Dick Abikhair

Richard Abikhair (7 July 1914 – 20 August 1962)^[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn and North Melbourne. Of Lebanese descent, Abikhair usually played as a rover or in the back pocket. His career was partially shortened by the declaration of World War II.

Dick Abikhair
Personal information
Full name	Richard Abikhair
Date of birth	7 July 1914
Place of birth	Rushworth, Victoria
Date of death	20 August 1962(1962-08-20) (aged 48)
Place of death	Arden St Oval, North Melbourne
Original team(s)	Rushworth
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	79 kg (174 lb)
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1934–1938	Hawthorn	060 (10)
1939-1940	Camberwell
1941–1945	North Melbourne	060 0(2)
Total		120 (12)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Abikhair was captain-coach of Casterton Football Club^[2] when they defeated Hamilton to win the 1939 Western District Football League grand final.^[3]

Following his playing career, Abikhair began coaching at the amateur level. While coaching the Carlton Rovers in the Sunday Amateur Football League he received a bomb threat to his Clifton Hill home.^[4] League secretary W. H. Linnington also received similar threats to his Brunswick home. Police patrolled the area and nothing materialised of the threats.

References

1. "Dick Abikhair - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
2. "1939 - Casterton Celebrates". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic). 21 October 1939. p. 58. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
3. "1939 - Casterton's first premiership". Portland Guardian (Vic). 5 October 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
4. "Police patrols watch homes". The Argus. 31 July 1953.

Sources

• Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.

External links

• Dick Abikhair's playing statistics from AFL Tables