Eric James Edward Fleming (16 March 1903 – 20 August 1984) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and for the Oakleigh Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

Family

The son of Edward Reardon Fleming (1864–1931), and Mabel Hilda Fleming (1879–1967), née Propsting, Eric James Edward Fleming was born at Melbourne on 16 March 1903. He married Coral Myrtle Frood (1909–2000) in 1928.

Football

South Bendigo (BFL)

While attending school, he played with the South Bendigo Football Club in the Bendigo Football League (BFL) in 1921. He was one of the best players in a BFL representative team that played against a VFL representative team at Bendigo on 6 August 1921.

Geelong (VFL)

Eric Fleming was a tall, high marking ruckman who notably had an exceptional torpedo punt. He could also play at half forward and averaged over a goal a game in his career. Cleared from South Bendigo to Geelong on 10 May 1922, he was a member of Geelong's 1925 premiership side.

VFL representative

In 1925, he was selected in the VFL representative side, as second-ruck, to play against South Australia, in Adelaide, on 4 July 1925. He scored a goal in a match that South Australia won by 3 points: 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74).

12 July 1924

Fleming was involved in a controversial incident during Geelong's 12 July 1924 match against Fitzroy, at the Corio Oval. With Geelong trailing by 3 points, Fleming took a mark near goal just before the final siren sounded. As Fleming prepared to take his place-kick, no fewer than 11 Fitzroy players many of whom were of the strong opinion that Fleming had not taken a clean mark stood on the mark, along with several of the Fitzroy trainers, waving their towels, and a number of Fitzroy supporters who had come on to the field. Fleming's kick was not a good one, and was touched by some of the assembled pack. The umpire, Jack Scott, gave Fleming a second chance. Fleming kicked the goal (again from a place-kick) and Geelong won the match 9.14 (68) to 9.11 (65). Because of the Fitzroy players’ interference while Fleming was in the process of making his second kick, the umpire had blown his whistle and, if Fleming's kick had not scored a goal, he would have been allowed to make a third attempt:

Laws of the game

A change in the laws of the game was made before the 1925 season, as a consequence of this incident, such that only one defending player was allowed to stand on the mark.

Oakleigh (VFA)

He joined VFA club Oakleigh, without a clearance, in 1929. He played for Oakleigh in its first-ever VFA match on 20 April 1929, and went on to play in 103 matches over 6 Seasons (1929 to 1934). He played at centre half-forward in their 1930 and 1931 premierships.

VFA Representative

On 6 June 1931, selected as a replacement for the injured Brighton player, George Hunt, he represented the VFA in a one-sided match, played in atrocious conditions, against the VFL at the MCG he scored one of the VFA's three goals: VFL 12.17 (89) to VFA 3.10 (28).

Eaglehawk (BFL)

On 17 April 1935 he was granted a clearance to the Eaglehawk Football Club in the Bendigo Football League, where he had been appointed captain-coach. Eaglehawk won the 1935 BFL premiership. In March 1936, it was reported that, "Fleming has been reappointed at Eaglehawk, but will return to Oakleigh if employment can be found for him"; and, on 30 March 1936, he played for Oakleigh in a pre-season match against North Melbourne. He returned to Eaglehawk, and was captain-coach for the entire 1936. Eaglehawk lost the 1936 BFL Preliminary Final to the Kyneton Football Club, coached by ex-Footscray player Bill Spurling: 11.18 (84) to 22.14 (146).

General Motors-Holdens (SMFL)

On 4 May 1937 the Saturday Morning Football League registered Fleming, along with ex-South Melbourne Jack Graham, ex-Sturt and Carlton Keith Dunn, to play with the General Motors-Holdens' football team that was coached by Austin Robertson. He was still at play in 1939.

Death

He died at Melbourne, Victoria on 20 August 1984.