At sixteen years of age Templeton kicked 100 goals for Traralgon in the 1973 Latrobe Valley Football League season.
[1] However, it was felt Templeton was too skinny at around 81.5 kilograms (180 lb), and it was only when he did major weight training that he really began to excel.
After an injury-ruined 1977, Templeton came back to head the goalkicking table for 1978 with 118, including a career-best performance of 15 goals against St Kilda on 1 July.
Melbourne bought Templeton as part of a buying spree for 1983 but the injuries did not abate and he played only 34 games for the Demons before announcing his retirement in April 1986.
[citation needed] Later, he would become the CEO of the Sydney Swans as they started to become a power in the Australian Football League.