Career : 1985 - 1987
Debut : Round 7, 1985 vs Sydney, aged 22 years, 103 days
Carlton Player No. 926
Games : 23 (13 at Carlton)
Goals : 34 (15 at Carlton)
Last Game : Round 16, 1987 vs West Coast, aged 24 years, 160 days
Guernsey Nos. 34 (1987), 49 (1985 - 1986)
Height : 184 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 81 kg (12 stone, 11 lbs.)
DOB : 2 February, 1963
Throughout the 1980s, the position of full-forward at Carlton resembled a revolving door. Among the many prospects tried - and sooner or later discarded - were Ross Ditchburn, Warren Ralph, Warren McKenzie, Phil Poursanidis, Michael Gallagher, Peter Sartori... the list goes on. Another who jumped on the merry-go-round was Darren Ogier - who, despite being a prolific goal kicker in the Reserves, managed only a handful of senior games. Still, he is regarded as the first Blue to sport a genuine “mullet” hairstyle, and that obviously proved inspirational to a young interstate recruit named Stephen Kernahan.
By the time Ogier made his senior debut for Carlton against Sydney in Round 7, 1985, he had already been at Princes Park for five seasons. A versatile leading forward with keen goal sense, he had won an Under 19 Best and Fairest in 1982 and topped Carlton Reserves’ goal-kicking in 1984 before playing a key role in the Blues’ 1986 Reserves Premiership side. Carlton’s list at the time was a strong one, however, and every position was hotly contested. A couple of bouts of concussion didn’t help Darren’s cause, and by the end of 1986 he had managed only five senior appearances for an average return of a goal a game.
In 1987, Carlton coach Robert Walls threw down the gauntlet to Ogier by challenging him to make full-forward his domain. Darren played eight of the first sixteen games of the season and booted ten goals, only to lose his place in the team for the last time in the wake of a narrow defeat by West Coast in early July. He was delisted at the end of the year, and found his way to North Melbourne for the 1988 season, but not before an unusual transfer wrangle that saw him sign with two clubs in two days. On Thursday February 18th, Ogier put pen to paper with Melbourne. Two and a half hours later he rang Melbourne officials back saying he had changed his mind about joining the Demons. On Friday, Ogier signed with North Melbourne, where Kangaroos coach John Kennedy was keen to try Ogier at full-back.
Alas, it wasn't to be, and Ogier played just two games for the Shinboners, kicking three goals. Coincidentally, the last of those matches was against Carlton, and he potted two majors. The following season (1989), he headed north of the border to Sydney, to play a further eight games for 16 goals under new Swans coach Col Kinnear - who had seen plenty of Ogier in the Carlton Reserves. Darren's final two games for the Swans were among his most productive, as he posted five goals against Footscray, then another four against the Eagles to round off his AFL career at 23 games and 34 goals over five seasons.
1991 - Whilst living in England, Ogier guided the Earls Court Kangaroos to the British Australian Rules Football League Premiership.
1998 - Ogier played in a premiership with the Oak Park Super-Rules Division 1 (over 35's) in their win over Eastern Districts.
1998 - 2001 Ogier was was an assistant coach in the VFL with the Northern Bullants.
2006 - Ogier served as the senior coach of Katamatite in the Picola and District Football League for the 2006 season.
2007 - 09; Ogier joined the Murray Bushrangers in the elite TAC Cup as an assistant coach in which they won the premiership in 2008.
2010 - 15; Ogier was appointed Coach for the Murray Bushrangers, under his tenure they would become finalists in his last 4 seasons.
2016 - Darren Ogier moved to Melbourne Football Club as a part-time coach and also at Casey as a part-time coach.
2017 - Ogier rekindled his relationship with Carlton when he returned to Princes Park as an assistant coach at the Northern Blues.
Footnotes
Ogier originally played for Carlton way back in 1974, as a member of the Blues Little League squad. Six years later, he returned when he was recruited from northern suburbs club Hadfield.On Sunday, May 12, 1985 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Ogier shared his senior debut at Carlton with future club legend Stephen Silvagni. The Blues beat the Swans by 5 points in a thriller, with Ken Hunter a star up forward with four goals.
Career Highlights
1982 - Under-19 Best & Fairest1984 - Reserves Leading Goalkicker (59 goals)
1986 - Reserves Premiership Player
1987 - Reserves Premiership Player
1987 - Reserves 3rd Best & Fairest
1987 - Reserves Runner-up in Goalkicking (46 goals)