This year marks 50 years since Doug Wade won the 'Carji' Greeves Medal and so it is fitting that he will present the award on Thursday night.

The year was 1969 and Wade produced one of the all-time great seasons in Geelong’s long and proud history.

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Stationed at full forward Wade finished the season with 127 goals to his name. Second only to Gary Ablett snr for most goals kicked in a season by a Cat.

Doug Wade takes a famous mark over Terry Gaye at Kardinia Park in 1969. Credit: Bob Gartland Collection.


He was tough, resilient and thrived in the contest. He was a player that led by example and he had an eye for goal that few could match. He was unassuming, but capable of flying high for big marks when the need arose.

Wade was a four-time Coleman Medal winner and was Geelong’s leading goalkicker on 11 occasions. He is one of only five players in the history of the game to have kicked 1000 goals in his career.

His goal kicking exploits saw him named at full forward in Geelong’s Team of the Century.


Doug Wade Facts

  • In 267 VFL games between 1961 and 1975 he booted 1,057 goals at the remarkable average of 3.96 per game.
  • Geelong's leading goalkicker every year from 1961 to 1972, except for the injury-ruined 1965 season; he also topped North Melbourne's list in his final three league seasons.
  • Despite sterling opposition from the likes of Hudson, McKenna and Jesaulenko, he was the VFL's top goal kicker on four occasions.
  • Wade twice 'topped the ton', booting 127 goals with Geelong in 1969, and 103 with North in 1974.
  • He played seven times for the VFL, booting 31 goals.
  • Equal fourth for Most scoring shots in a game with 20 (13.7) against Sth Melbourne in Round 17, 1967.
  • Kicked 100 goals in a season on two occasions behind Gary Ablett (three).
  • 10th overall for average goals per game 3.96 (1057 goals in 267 games).
  • Four time - League leading goal kicker (1962, 1967, 1969, 1974).
  • Eighth overall for most goals in finals with 64 (Tie with Gary Ablett senior).
  • Fifth overall for Consecutive games kicking a goal on 90 games.
  • 834 goals in 208 games for Geelong (4.01 per game).
  • Second player behind Gordon Coventry to kick 1000 career goals.
  • Named Full Forward in the Geelong Team of the Century.