Former Collingwood player Duncan Wright passes away after battling prostate cancer

Former Collingwood player Duncan Wright, who was at the centre of one of footy’s most famous photos, has passed away after battling prostate cancer.

John Somerville on the ground after an incident with Duncan Wright.

Former Collingwood player Duncan Wright, who was involved in one of football’s most controversial on-field incidents, has died, aged 82.

The Magpies have paid tribute to Wright, who died on Monday after battling prostate cancer in recent years.

Wright played only 23 games for Collingwood as a “lively and aggressive” utility through the early 1960s.

He would almost certainly have played more had it not been for one moment in the 1965 preliminary final against Essendon that changed everything.

Just nine minutes into the game – which was Wright’s third for the season and his first in more than 10 weeks after recovering from a broken collarbone – the crowd suddenly realised Essendon forward John Somerville had been knocked out in a behind-the-play incident.

In what became known as “the Somerville Incident”, the only Magpie in the vicinity was Wright, who stood impassively with his hands on his hips beside the fallen Bomber.

The image became one of footy’s most famous photographs.

The famous photo after ‘The Somerville Incident’.

Few had seen what had happened, and Wright maintained his silence on the incident for decades, but there was little doubt who Essendon supporters and the Bombers’ players blamed.

Some Magpie players said the hostility from the other side of the fence that day was as intense as they had ever experienced.

The Bombers went on to win the game by 55 points, and the premiership a week later against St Kilda, albeit without Somerville who was still recovering after being taken to hospital following the incident.

Such was the outcry after the preliminary final that Wright was interviewed by police but a lack of witnesses who had actually seen the incident meant he was never charged by the VFL or authorities.

It would turn out to be Wright’s final VFL game. He played in the club’s practice matches in 1966, but was delisted just before the start of the season.

The club suggested it was for form reasons, but Wright always suspected it had more to do with what had happened on preliminary final day 1965.

Described by The Sun as “a courageous battler with good hands for marking … (who) sticks close and knows how to bump”, Wright never spoke about the incident until the 50-year anniversary in 2015.

Duncan Wright’s career was cut short.

In an interview with Ben Collins from afl.com.au, he finally admitted he had struck Somerville, but insisted he had been provoked and he had given several warnings to his opponent to stop the niggling.

“If I had have been allowed to stay (at Collingwood), I would’ve played a lot more games. And I would’ve loved to have stayed there,” Wright said at the time.

One former player from an opposition team said that while Wright was a fierce opponent on the field, he was also “one of the nicest blokes you’d ever meet.”

The Magpies said this week: “The Board, management, staff, coaches and players of the Collingwood Football Club would like to acknowledge Duncan Wright’s contribution to our footy club and also at local level with Alphington.”

“Our thoughts are with his family, and all his friends from Collingwood, Alphington and beyond.”

Wright is survived by his daughters Fiona and Suzi, and his grandchildren Jack, Billy, Amy, Sam and Josh.