The son of Michael Vallence and Mary Ann Vallence, née Pattinson,[1] Henry Francis Vallence was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, on 4 June 1905.
He married Lorna Josephine Bliss (1915–1996) on 17 June 1940.[2]
Football
Carlton (VFL)
Originally from Bacchus Marsh, in 1926 he came to Carlton as a half-forward. He soon moved to full-forward, where he became known for his safe hands and mighty kick. He kicked 11 goals in a match on four occasions—twice in finals.
Williamstown (VFA)
In 1937, he left Carlton to play with Williamstown Football Club in the Victorian Football Association as captain-coach. His dispute with Carlton arising when he returned from representing Victoria in an interstate match to find himself selected at centre half-back in the seconds' grade.
Vallence returned again to Williamstown in 1939, this time playing under the Association's throw-pass rules adopted in 1938. In 1939, Vallence kicked 133 goals and helped Williamstown to a premiership, and he kicked another 111 goals in 1940. On 24 May 1941, Vallence achieved two significant milestones: he kicked a career-high twenty goals against Sandringham and brought up his 1000th career goal across both the League and Association.[3] His career with Williamstown ended after 1941, when the competition went into recess during World War II.
Carlton (VFL)
He was captain-coach of the Carlton Reserves for three seasons (1942–1944).[4]
Brighton (VFA)
Vallence resumed playing after World War II as the captain-coach at Brighton, where he played his last game in 1946 (kicking 11 goals).[5][6]
Vallence played 204 games and kicked 722 goals for Carlton in his career; the latter was a club record until broken by Stephen Kernahan in 1997. He scored a further 337 goals for Williamstown, 88 for Brighton, and 19 in representative games for Victoria, for a career total of 1166 goals.
