Spargo started as a half forward but soon established himself in the side as a centreman and it was in that position that he appeared in the 1961 VFL Grand Final loss to Hawthorn.
He had his best VFL season in 1962 when he polled nine Brownlow Medal votes, placing him second behind John Schultz amongst Footscray players that year.
Spargo was lured over to West Perth in 1965, as captain-coach and he won a Simpson Medal the same year for his performance against the Victorians in an interstate match.
A son, Paul Spargo, was an AFL footballer at North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears.
His grandson and Paul's son, Charlie Spargo plays for Melbourne and when he debuted the Spargo family became the first family to produce four league footballers in a direct line.