Paul Vinar

Pavel "Paul" Vinar (24 March 1940 – 20 May 2009) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the VFL during the 1960s.

Paul Vinar
Personal information
Full name Pavel Vinar
Date of birth (1940-03-24)24 March 1940
Place of birth Czechoslovakia
Date of death 20 May 2009(2009-05-20) (aged 69)
Place of death Tasmania, Australia
Original team(s) Barwon
Debut 15 June 1959, Geelong vs. Carlton, at Kardinia Park
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1959–1966 Geelong 132 (45)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1966.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

Vinar was born in Czechoslovakia, and moved to Geelong in Australia with his mother and four brothers after his father was killed in World War II. Despite being Czech, his nickname was Swede.[1]

Football

He was renowned for his long kicking ability.[1] A highly regarded defender and occasional ruckman, he was also a nationally recognised long kicking champion considered to have the longest and most accurate kick of his era. Bob Davis, his coach during his time with the Geelong, thought Vinar had the best drop kick he had ever seen.

He began playing for the Geelong Football Club's under-19s, and made his VFL debut on 15 June 1959, aged 19, against Carlton at Kardinia Park.

Vinar was a utility player, often used at full back or in the ruck. He was a follower in the club's 1963 premiership side. On 6 July 1963 he was a member of the Geelong team that were comprehensively and unexpectedly beaten by Fitzroy, 9.13 (67) to 3.13 (31) in the 1963 Miracle Match.

Vinar moved to Tasmania in 1967 to take up the coaching role for Longford after which he became a regular Tasmanian representative, including at the 1969 National Carnival and in Tasmania’s historic victory over Western Australia in 1970 where he was named best player. Following his 5 seasons at Longford he moved to Launceston, which was also in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association.

Right to the end of his senior playing career Paul Vinar was still able to kick the ball well over 65 metres. Vinar's playing record included: 132 games (Geelong, 1959–66); 104 games (Longford, 1967–71); 45 games (Launceston, 1972–74); 15 games (NTFA, 1967-72); 7 games (Tasmania, 1967–71).

Paul Vinar was recognised with the Lefroy Medal as Tasmania's best representative player, is a Life Member of the Longford CLub and was inducted in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.[2]

See also

References
  1. Craven, Denis (21 May 2009). "Tributes flow for big-kicking Cat Paul Vinar". Geelong Advertiser. Archived from the original on 30 May 2009.
  2. "258. Paul Vinar | AFL Tasmania Hall of Fame".
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