Former Geelong captain Michael Turner has sadly passed away, aged 70, following a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Turner, who played 245 games for the Cats in the VFL between 1974 and 1988, passed away peacefully on Monday at the Lorne Hospital.
![[Geelong Falcons published a statement on their Facebook account on Monday evening paying tribute to Turner]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/13/93585599-14236187-image-a-3_1735564295804.jpg)
After growing up in Warrnambool, Turner would go on to follow in the footsteps of his father Leo by pursuing a career in football. The pair both played for Geelong in the VFL and were named on opposite wings in the club's 'Team of the Century' back in 2001.
![[Ex-AFL star Ricky Nixon also paid tribute to Turner, lauding him as a great manager to younger stars]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/13/93585593-14236187-image-a-5_1735564338076.jpg)
Michael kicked an astounding 285 goals for the Cats during his time at the club and was crowned the side's leading goalkicker in 1982 with 40 strikes that season. He also captained the Cats for three seasons and was named in the 1979 All-Australian squad before he left in 1988, taking up a captain-coach position at the Werribee football club in Victoria.
![[Barwon Heads Football and Netball Club sent their sympathies to his wife karen and children]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/30/13/93585597-14236187-image-a-4_1735564334385.jpg)
He'd later go on to work as a manager for the Geelong Falcons, who spoke of their heartbreak at the news of his passing on social media. Geelong legend Michael Turner has sadly passed away following a long battle with illness. Geelong Falcons published a statement on their Facebook account on Monday evening paying tribute to Turner.
'The Geelong Falcons program is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Mick Turner,' the club said in a statement published on social media. 'Mick passed away today at the Lorne Hospital after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. 'Put simply, the Geelong Falcons aren’t the program it is today without Mick. In his 25 years as Talent Manager, he guided so many careers on and off the field and has had a monumental impact on football in the South West of Victoria over many decades. MT9’s legacy will live long in the walls of Highton Reserve and in all the faces who have come through the club.'.
