Shinboner number: 1
Guernsey number: 1
Born: September 27, 1893
Died: February 10, 1980
Occupation: Paper merchant / Traveller
North Melbourne games: 21 (1925-26)
Goals: 0
Eicke was born in Prahran, Victoria, the second child of Jessie Forrester (nee Thompson) and English-born father George Augustus Eicke. He began his outstanding football career with St Kilda FC at the age of 15 years and 315 days - one of only six AFL/VFL players to play aged 15.
From 1909 to 1924 he played 194 games with St Kilda. He was known as a brilliant kick and a great mark despite only being 1.75m tall, and became one of the VFA's greatest defenders. He won St Kilda's Best & Fairest three times and was captain/coach in 1919 and 1924.
In 1925 he became North Melbourne's first VFL captain/coach, debuting in Round 1, selected at centre half-back. The Sporting Globe noted, "Eicke lifted the attack", and the following week, "Eicke was playing magnificently in defence". The Argus noted, "Eicke - never has he played better. His marking was superb." In Round 3 at Arden St it was reported, "Essendon were finding it hard to pass Eicke."
He resigned in 1926 as captain-coach citing business reasons, but played a further four games for North and then requested a clearance back to St Kilda, where he had another three games.
In 1929 he was cleared to VFA Prahran, then had coaching roles with St Kilda seconds and in 1934 Brighton FC. Eicke holds the record of having played with the most number of teammates (299).
In 1941 he enlisted in the Army in WW2 ranked as a Warrant Officer Class 2, serving for four years.
In 1996 he was honoured as an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame and was also named in the St Kilda Hall of Fame in 2007.
Eicke married Alberta (nee Woodland) in 1916 and they had at least one daughter. Eicke died in Prahran, aged 86, and was cremated at Springvale Botanical Cemetery.
