Arthur 'Poddy' Hiskins (9 September 1886 – 23 October 1971) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Family One of fourteen children, and the son of John Hiskins (1853–1946)Obituary: Mr. John Hiskins, The Corowa Free Press, (Friday, 27 September 1946), p.5. and Emma Hiskins (1856–1934), née Thompson,Death of Mrs. E. Hiskens, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 13 January 1934), p.4. Arthur Hiskins was born in Wahgunyah, Victoria, on 9 September 1886. He married Annie Wilhelmina "Minnie" Bett (1897–1986) in 1927.Marriages: Hiskins—Bett, The Argus, (Saturday, 24 December 1927), p.11.Deaths: Hiskins, The Age, (Saturday, 12 July 1986), p.33.
Three of his eight brothers also played senior VFL football: Fred Hiskins (1878–1946), played 50 games with Essendon, Stanley Hiskins (1890–1974), 66 games with South Melbourne, and Rupert Hiskins (1893–1976), 74 games with Carlton. His nephew, Jack Hiskins, Fred's son, played 16 games with Essendon.
Football Recruited from Rutherglen Football Club,Football, The Albury Banner and Wodonga Express, (Friday, 9 August 1907), p.23. Hiskins was a versatile player who was usually used in defence but sometimes pushed up forward. He could kick the ball long distances, and was one of the faster players in the side.
Player (South Melbourne) He made his debut on 2 May 1908, against Fitzroy, at the age of 21.South Melbourne (7.11) Beat Fitzroy (6.8), The Age, (Monday, 4 May 1908), p.11; South Melbourne's Prospects, The Argus, (Monday, 4 May 1908), p.9. He played 185 senior games, kicked 56 goals, and retired, aged 37, at the end of 1923, having played at full-back in the 1923 Preliminary Final (also against Fitzroy).The Final Match, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 6 October 1923), p.2; Football, The Argus, (Monday, 8 October 1923), p.12; Final, The Age, (Monday, 8 October 1923), p.13.
Over his career, he played in six Semi-Finals, three Preliminary Finals, and one Grand Final, selected at centre half-forward,Football Final: South Melbourne v. Carlton: Positions on the Field, The Argus, (Saturday, 2 October 1909), p.17. in the 1909 premiership team.South Melbourne Wins: The Game of the Season, The Argus, (Monday, 4 October 1909), p.6; The Football Premiership, The Age, (Monday, 4 October 1909) p.8; The Game, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 9 October 1909), p.3.
He did not play in 1916, 1917, and 1918 due to his war service. He immediately resumed his career, upon his discharge from the army (on 1 September 1919),Welcome Home: Driver Arthur Hiskins, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 9 August 1919), p.2. in the match against Carlton on 6 September 1919.
Representative player In 1913, he was selected to represent the VFL in a match against a combined Ballarat Football League team on 5 July 1913;Play and Players, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 4 July 1913), p.4. he was replaced by Bill Eastick.Football, The Ballarat Star, (Friday, 11 July 1913), p.6.
Captain-coach (South Melbourne) He was captain-coach of South Melbourne in 1920.
Goal Umpire Hiskins officiated in 52 league games as a goal umpire from 1930 to 1933.Player-Umpires, AFL Umpires Association.
Tribunal He was reported twice; and was suspended on each occasion. 1912: 31 August 1912 (round 18) — reported by VFL steward Fred Fontaine for striking Collingwood's Ted Rowell, he was suspended for 4 matches:Rough Football: Hiskens Disqualified, The Argus, (Thursday, 5 September 1912), p.4; Play and Players, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 6 September 1912), p.2. "the investigation committee held that the charge … [of] striking Rowell … was sustained by the evidence, and that being so, they rightly determined that the pugilistic tendency [of Hiskens] should be checked by rustication" (The Leader, 14 September 1912).Football Gossip, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 14 September 1912), p.18. 1914: 6 June 1914 (round 7) — reported, again by Fred Fontaine, for striking Richmond's Ted Farrell, he was suspended for the rest of the season (i.e., 13 matches).Football Incidents: A Rough Game, The Argus, (Monday, 8 June 1914), p.8; Checking Rough Football: League Players Disqualified, The Argus, (Friday, 12 June 1914(, p.10.; Football, The Richmond Australian, (Saturday, 13 June 1914), p.3; Hiskens Disqualified, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 13 June 1914), p.3; (News), The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 13 June 1914), p.2.
Military service Hiskins enlisted in the First AIF in October 1916, and was discharged in September 1919.
Death He died on 23 October 1971.Deaths: Hiskins, The Age, (Monday, 25 October 1971), p.13.
Footnotes
References Sad Beach Fatality: Girl of Eleven Drowned: Another Girl in Grave Peril: South Footballer to the Rescue, The (Emerald Hill) Record, (Saturday, 26 January 1924, p.1.
World War One Service Record: Driver Arthur Hiskens (33157), National Archive of Australia. First World War Nominal Roll: Driver Arthur Hiskens (33157), Australian War Museum.
External links
Arthur Hiskins's coaching record at AFL Tables Boyles Football Photos: Arthur Hiskins