View source for Allen Aylett

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer and administrator (1934–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Allen Aylett<br /><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|OBE}}}}</small>
| image =
| full_name = Allen James Aylett
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|4|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|9|16|1934|4|24|df=yes}}
| death_place =
| originalteam = University High
| height = 174 cm
| weight = 80 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1964
| years1 = 1952–1964
| club1 = [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]]
| games_goals1 = 220 (311)
| careerhighlights =
}}

'''Allen James Aylett''' [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (24 April 1934 – 16 September 2022) was an [[Australian rules football]] player and administrator, best known for his administrator career for which he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2006. As chairman of the then [[Australian Football League|Victorian Football League]] (VFL) from 1977 to 1984 he oversaw the competition's first expansion outside Victoria into the Sydney market with the establishment of the [[Sydney Swans]], ultimately paving the way for it to become a national competition.

==Early life==
Aylett was born in [[Melbourne]] on 24 April 1934.<ref name="ESPN bio">{{cite web|title=Allen Aylett profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/allen-aylett-4044|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|work=ESPN Cricinfo|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref> He attended [[University High School, Melbourne|University High School]] in his hometown.<ref name=Nicholson>{{cite news|title=Around-the-clock Doc|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/360646752|page=48|first=Rod|last=Nicholson|date=25 April 2004|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=Herald Sun|location=Melbourne|id={{ProQuest|360646752}}}}</ref> He made his debut for [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]] at the age of 17 while he was still in secondary school, a rare feat at the time.<ref name=SAHOF>{{cite web|title=Allen Aylett|url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/allen-aylett/|publisher=Sport Australia Hall of Fame|access-date=19 September 2022}}</ref>

==Playing career==
It was as an Australian rules football [[Football (Australian rules) positions#Followers|rover]] that Aylett first made his mark. He played 220 games and kicked 311 goals,<ref name="AFL obit">{{cite news|title=North Melbourne legend and former VFL boss Allen Aylett dies, aged 88|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/843243/north-melbourne-legend-and-former-vfl-boss-allen-aylett-dies-aged-88|date=16 September 2022|access-date=19 September 2022|publisher=[[AFL Media]]}}</ref> in a career spanning 1952–1964.<ref name="ABC obit">{{cite news|title=AFL mourns death of 'visionary' North Melbourne legend Allen Aylett|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-16/afl-north-melbourne-mourns-death-of-allen-aylett/101450252|date=16 September 2022|access-date=19 September 2022|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]}}</ref><ref name=Ryan>{{cite news|title=Former VFL president Allen Aylett dies, aged 88|url=https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/former-vfl-president-allen-aylett-dies-aged-88-20220916-p5bis9.html|first=Peter|last=Ryan|date=16 September 2022|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=Brisbane Times}}</ref> He won North Melbourne's [[best and fairest]] award from 1958 to 1960,<ref>{{cite news|title=Aylett plans his latest Roos renaissance|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/357660449|page=22|first=Peter|last=Krupka|date=14 August 2001|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=The Australian|id={{ProQuest|357660449}}}}</ref> was [[All Australian Team|All-Australian]] in 1958 and 1961,<ref name="ABC obit"/> won the [[Tassie Medal]] in 1958 (the first player from Victoria to win),<ref name=SAHOF/><ref name=Happell>{{cite news|title=Savior returns to Arden St|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/363513012|page=1|first=Charles|last=Happell|date=14 August 2001|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=The Age|location=Melbourne|id={{ProQuest|363513012}}}}</ref> won the [[Simpson Medal]] in 1960,<ref name=Happell/> and was captain of his side from 1961 to 1964. He was selected in the [[North Melbourne Football Club]]'s [[Team of the Century]].<ref name=Ryan/>

Aylett also had a brief cricketing career that he never fully pursued due to his interest in Australian rules football. He played as a batsman in 11 first-class matches in the 1950s for domestic cricket side [[Victoria cricket team|Victoria]] but was not successful, finishing with a [[batting average (cricket)|batting average]] of just 16.<ref name="ESPN bio"/> He played [[Victorian Premier Cricket|district cricket]] for [[Carlton Cricket Club|Carlton]] (two seasons) and [[Melbourne University Cricket Club|University]] (six seasons), averaging 27.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://premier.cricketvictoria.com.au/files/3/files/player-register-career-stats/VCA%201st%20XI%20CAREER%20RECORDS%201889-90%20to%202014-15%20A-C.pdf|title=VCA 1st XI Career records 1889–90 to 2014–15, A-C|access-date=30 December 2015|publisher=Cricket Victoria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208175443/http://premier.cricketvictoria.com.au/files/3/files/player-register-career-stats/VCA%201st%20XI%20CAREER%20RECORDS%201889-90%20to%202014-15%20A-C.pdf|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Administration career==
Aylett is best known for his career as an administrator in the 1970s and 1980s. He was elected to the position of [[North Melbourne Football Club]] president in 1971, and his innovative off-field leadership in securing sponsorship and running corporate entertainment – including the rise of the [[North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast]] as one of the Grand Final's most prominent events – followed by his aggressive recruitment of star players, particularly through the use of the short-lived [[Free agency (sports)|"ten-year rule"]] in 1973, turned North Melbourne from perennial also-rans to a professionally run powerhouse of the 1970s,<ref name=SAHOF/><ref>{{citation|title=Sport in Australasian society: Past and present|author1=J. A. Mangan|author2=John Nauright|year=2000|publisher=Frank Cass & Co. Ltd|publication-place=Abingdon, UK}}</ref> and the club contested five consecutive [[AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]]s between 1974 and 1978, winning the [[1975 VFL Grand Final|1975]] and [[1977 VFL Grand Final|1977]] games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Albert Mantello dies: How former North Melbourne president turned kangaroos into a premiership juggernaut|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/vale-albert-mantello-how-north-melbourne-administrator-turned-kangaroos-into-a-premiership-juggernaut/news-story/97fbaa7cda6de47fc3e6b823d7959eab|page=77|date=3 October 2021|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=Herald Sun|location=Melbourne|id={{ProQuest|2578535801}}}}</ref>

Aylett was elected president of the VFL in [[1977 VFL season|1977]]. He continued his aggressive efforts to push the game's administration towards professional and business-driven success. His actions in setting up the [[Australian Football Championships Night Series|VFL's Night Series]] in 1977, as a direct rival to the [[Australian National Football Council|NFL]]'s [[NFL Night Series|Night Series]], delivered both sponsorship opportunities and laid the platform for the VFL to supersede the NFL for control of football in Australia.<ref>{{citation|author=John Devaney|page=252|title=Clubs of the South Australian National Football League|date=2014|publisher=Full Points Publication|publication-place=Great Britain}}</ref> Under his guidance, the league expanded into the Sydney market, making preparations for an expansion team before {{AFL SM}} opted to relocate there;<ref name=SAHOF/> Aylett subsequently sat on the Swans' board of directors. Additionally, during his tenure, the VFL began to establish regular Sunday matches in Victoria; and he fought the [[Melbourne Cricket Club]] and the [[Victorian Government]] to move the Grand Final to [[VFL Park]], ultimately failing to make the move, but securing a better financial deal for the VFL and better ticket access for VFL members.<ref name=SAHOF/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aflma.com/Andrews%20Thesis.pdf|title=A History of the AFL Membership|author=Dr Alf Andrews, PhD|access-date=30 August 2015|archive-date=15 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915114328/http://www.aflma.com/Andrews%20Thesis.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Aylett stepped down in December 1984 following the establishment of the [[AFL Commission|VFL Commission]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publication-place=Canberra, ACT|title='Misunderstood' Aylett quits VFL presidency: no apologies|page=24|date=6 December 1984}}</ref> Aylett also served as president of the [[Australian National Football Council|National Football League]] from 1978 until 1985.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publication-place=Canberra, ACT|title=NFL boss loses his job|date=5 October 1985|page=20}}</ref> He subsequently returned for a second and final stint as North Melbourne Kangaroos president from 2001 to 2005.<ref name=Ryan/>

==Honours==
In the [[1979 Birthday Honours]], Aylett was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) for services to Australian rules football.<ref>Australia: {{London Gazette |issue=47870 |date=15 June 1979 |pages=22 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Allen James Aylett OBE|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1107409|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date=6 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063505/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1107409&search_type=advanced&showInd=true|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 October 2000, he was awarded the [[Australian Sports Medal]] for his contribution to Australian Football.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allen James Aylett|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/978422|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date=6 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064417/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=978422&search_type=advanced&showInd=true|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 January 2001, he was awarded the [[Centenary Medal]] for service to Australian society through the sport of AFL football.<ref>{{cite web|title=Allen James Aylett|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1118717|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date=6 January 2012|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235659/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1118717&search_type=advanced&showInd=true|url-status=live}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Sport Australia Hall of Fame]] as an administrator in 2006.<ref name=SAHOF/>

==Later life==
Aylett worked as a dentist throughout his career and into his eighties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Timms |first1=Daryl |title=Cheers to a North legend |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWGLNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F14D5E975839BDBD0 |access-date=14 January 2025 |work=Herald Sun |via=Newsbank |date=24 April 2014 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Aylett was married to Marjorie "Marj" Wapet<ref name=Nicholson/><ref name=Lyon>{{cite news|title=End of an Era: Aylett passes on baton after stretching boundaries of the game|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/363839952|page=6|first=Karen|last=Lyon|date=20 October 2005|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=The Age|location=Melbourne|id={{ProQuest|363839952}}}}</ref> for 71 years until his death.<ref name="ABC obit"/> They met while studying at University High together.<ref name=Lyon/> Together, they had four children: Tony, Rick, Julie and Sam<ref name="ABC obit"/> along with 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He continued working as a dentist into his eighties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former VFL Chairman and North Melbourne president Dr Allen Aylett still working as a dentist at 80|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/former-vfl-chairman-and-north-melbourne-president-dr-allen-aylett-still-working-as-a-dentist-at-80/news-story/a91a6b85d07748f890dac6a56ed25248?nk=4e89381799170f2c6c528ee1b1bb1592-1663574987|first=Daryl|last=Timms|date=23 April 2014|access-date=19 September 2022|newspaper=Herald Sun|location=Melbourne|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919080948/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/former-vfl-chairman-and-north-melbourne-president-dr-allen-aylett-still-working-as-a-dentist-at-80/news-story/a91a6b85d07748f890dac6a56ed25248|archivedate=19 September 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aylett died on 16 September 2022 at the age of 88.<ref name="AFL obit"/><ref name="ABC obit"/><ref name=Ryan/>

==See also==
* [[List of Victoria first-class cricketers]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051219013641/http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/10/19/1129401316303.html |title="Aylett passes on baton" – article from The Age, October 2005}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806044427/http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/a.htm |title=Profile on Full Points Footy}}
* {{AustralianFootball}}
* {{AFL Tables}}
* {{SAHOF|allen-aylett}}

{{Tassie Medal winners}}
{{Simpson Medal winners}}
{{North Melbourne Football Club captains}}
{{North Melbourne Team of The Century}}
{{Syd Barker Medal}}
{{1958 All-Australian team}}
{{1961 All-Australian team}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aylett, Allen}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne]]
[[Category:North Melbourne Football Club players]]
[[Category:All-Australians (1953–1988)]]
[[Category:Syd Barker Medal winners]]
[[Category:VFL/AFL administrators]]
[[Category:North Melbourne Football Club administrators]]
[[Category:Australian Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Victoria cricketers]]
[[Category:Australian cricketers]]
[[Category:Australian dentists]]
[[Category:Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal]]
[[Category:Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Victoria (state)]]