Playing Career : 1920
Debut and Only Game : Round 6, 1920 Aged 22 years 203 days vs Melbourne
Carlton Player No. 352
Goals : 0
Guernsey No. 6
Height : ?
Weight : ?
DOB : November 14, 1897
Alf Key was born in North Carlton and recruited from Carlton District. He represented Carlton in a single game in Season 1920. His only Carlton game was a defeat by Melbourne at Princes Park by 18 points. He played another 2 games for Fitzroy in 1921 without scoring a goal.
Alf transferred to Fitzroy FC for the 1921 VFL Season, making his Maroons debut in our 22 point loss to the Geelong FC, in Round 5, at the Brunswick Street Oval, in his number 33 jumper, worn 27 years later, by Fitzroy's Team of Our Century Ruckman and former Captain, Alan “Butch” Gale. Alf’s last Senior game for the Maroons was 2 weeks later, in a 28 point loss to the Melbourne FC, in Round 7, at the home of VFL Football, the MCG, as Fitzroy FC finished in 5th position on the VFL League Ladder, with 6 wins, 2 draws and 8 losses, with Alf’s previous Carlton side, going down to the Richmond FC, by 4 points, in the Grand Final, at the MCG, winning their 2nd Premiership in a row.
Key passed away on the 29th November, 1977 aged 80.
Images of players who only played a handful of games are very difficult to find.
Carlton historian Tony De Bolfo was contacted by a friend of the daughter of former Carlton trainer Perc Gillett. Tony's story of how Alf Key's photo came to light can be read here.
https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1053989/a-supporter-s-generosity-the-key-to-solving-100-year-mystery