Alf George
| Alf George | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Alfred Thomas George | ||
| Nickname(s) | Alf | ||
| Date of birth | 7 September 1884 | ||
| Place of birth | Mount Egerton | ||
| Date of death | 28 April 1946(aged 61) | ||
| Place of death | Melbourne | ||
| Original team(s) | Numurkah/Essendon Association | ||
| Height | 183 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Weight | 87 kg (192 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Ruck, defender | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1906–1909 | Essendon | 33(0) | |
| 1911–1913, 1915 | Melbourne | 55 (12) | |
| Total | 88 (12) | ||
|
1Playing statistics correct to the end of 1915. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Alfred Thomas George(7 September 1884 – 28 April 1946) was anAustralian rules footballerwho played forMelbourneandEssendonin theVictorian Football League(VFL). George was the captain of Melbourne for the 1912 and 1913 seasons.
Early life
[edit]George was born inMount Egerton[1]on 7 September 1884. He played football forSeymour,[2]Numurkahand, finally,Essendon Association,before being recruited to play for Essendon.[3]
Football career
[edit]Essendon
[edit]George was recruited at the beginning of 1906[2]and he made his VFL debut in round 3 of that year, going on to play 16 games in his first season. George generally played as aruckman,but could also play in defence and was known for his marking ability. In total, he played 33 games for Essendon between 1906 and 1909,[3]with his best season for Essendon being his first, where he played in a losing semi final.
Melbourne
[edit]After leaving Essendon at the end of 1909, George did not play in the VFL again until he transferred to Melbourne for the1911 season.[3]He played 12 matches for the season and kicked his first goal in the VFL. Despite only being at Melbourne for one season, George was named Melbourne'scaptainfor 1912.[3]He was captain for two seasons,[4]and he left the club at the end of 1913. During his two seasons as captain, Melbourne finished sixth and ninth. George returned for one final season in 1915, playing 14 games and kicking two goals; the team concluded the year by losing in a semi final. While playing with Melbourne, George formed a "famous" and "powerful" ruck combination withHedley TomkinsandBill Hendrie.[2][5]
In May 1919, an unidentified former Melbourne footballer, wrote to the football correspondent ofThe Argusas follows:
- "In 1914 the Melbourne football team,after its junction with the University,was a fine team, and succeeded in reaching the semi-finals.
Out of this combination the following players enlisted and served at the front:—
C. Lilley(seriously wounded),J. Hassett,H. Tomkins(severely wounded),J. Evans(seriously wounded),W. Hendrie,R. L. Park,J. Doubleday(died),A. Best,C. Burge(killed),C. (viz., A.) Williamson(killed),J. Brake,R. Lowell,E. Parsons(seriously wounded),A. M. Pearce(killed),F. Lugton(killed), A. George,C. Armstrong,P. Rodriguez(killed),J. Cannole (viz., Connole),A. Fraser(seriously wounded),T. Collins.
These are all players of note, and in themselves would have formed a very fine side, but there is only one of them playing at the present time, viz., C. Lilley, who, as a matter of fact, takes the field under some disability owing to severe wounds which he received on service. "—The Argus,16 May 1919.[6]
- "In 1914 the Melbourne football team,after its junction with the University,was a fine team, and succeeded in reaching the semi-finals.
Prahran
[edit]After ending his VFL career with Melbourne, George played in theVictorian Football Association(VFA) withPrahran Football Club.
World War I
[edit]George worked as an engine driver,[7]both during and after his football career. Due to this background, he enlisted in the Railways Unit of theAustralian Imperial Force(AIF) on 10 January 1917.[2]When George enrolled he was immediately given the rank ofsergeantand left Australia, to fight on the Western Front, aboard HMAT A70Ballarat.[8]At the time of embarkation, George was living inKensington, Victoriawith his wife, Lilla.[7]George's service was uncontroversial; he was never wounded, nor did he receive any honours or awards. He returned safely to Australia on 19 August 1919 after the conclusion of the war.[7]
Later life
[edit]George died on 28 April 1946 after a long illness. His obituary inThe Argusdescribed him as a "champion footballer" who was a "well-knownfollowerin the decade preceding the First World War ".[2]
References
[edit]- ^"Item details for: B2455, GEORGE A T".National Archives of Australia. Archived fromthe originalon 8 August 2016.Retrieved19 December2010.
- ^abcde"Death of former VFL champion".The Argus.29 April 1946. p. 14.Retrieved20 December2010.
- ^abcdMain, Jim;Holmesby, Russell (1992).The Encyclopedia of League Footballers.Melbourne, Victoria: Wilkinson Books. p. 144–145.ISBN1-86337-085-4.
- ^"Melbourne FC Honour Roll".Melbourne Football Club. 17 August 2005.Retrieved19 December2010.[dead link]
- ^Hobbs, Greg (1984).125 yrs of the Melbourne Demons.Progress Press Group. p. 15.ISBN0-9590694-0-2.
- ^'Old Boy', "Football: Notes and Comments",The Argus,(Friday, 16 May 1919), p.8.
- ^abc"Alfred Thomas GEORGE".The AIF Project.Retrieved19 December2010.
- ^"First World War Embarkation Roll – Alfred Thomas George".Australian War Memorial.Retrieved19 December2010.
External links
[edit]
- Alf George's playing statisticsfrom AFL Tables
- Alf George's profileon the Essendon Football Club website
- 1884 births
- 1946 deaths
- Australian military personnel of World War I
- Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
- Essendon Association Football Club players
- Essendon Football Club players
- Melbourne Football Club captains
- Melbourne Football Club players
- Prahran Football Club players
- Seymour Football Club players
- Numurkah Football Club players