Max Papley began playing football for the Melbourne Fourths, and was told by his coach that he was too small.
13 Facts About Max Papley
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Max Papley then went to play with Port Melbourne YMCA before his family moved to Moorabbin, and there he joined the local Moorabbin Football Club, which was competing in the Victorian Football Association.
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Max Papley played 96 senior games over five seasons for Moorabbin.
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In February 1964, Max Papley was cleared to South Melbourne, a couple of months prior to the events which saw Moorabbin expelled from the VFA.
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Max Papley had signed a form with South before his parents relocated to Moorabbin, and much as he loved playing for Moorabbin, Papley was happy to have a boyhood dream come true.
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Max Papley played as a half forward and centreman during his time at South Melbourne, winning their 1966 best and fairest award and representing Victoria in interstate football over four seasons with South Melbourne.
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Max Papley had made it clear to South Melbourne that he would continue playing as long as it did not interfere with his cricket commitments.
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In February before the start of the 1968 VFL season, while Max Papley was working in the chemical industry with clients in Williamstown, he got to know the president of the Williamstown Football Club.
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Max Papley told Papley that the club's coach had just retired and wondered if Papley would consider taking on the job.
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Max Papley told South about the offer and, because the club would not relent over the cricketing issue, he moved to Williamstown without a clearance and took up the job as captain-coach.
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Max Papley led the club to Grand Finals in his first three seasons, and winning the 1969 premiership in the VFA Second Division despite having suffered bruised ribs in a car accident in the previous week.
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Max Papley played 54 games for the Seagulls, and kicked 108 goals, and his contribution was recognized with selection in Williamstown's official 'Team of the Century' in 2003 as centreman.
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Max Papley captained the VFA representative team against Tasmania in one match in June 1968; it was the VFA's last representative match during Max Papley's career.