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The complete history of the Mighty Magpies

Charlie Utting

Charlie Utting

1943-1950
30
Other Guernsey Nos.
27, 28, 32, 34

125 CFC Games Played

17 CFC Goals

Date of Birth
12 March 1923
Date of Death
11 October 2009
Recruited From
Collingwood Juniors
Collingwood Debut
Round 14, 1943
Height:
170cm
Weight:
74kg

Biography

Has there ever been a player more committed to Collingwood – not only the football club but also the suburb and its people – than Charlie Utting?

For a start he was a third generation local lad with strong connections to the football club. His uncle Ern had played 16 games for the Pies in the early 1920s and was a star with Collingwood Districts, kicking more than 90 goals in the 1919 season. Charlie lived, worked and was educated locally, and excelled for St Joseph’s school in the schoolboy curtain-raisers played before senior matches at Victoria Park. When he left school he played on Saturday mornings with the Brewery team, on Saturday afternoons with the Abbotsford sub-district side and on Sundays with the local Catholic Young Men’s Society (CYMS) team.

He was as Collingwood-mad – and as football-mad – as they come. He also played cricket with Collingwood seconds as a left-hand batsman, but during the winters would spend every spare minute around Victoria Park. On weeknights he and his friends would turn up to watch training and to have a kick on the hallowed turf. So if he was excited to be given the chance to play with Collingwood’s seconds in 1942, it was the classic dream-come-true when he got to wear the black and white jumper in the seniors in 1943, when the playing list was decimated by war service. Former teammates would later recall that he was “100% dedicated to the club from the moment he walked in”.

But the best proof of his love for all things Collingwood came when he walked out– suddenly and unexpectedly – in 1950. He had just enjoyed his best-ever season of football, winning the Copeland Trophy and playing for Victoria, and he was still only 27. But Utting was needed in the family motor wrecking and repair business and, as one of 13 children, he understood the sacrifices that family life sometimes demands. He was not short of offers from other VFL and VFA clubs but he refused them all in order to give back to the local community. “It just wouldn’t have felt right anywhere else,” he said later.

So he stayed involved as playing coach of the seconds for three years, where he made such an impression that many felt he could have made an excellent senior coach, and later spent eight years on the committee at Victoria Park. He also broadened his involvement with the Magpie Football Club, a local team that used to play in a Sunday Amateur competition (this competition was a big local attraction, often drawing crowds of 5000 or more). He’d coached the Sunday Magpies even when he was a VFL star, leading them to a flag in 1949: after his retirement he started playing for them too, and kept doing so until he was nearing 40. Charlie became renowned for his pep talks to the Sunday boys, and crowds would cram into the rooms just to hear his speeches.

When he finished with the Sunday Magpies he moved on to coach the Collingwood YCW side. He moved into local government, too, spending time with the Collingwood council and even serving a term as mayor. Clearly, this was a man who bled black and white. And that love of Collingwood, that special spirit, had infused Charlie Utting’s football from the moment he walked into Victoria Park.

Although extremely talented, he was not a graceful or stylish footballer by any means. He had a nuggety build and an approach to match: he was a desperado who would do anything to get the ball or stop his man, or both. Opposing rovers quickly came to hate resting on him when he played in the back pocket, because they received very little ‘rest’ at all. Instead Utting would delight in harassing and tormenting them – then grabbing the ball himself and hurtling off before delivering expertly to a teammate, as he could kick beautifully with either foot.

He was, of course, also a great team man, and completely committed to Collingwood’s success (other than in his persistent refusal to adhere to Jock McHale’s demands that players turn up to games at least 30 minutes before the bounce – Utting alwaysleft it as late as possible to arrive). That meant he was initially happy to play in any position as long as he got a game. But he’d played most of his junior football in the centre, and that’s where he really felt he belonged. But Bill Twomey had that post sewn up, so Utting had to wait, mostly playing in the back pocket but also spending time at half-back or half-forward, or occasionally on a wing or even roving.

In 1949, however, Twomey got injured. So did his first replacement, brother Pat. So Utting finally got his chance in the pivot – and he grabbed it. His desperation and aggression at the ball were valuable assets in the thick of play, and though many felt he was too small for the centre he proved them wrong. He finished third in the Copeland in 1949, and kept the post in 1950, when he was one of the stars of the season. “He is quick off the mark – that is almost the first requirement of a centreman – has excellent judgment, is a good mark for his size, places the ball to advantage either with a stab kick or a long driving drop, and is most tenacious,” wrote the Argusin choosing him as the best centreman of the year.

He played for Victoria at the ANFC Carnival that year and won his first Copeland Trophy. A renowned fitness fanatic, he clearly had plenty of good football left in the tank. But the family business called, and a great talent was prematurely lost to the game.

Luckily, he was not lost to Collingwood – either the footy club or the wider community. In many ways Charlie was a bit of a rough diamond: there were no pretensions about him, but that’s what won him many friends both within the football club and outside. In summing up his stellar 1950 season, the Argushad noted that there was no better clubman going around, and they were right: he was a fine player and one of football’s greatest clubmen.

That was Charlie Utting – Collingwood to the core.

– Michael Roberts

Statistics

CFC Career Stats

Season played Games Goals Finals Win %
1943-1950 125 17 8 56%

CFC Season by Season Stats

Season GP GL B K H T D Guernsey No.
1943 3 3 0 32

1943 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 14 Sydney L 1 0 32 View match >
Round 15 Fitzroy W 1 0 32 View match >
Round 16 Melbourne L 1 0 32 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1944 11 6 0 34

1944 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 North Melbourne W 0 34 View match >
Round 2 Fitzroy L 0 34 View match >
Round 3 Western Bulldogs L 1 0 34 View match >
Round 11 Richmond L 0 34 View match >
Round 12 North Melbourne W 1 0 34 View match >
Round 13 Fitzroy L 0 34 View match >
Round 14 Western Bulldogs L 2 0 34 View match >
Round 15 Sydney L 0 34 View match >
Round 16 Hawthorn W 0 34 View match >
Round 17 Melbourne W 0 34 View match >
Round 18 Richmond L 2 0 34 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1945 21 1 0 28

1945 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 North Melbourne W 0 28 View match >
Round 3 Melbourne W 0 28 View match >
Round 4 Hawthorn W 0 28 View match >
Round 5 Essendon L 0 28 View match >
Round 6 Carlton W 0 28 View match >
Round 7 St Kilda W 0 28 View match >
Round 8 Fitzroy L 0 28 View match >
Round 9 Richmond W 0 28 View match >
Round 10 Geelong W 0 28 View match >
Round 11 Western Bulldogs L 0 28 View match >
Round 12 North Melbourne W 0 28 View match >
Round 13 Sydney W 0 28 View match >
Round 14 Melbourne W 0 28 View match >
Round 15 Hawthorn W 0 28 View match >
Round 16 Essendon W 1 0 28 View match >
Round 17 Carlton L 0 28 View match >
Round 18 St Kilda W 0 28 View match >
Round 19 Fitzroy W 0 28 View match >
Round 20 Richmond W 0 28 View match >
Semi Final Sydney L 0 28 View match >
Preliminary Final Carlton L 0 28 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1946 21 1 0 27

1946 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Hawthorn W 0 27 View match >
Round 2 Fitzroy W 0 27 View match >
Round 3 North Melbourne W 0 27 View match >
Round 4 St Kilda W 0 27 View match >
Round 5 Richmond L 0 27 View match >
Round 6 Western Bulldogs L 0 27 View match >
Round 7 Geelong W 0 27 View match >
Round 8 Carlton W 0 27 View match >
Round 9 Essendon L 0 27 View match >
Round 10 Sydney W 0 27 View match >
Round 11 Melbourne L 0 27 View match >
Round 12 Hawthorn W 0 27 View match >
Round 13 Fitzroy W 0 27 View match >
Round 14 North Melbourne W 0 27 View match >
Round 15 St Kilda W 1 0 27 View match >
Round 16 Richmond L 0 27 View match >
Round 18 Geelong W 0 27 View match >
Round 19 Carlton L 0 27 View match >
Semi Final Essendon D 0 27 View match >
Semi Final Essendon L 0 27 View match >
Preliminary Final Melbourne L 0 27 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1947 19 0 27

1947 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Fitzroy W 0 27 View match >
Round 2 Hawthorn W 0 27 View match >
Round 3 Geelong W 0 27 View match >
Round 4 Sydney W 0 27 View match >
Round 5 Melbourne L 0 27 View match >
Round 6 Western Bulldogs L 0 27 View match >
Round 7 Richmond L 0 27 View match >
Round 8 Essendon W 0 27 View match >
Round 9 Carlton W 0 27 View match >
Round 10 St Kilda W 0 27 View match >
Round 11 North Melbourne W 0 27 View match >
Round 12 Fitzroy L 0 27 View match >
Round 13 Hawthorn W 0 27 View match >
Round 14 Geelong W 0 27 View match >
Round 15 Sydney D 0 27 View match >
Round 16 Melbourne L 0 27 View match >
Round 17 Western Bulldogs W 0 27 View match >
Round 18 Richmond L 0 27 View match >
Round 19 Essendon L 0 27 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1948 14 1 0 30

1948 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 North Melbourne W 0 30 View match >
Round 2 Sydney W 0 30 View match >
Round 3 Essendon L 0 30 View match >
Round 4 Geelong W 0 30 View match >
Round 5 Carlton W 0 30 View match >
Round 6 Richmond L 0 30 View match >
Round 7 St Kilda W 0 30 View match >
Round 14 Essendon L 0 30 View match >
Round 15 Geelong L 0 30 View match >
Round 16 Carlton L 0 30 View match >
Round 17 Richmond W 1 0 30 View match >
Round 18 St Kilda W 0 30 View match >
Semi Final Western Bulldogs W 0 30 View match >
Preliminary Final Melbourne L 0 30 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1949 20 3 0 30

1949 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 North Melbourne W 0 30 View match >
Round 2 Melbourne W 0 30 View match >
Round 3 Fitzroy L 0 30 View match >
Round 4 Hawthorn W 0 30 View match >
Round 5 Carlton L 0 30 View match >
Round 6 Essendon W 0 30 View match >
Round 7 Western Bulldogs W 0 30 View match >
Round 8 St Kilda W 1 0 30 View match >
Round 9 Geelong W 0 30 View match >
Round 10 Richmond W 0 30 View match >
Round 11 Sydney W 0 30 View match >
Round 12 North Melbourne L 0 30 View match >
Round 13 Melbourne L 0 30 View match >
Round 14 Fitzroy W 1 0 30 View match >
Round 15 Hawthorn W 0 30 View match >
Round 16 Carlton W 0 30 View match >
Round 17 Essendon L 0 30 View match >
Round 18 Western Bulldogs W 0 30 View match >
Round 19 St Kilda L 1 0 30 View match >
Semi Final Essendon L 0 30 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
1950 16 2 0 30

1950 Season stats

Hide Season
RD VS Result GL B K H T D Guernsey No. Match Report
Round 1 Sydney L 0 30 View match >
Round 2 Fitzroy W 1 0 30 View match >
Round 3 Carlton L 1 0 30 View match >
Round 4 Hawthorn W 0 30 View match >
Round 5 Geelong W 0 30 View match >
Round 6 Richmond L 0 30 View match >
Round 7 Western Bulldogs W 0 30 View match >
Round 8 Melbourne L 0 30 View match >
Round 9 North Melbourne L 0 30 View match >
Round 10 St Kilda W 0 30 View match >
Round 11 Essendon L 0 30 View match >
Round 12 Sydney W 0 30 View match >
Round 13 Fitzroy L 0 30 View match >
Round 16 Geelong L 0 30 View match >
Round 17 Richmond L 0 30 View match >
Round 18 Western Bulldogs W 0 30 View match >
Legend
  • #Guernsey
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • DDisposals
  • MMarks
  • TTackles
*Player goal statistics included VFA (Victorian Football Association) results.
Totals 125 17
Avg/Game   0.14
Legend
  • GPGames Played
  • GLGoals
  • BBehinds
  • KKicks
  • HHandballs
  • TTackles
  • DDisposals

Key Facts

CFC Debut Number

470

Total AFL Games
125
Total AFL Goals
17
CFC Debut
Round 14, 1943
CFC Last Game
Round 18, 1950
Recruited From
Collingwood Juniors
Full Name
Charlie Utting

Awards

  • Life Members
    1969
  • E.W. Copeland Trophy (Best and Fairest)
    1950
  • Third Best and Fairest (J.J. Joyce Trophy)
    1949
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