{{short description|Australian rules footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox AFL biography | name = Geoff Hendriks | image = | fullname = Geoffrey Francis Hendriks | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|2|6|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | height = 185 cm | weight = 84 kg | originalteam = Trinity College | position = Utility | years1 = 1975–1985 | club1 = {{WAFL|WP}} | games_goals1 = 169 (112) | careerhighlights = * West Perth premiership team 1975 * West Perth life member }}

'''Geoffrey Francis "Geoff" Hendriks''' (born 6 February 1959) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) between 1975 and 1985. He is the youngest premiership player in the competition's history, having won a premiership with the Falcons at the age of 16 in his debut season.

==Biography== Hendriks is the son of Dutch immigrants.<ref name="father">[http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/New-reliever-Liam-Hendriks-wants-to-help-A-s-6878218.php New reliever Liam Hendriks wants to help A’s and animals]</ref> He attended Trinity College, Perth.<ref>[http://www.wafootball.com.au/resources/47/history Premiership Players 1931 - 2009]</ref>

Hendriks made his senior debut for West Perth at the age of 16 years 195 days, at the time making the ninth-youngest player to play a senior WA(N)FL game. He became (and remains) the second-youngest ever West Perth player ever (after Pat Rodriguez), and one of only four to play for the team at the age of 16 (alongside Rodriguez, Les Fong, and Frank Golding).<ref>[http://www.wafootball.com.au/resources/47/history Oldest & Youngest WAFL Players]</ref> After breaking into the team in the final round of the 1975 season, Hendriks held his place in West Perth's line-up for the second semi-final against Swan Districts. He did enough to win selection for the grand final team, and helped his side to a record-breaking 104-point win against South Fremantle in front of a crowd of 52,322 fans.<ref name="footy facts">{{WAFL FootyFacts}}</ref> Hendriks became the first 16-year-old to win a WA(N)FL premiership, and remains the youngest ever. Stephen Coniglio, who won a medal with Swan Districts in 2010, is the only player to come close to this record.<ref>[http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/wa-football/perfect-end-for-swans-coach-dawson-20100924-15ptx.html Perfect end for Swans coach Dawson]</ref>

In the early rounds of the 1977 season, Hendriks was pushed into the forward line for the first time by coach Graham Campbell, and responded by kicking 22 goals in five games including nine against Claremont in round six. In the 18 games before that he had never kicked a goal. His form eventually tapered off and he was moved back to other positions, although he did return to the forward line briefly at other times. His next-best haul was six goals against East Fremantle in round five 1978, but other than that he never again kicked more than three goals in a game.<ref name="footy facts"/> According to the WA Football Budget of June 12, 1982, "over the years Hendriks has been used in a variety of positions, including ruck rover or half-forward, but it is clear he is best suited to defence".<ref>[http://www.waflfootyfacts.net/budgets/1982/0612.pdf WA Football Budget] June 12, 1982</ref>

By the time of his retirement after the 1985 season, Hendriks had played 169 senior games for West Perth and kicked 112 goals. This included two games in the NFL Night Series in 1977–78 and five in the AFC Night Series in 1979–81, against interstate teams like North Adelaide, Glenelg, South Melbourne, Hawthorn, and North Melbourne. Hendriks and West Perth never played in another grand final after his debut year, but he did play in losing preliminary finals in 1977 and 1982. Several of his seasons were affected by injuries of various types.<ref name="footy facts"/> He was unlucky to miss out on selection for Western Australia – if state of origin rules had not been adopted he probably would've played at least a couple games for the state.

After retiring from football Hendriks became the principal of St Patrick's Catholic School Katanning and later Sacred Heart Thornlie. He is currently Director of Business at Bindoon Agricultural College Bindoon.<ref>[http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/20/austrian-rules-baseball-hendriks-thriving-in-jays-pen Australian rules baseball: Hendriks thriving in Jays pen]</ref> He has also worked as a WA talent scout for Sydney Swans.<ref>[http://www.communitynews.com.au/joondalup-times/sport/perth-father-proud-of-son-liam-hendriks-record-breaking-effort-for-toronto-blue-jays-against-kansas-city-royals-in-major-league-baseball-playoffs/ Perth father proud of son Liam Hendriks’ record breaking effort for Toronto Blue Jays against Kansas City Royals in Major League Baseball playoffs]</ref>

==Family== Hendriks is the father of professional baseball player Liam Hendriks of the Chicago White Sox. Liam was a talented footballer and eligible for the West Coast Eagles AFL team under the father–son rule in place at the time, but chose not to pursue football.<ref name="father"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hendriks, Geoff}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Australian people of Dutch descent Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia Category:West Perth Football Club players Category:People educated at Trinity College, Perth Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen