18 Facts About Denis Cordner

George Denis Pruen Cordner was an Australian rules footballer, industrial chemist and diplomat.

Denis Cordner made his senior VFL football debut in Round 5 of the 1943 VFL season for Melbourne against Richmond at Punt Road Oval while on leave from the Royal Australian Navy.

Denis Cordner was flattened five seconds into the match, but recovered and went on to kick two goals in a losing cause.

Denis Cordner was the fifth Cordner to represent the Blacks and provided outstanding service in his three seasons with the club, finishing second in the VAFA A Grade Best and Fairest Award count in 1946 and 1947 before winning it in 1948.

Denis Cordner played again in the Grand Final Replay and was a Melbourne premiership player in just his third game of senior football.

Denis Cordner switched permanently to the Melbourne Football Club in 1949, and played for the club primarily in the ruck for the next eight years.

Denis Cordner was particularly noted for his ability in wet weather; after watching Melbourne's win over Geelong in the 1954 Preliminary Final, Richmond ruckman and Brownlow medallist of that season Roy Wright wrote in The Herald:.

Denis Cordner is the greatest wet weather ruckman I have seen.

Denis Cordner seems to be able to mark the greasy ball when and how he likes.

Denis Cordner gets well up in the air, seems to funnel the ball into his arms and then smothers it onto his chest.

Denis Cordner went on to play in two more premiership teams for Melbourne, in 1955 and 1956.

Denis Cordner retired at the end of the 1956 season, and was notable for having played his entire VFL career as an amateur.

In September 1981, Denis Cordner was appointed Australian Consul-General in New York.

In March 1984, Denis Cordner was asked to return to Australia within three months.

On returning to Australia, Denis Cordner served in a number of leadership positions.

Denis Cordner became a chairman of John Holland Constructions, chairman of Australian Motor Industries and a director of the Australian branch of British Petroleum and Plessey Pacific.

Denis Cordner died of coronary heart disease on 17 October 1990 at his home in East Kew, and was buried in Point Lonsdale Cemetery.

Denis Cordner was survived by his wife and two daughters.