Rod Austin
Rodney Albert Austin, nicknamed "Curly" for his wavy hair, was born on 26 January 1953. He played Australian rules football for Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1972 to 1985, appearing in 220 games and kicking 20 goals. He was 180 cm tall and weighed 80 kg. His original clubs were Holy Child and St Dominic’s.
Austin was known for his unconventional kicking and his versatility in defense, capable of playing as a second full-back or as a rover resting in the forward pocket. He helped Carlton win the 1979 premiership and also played in 1981 and 1982 but missed those flags due to injury.
A memorable moment came in Round 14 of the 1977 season when Carlton faced Hawthorn. Austin was tasked with keeping Hawthorn star Peter Hudson goalless, a difficult job he accomplished as Carlton won by 14 points. He later explained that he countered Hudson by playing off him, spoiling at the right times, and relying on teammates for support.
After retiring as a player, Austin became a coach. He led Footscray’s reserves to a premiership in 1988, then became senior coach of Fitzroy in 1989, guiding the Lions to sixth place. In 1990 a planned merger with Footscray was halted by a public fundraising effort, and Fitzroy finished 12th with Austin’s contract not renewed.
Austin was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame in 1997 and received the Australian Sports Medal in 2001 for his services to football. His son Nick Austin has worked in AFL list management for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:09 (CET).