Alf George
Encyclopedia
Alfred Thomas "Alf" George (7 September 1884 – 28 April 1946) was an Australian rules football
er who played for Melbourne
and Essendon
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). George was the captain of Melbourne for the 1912 and 1913 seasons. George also served in the Australian Imperial Force
(AIF) in World War I
.
on 7 September 1884. He played football for Seymour
, Numurkah
and, finally, Essendon Association
, before being recruited to play for Essendon.
, but could also play in defence and was known for his marking ability. In total, he played 33 games for the Bombers between 1906 and 1909, with his best season for Essendon being his first, where he played in a losing semi final.
. 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 the Demons' captain
for 1912. He was captain for only two seasons, as he stopped playing at the end of 1913. During his two seasons as captain, Melbourne finished sixth and ninth, respectively. George returned for one final season in 1915, playing 14 games and kicking two goals, as the he again lost in a semi final. While playing with the Demons, George formed a "famous" and "powerful" ruck combination with Hedley Tompkins and Bill Hendrie.
(VFA) with Prahran Football Club
.
with his wife, Lilla. When George enrolled he was immediately given the rank of sergeant
and left Australia, to fight on the Western Front, aboard HMAT A70 Ballarat. 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.
described him as a "champion footballer" who was a "well-known follower in the decade preceding the First World War".
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
and Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). George was the captain of Melbourne for the 1912 and 1913 seasons. George also served in the Australian Imperial Force
Australian Imperial Force
The Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
(AIF) in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early life
George was born in Mount EgertonMount Egerton, Victoria
Mount Egerton is a town in Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Shire of Moorabool Local Government Area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Mount Egerton had a population of 215....
on 7 September 1884. He played football for Seymour
Seymour Football Club
The Seymour Football Club is a club in the Goulburn Valley Football League. It is more locally commonly known as the Seymour Lions. It is recently a very successful club, winning the premiership 3 years in a row from 2005 to 2007 and finishing runners up in 2008. It also has a netball club under...
, Numurkah
Numurkah Football Club
The Numurkah Football Club, nicknamed the Blues, is an Australian Rules Football club playing in the Murray Football League.The club is based in the town of Numurkah located in north east Victoria....
and, finally, Essendon Association
Essendon Association Football Club
Essendon Association Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the Victorian Football Association from 1900 until 1921. The 'Dreadnoughts', who wore black and red, played their home games at the Essendon Recreation Reserve...
, before being recruited to play for Essendon.
Essendon
George was recruited at the beginning of 1906 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 a ruckmanRuckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
, but could also play in defence and was known for his marking ability. In total, he played 33 games for the Bombers between 1906 and 1909, with his best season for Essendon being his first, where he played in a losing semi final.
Melbourne
After leaving Essendon at the end of 1909, George did not play VFL until he transferred to Melbourne for the 1911 season1911 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1911.-Premiership season:In 1911, the VFL competition consisted of ten teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their...
. 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 the Demons' captain
Captain (Australian rules football)
A captain of an Australian rules football team, sometimes known as a skipper is a player who, during the course of a match and off the field, has several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player....
for 1912. He was captain for only two seasons, as he stopped playing at the end of 1913. During his two seasons as captain, Melbourne finished sixth and ninth, respectively. George returned for one final season in 1915, playing 14 games and kicking two goals, as the he again lost in a semi final. While playing with the Demons, George formed a "famous" and "powerful" ruck combination with Hedley Tompkins and Bill Hendrie.
Prahran
After ending his VFL career with Melbourne, George played in the Victorian Football AssociationVictorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA) with Prahran Football Club
Prahran Football Club
Prahran Football Club, nicknamed The Two Blues, is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Road between High Street and Malvern Road, Armadale, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 2007, the club has competed in D1 Section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association...
.
World War I
George worked as an engine driver, both during and after his football career and it was due to this that he enlisted in the AIF on 10 January 1917 in the Railways Unit. At the time of embarkation, George was living in Kensington, VictoriaKensington, Victoria
Kensington is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
with his wife, Lilla. When George enrolled he was immediately given the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and left Australia, to fight on the Western Front, aboard HMAT A70 Ballarat. 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.
Later life
George died on 28 April 1946 after a long illness. His obituary in The ArgusThe Argus (Australia)
The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. Widely known as a conservative newspaper for most of its history, it adopted a left leaning approach from 1949...
described him as a "champion footballer" who was a "well-known follower in the decade preceding the First World War".
External links
- Alf George's profile on the Official AFL Website of the Essendon Football Club