to coaching. In 1971 he travelled to Tasmania to take over as captain/coach of the Glenorchy Magpies. In doing so Sprigg brought the club out of the wilderness and into the finals in his first season. For the next three years the Maggies were a competitive unit but bowed out in preliminary finals to miss that elusive flag. Sprigg however, was a star at Centre Half Back and his straight ahead, tear through style, began to rub off on his young Glenorchy team mates.
He was a regular in representative teams and earned 7 state blazers during his 5 seasons in the TFL.
The 1972 Tasmanian Carnival team. Trevor Sprigg second from right in the middle row. In the back row is Graeme Mackey third from right. In the front row are Kerry Doran; second from left, coach Darrel Baldock; fifth from left and Daryl Sutton; third from right.
Sprigg's contract expired at the end of the 1974 season, but was persuaded to stay on for one more year as a player, under new coach Peter Hudson. It was if a weight had been lifted from Sprigg's shoulders. Already acknowledged as a star backman, he rose to even greater heights. He dominated on the backline in his final year and to no-one's surprise won the coveted William Leitch medal in 1975. No one that is, except for Sprigg. He spent the evening of the medal count at the pictures; watching the hit movie of the time "Earthquake."
The 1975 Glenorchy team TFL and State premiers. In the back row Trevor Sprigg stands second from left while Rodney Eade
is pictured in the second row fourth from the left. Standing next to him fifth from left is Robbie Dykes
while Gary "Super" Linton is first on the right. In the front row is playing coach Peter Hudson
fourth from the left with Daryl Sutton fifth from left and Rex Garwood
sits second from right.
Grand final day and almost 16,000 fans saw the Magpies over run Sandy Bay. Winning by 39 points they broke a ten year premiership drought and uncovered a group of youngsters who were to become champions of the future. Sprigg starred, with his marking and miserly defence of the Bay's forwards a highlight. The Glenorchy machine rolled on, taking the State flag from North Launceston with Sprigg a standout yet again.
He recently recalled that success with humble amazement, maintaining the team had enough talent to win anything. "It included Garry Linton, Rodney Eade
, Darryl Sutton, Robbie
& Jim Dykes, "Curly" Graham, Mick Rodwell and of course Peter Hudson
- little wonder we won." he joked.
The following year Sprigg returned to Western Australia to play two more seasons with East Fremantle before a short coaching stint in the local suburban league.
Following his retirement Sprigg became involved with the Perth media including radio, T.V and stints with the local press and the Melbourne Age. He presently appears on ABC T.V. in the West commentating on the local WAFL league.
In recent times he became involved with the West Coast Eagles. For three years in the early 90's Sprigg was a member of the West Coast Eagles selection committee, enjoying the success of their first premiership in 1992. More recently he has been involved as chairman of selectors of the WAFL representative side.
Reflecting on his career, Sprigg found Hobart's Kerry Wilson a difficult opponent while Clarence's John Bingley
, and Sandy Bay's Rod Olssen were also hard to beat. After 15 seasons Trevor Sprigg played 154 games with East Fremantle, 92 with Glenorchy and registered 13 state appearances with both Western Australia and Tasmania. A premiership and William Leitch medal in his days at Glenorchy makes him one of the Magpie's favourites.
These days he is employed by a management group in Perth where he controls the activities of several hotels throughout the state. He enjoys following his three sons in their football pursuits. All are playing at various levels in the West and like their father are hard at the ball. Trevor Sprigg a great player who is fondly remembered by all in the Glenorchy camp. Talking to him this week he has never been better, and just for the record, "Spriggy" is still as straightforward as ever.
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Trevor Sprigg - A Tasmanian Football Legend
