AFL Tasmania is pleased to announce a new inductee to the Tasmania Football Hall of Fame, Dale Flint.
A brilliant defender whose career reached great heights despite serious injury, Dale Flint is regarded by some as the best Tasmanian of his time to never play in the VFL.
Born in Burnie in 1936, Flint grew up on the family farm at East Yolla, the youngest of three brothers who would all go on to play senior football.
Debuting with Yeoman in the Darwin Association in 1952, 16-year-old Dale made an immediate impact, kicking three goals and being named in the best players in Yeoman’s premiership win over Somerset.
After three seasons in country football, Flint - along with childhood friend and future All-Australian Don Gale - made the step up to NWFU level with Wynyard.
Initially a Centre Half Forward and described as “a delightful mark, aggressive on the ground and a splendid kick… the perfect footballer”, Flint impressed sufficiently to follow in the footsteps of brother Kevin and trial with VFL club Collingwood in 1956.
Unfortunately, a subsequent serious knee injury would plague him for the rest of his career and prompted a permanent move to the backline; his raw talent remained unhindered however, representing the NWFU on six occasions before Sandy Bay coaxed him south in 1960.
Flint’s six seasons and 114 games with the Seagulls were undoubtedly the zenith of his career, winning a Best & Fairest in 1961 and captaining the club’s 1964 TFL premiership, Flint comprehensively winning his battle with star New Norfolk spearhead Peter Hudson.
As with many champions, however, Flint was at his best in the cauldron of representative football, twice winning the TFL’s Weller Arnold Medal and earning ten state guernseys for Tasmania from 1961-1965.
The biggest feather in Flint’s cap however came in 1965, when he was afforded the honour of captaining ‘The Map’ in two games against South Australia.
His performance in the second match, in which Tasmania went down by just 10 points, was particularly lauded, however the match also saw Flint suffer a reaggravation of his knee injury which ultimately led to his retirement aged just 29.
Flint returned to the north-west coast two years later, briefly taking the field again as playing coach with Natone before hanging up the boots for good at the end of 1970.
Dale Flint passed away in 2023, aged 87.
Flint will be honoured alongside his fellow Hall of Fame inductees at AFL Tasmania’s night of nights later this month.
For the first time since the inaugural Hall of Fame Gala Dinner – Icons Royce Hart, Peter Hudson and Ian Stewart will all be in attendance, offering a special opportunity to talk to the trio in an exciting time for the game in Tasmania.
The night will feature five new inductees, one Icon elevation and the induction of George Town’s legendary team that won eight flags in a row from 2002 – 2009.
The Gala Dinner taking place on Friday February 28 at My State Bank Arena.
Tickets are available now for $185 each, to book your seat please email events@afltas.com.au