Ken Smale, an Australian footballer and music director, died on April 7, 2026.
He was 92. Smale played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and was a forward for the town team in Warracknabeal, where he won the Wimmera Football League goalkicking award in 1952 and 1953.
Footscray showed interest in him in 1953, but he sought a tryout with Collingwood and was given a six-game permit for an Easter Saturday visit to Melbourne. He was a forward in Collingwood’s losing Grand Finals against Melbourne in 1955 and 1956, and was on the bench for the club’s 1958 VFL Grand Final win.
Ken Smale, 92, Australian footballer (Collingwood) and music director. (death announced on this date)