World Footy News

Richard Pratt has died after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 74. In a media release from the AFL, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Demetriou last night said the AFL commission and Staff wished to pass on their sincere condolences to the family of the late Richard Pratt.

Mr. Demetriou said Mr. Pratt had made an enormous contribution to Australian life and his work within football was often not realised by the wider community. “Mr. Pratt played a pivotal role in forming and bringing out the Peace Team last year (pictured) to play in the AFL International Cup. This team brought together Palestinians and Israelis on the sporting field for the first time -- a monumental achievement."


“Mr. Pratt played a pivotal role in the rebirth and reinvigoration of the Carlton Football Club over the last few years, after the club had fallen into financial trouble, and it is now once again in a strong position as one of our game’s leaders. On the wider front, he has been a creator of jobs and generous benefactor for so many charities and public works. He will be sadly missed.”

“The Cardboard King” took on the Carlton Football Club Presidency February 2007. The man who took over from him as President, Stephen Kernaghan said “It’s a very sad day for the Carlton Football Club family. Dick Pratt was the man who saved Carlton. There’s no doubt about it." He’s as true a Carlton bloke as you will get and what he did for our club in its time of need, when he had other important things in his life and didn’t have to do it, showed his love for Carlton."

It is in his role as President of the Club that Richard will be best remembered, but his contribution is far greater than that. Originally a player with Carlton’s Under 19 and reserves teams; he also served on both the Carlton Football Club and Carlton Social Club Boards and supported the Club in numerous ways for many years including sponsorship." At the time of his death he was the Patron of the Carlton Football Club.