Earl Spalding (born 11 March 1965 in South Perth) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne and Carlton in the Victorian Football League/Australian Football League.

Spalding grew up in Perth, Western Australia, where he attended Wesley College. His father, George Spalding was a well-known WAFL player with the Perth Football Club.

After leaving school, Spalding played for 63 games for Perth between 1983 and 1986. He also played four games of cricket for Western Australia as a fast bowler, during the 1984/85 season, taking 12 wickets at an average of 25.66.

He started his VFL/AFL career with Melbourne and was there from 1987 to 1991, playing 109 games. The following season he signed with Carlton and played 22 games for the year. He won a premiership with Carlton in 1995, and in 1996 brought up his 200th game of league football. He played his last senior AFL game in 1997. He then returned to Western Australia, but switched to East Fremantle, where he played 32 games over two seasons, retiring after the 1999 season having played 314 senior games of football in the WAFL and AFL.

Spalding's brother Scott also played for Carlton.

Spalding is currently working with the Fremantle Football Club as an assistant coach.

[edit] External links

• Earl Spalding Statistics
• WA Football 200 Club
• Cricinfo: Earl Spalding