Clen Denning
Clen Charles Denning was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.
Soon after he turned 16, Denning played for Victorian Football Association club Oakleigh. He got his start in the VFL after a long wait when Oakleigh coach Frank Maher moved to coach the Carlton Football Club. Denning debuted with Carlton in 1935.
Early in his career made a name for himself as a promising goalkicker; he scored six goals from his first six kicks in his first match.
He only stayed with the Blues until the end of 1937, having played 18 games for 23 goals.
In 1938 he crossed over to the Fitzroy Football Club, and was said to be unhappy at Carlton. He scored 37 goals in 1939 to be their leading goalkicker. From then on he focused more on a defensive role, becoming a back pocket. He represented Victoria at interstate football in 1941 and in 1944 was back pocket in Fitzroy's premiership side.
After leaving Fitzroy, Denning played for and coached Ararat. In 1958, he was the inaugural VFA coach of the Dandenong Football Club.
From the October 2009 death of Jimmy Bates until his own the following month, he was the oldest living former VFL player.
