Charlie Gaudion

Charles Henry Gaudion (14 April 1904 – 24 September 1979) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Footscray and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

The son of John Richard Gaudion (1878-1914), and Margaret Robina Parkhill Gaudion (1884-1964), née Cunningham, Charles Henry Gaudion was born at Footscray on 14 April 1904.

Gaudion was a key position player and began his career in 1926 at Footscray.

He played with the club for four seasons before moving to the Victorian Football Association (VFA) where he signed with Coburg.

After just a year at Coburg he returned to the league and played with North Melbourne, becoming a regular in their side during the 1930s.

He was also a regular for Victoria at interstate football, playing every year from 1932 to 1936, the last as captain.

He married Mary Monica Agnes "Molly" Kelly (1912-1961), in Footscray, on 22 July 1933.

He was the father of North Melbourne player Michael Gaudion (1938-2021) and VFL umpire Charles Joseph "Barry" Gaudion, the brother of Yarraville, North Melbourne, Geelong, and Coburg footballer John Donald "Jack" Gaudion (1910-1993), and the nephew of Collingwood footballer Francis Charles "Frank" Gaudion (1882-1952).

In 1940 he was captain-coach of West Adelaide.

In both 1956 and 1957 he coached North Melbourne, many of those games involving his son Michael.

In the 1960s he served as players' advocate at the VFL Tribunal.

He died at the Marshall Park Nursing Home in the Perth suburb of Midland on 24 September 1979.