Dale Anthony Carpenter

STATISTICS

DOB:
Career: 1981- 1985, 1996 - 1997
Senior Games: 80
Reserves Games: 0
3rds Games: 0

A son of former Carrum strongman and boxer, Sonny Carpenter, Dale had the build to play ‘straight ahead football’ and he capitalised on it.

Arriving at Chelsea in 1981 to join the John Greening assault on the Peninsula flag, he soon found that his aggressive, uncompromising approach to the game would be a  vital part of Chelsea’s team balance.

A ferocious and courageous competitor, he had the ability to influence the outcome of games with inspiring bursts of brilliance as an on-baller or small forward. With club and competition Best and Fairest awards to his credit he enjoyed regular selection in the interleague side and was a key member of Chelsea’s heart-breaking Grand Final loss in 1981. Drained by the loss, he sought a new direction as senior coach at Glen Alvie. This preceded an appointment at Pines and another runner-up award in 1987, this time against his old team Chelsea.

Dale finally tasted success in 1988 with the Pines team having an emotional victory over Edi/Asp. A coaching stint at Carrum led him back to Chelsea for a three year senior coaching role commencing in 1996 just as his playing days were coming to a close. With strict financial constraints, recruiting was minimal and Dale was forced to accept a decline in performances and a very much reduced salary, which he did willingly to assist the club through hard times.

Dale has continued to coach on the Peninsula and is now nearing a record 300 games as a coach, a remarkable performance from the tough little bloke from Bonbeach.

With an overall involvement in thirteen Grand Finals for five premierships, Dale has demonstrated great leadership over a long period of time.

For the trivia buff's Dale holds a very unique record. In 1982 he played 11 senior games with Chelsea and on the back of that he won the MPNFL Peninsula Division Snr Best & Fairest. Chelsea did not play finals that season and using a loophole in the rules he was granted a permit to play in the finals with Bonbeach. Bonbeach duly won the Nepean League Premiership defeating Pines in the Grand Final, with Dale Carpenter a member of the winning Team. 

The MPNFL was quick to close this loophole ensuring that such an anomilty could not occur again and Dale returned to play with Chelsea in 1983. He went on to win the Club's senior Best & Fairest that season.