He is known as "the Duke" or "Snake" because of his unusual running style, and also the "golf ball" in reference to his surname.
After leaving school, Spalding played for 63 games for Perth between 1983 and 1986, reaching the preliminary final in 1986.
He also played four games of first-class cricket for Western Australia as a fast bowler, during the 1984/85 season, taking 12 wickets at an average of 25.66.
He resigned from the position at the end of the 2002 season,[4] and since then has working with the Fremantle Football Club as an assistant coach.
Spalding was appointed senior coach of the Perth Demons Football Club in 2015.