John Rantall
Encyclopedia
John "Mopsy" Rantall was an Australian rules football
er in the Victorian Football League.
Originally from Cobden
, Rantall moved to the South Melbourne Football Club
where he debuted in 1963. He moved to North Melbourne Football Club
with the intention of playing in a premiership side in 1973 and got his wish - winning in 1975 and moving back to South for 1976. A reliable defender who worked tirelessly to repel opposition attacks, Rantall had magnificent skills.
He moved to Fitzroy for one last season in 1980, where he played 6 games and broke the VFL games record (which has since been broken by Kevin Bartlett and Michael Tuck
).
In total, Rantall played 336 games - 260 for the Swans (a then club record), 70 for the Kangaroos and 6 for the Lions.
In 1996 Rantall was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
Player honours:
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 in the Victorian Football League.
Originally from Cobden
Cobden Football Club
The Cobden Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Hampden Football League.They are based in the Victorian town of Cobden and have played in the Hampden Football League since 1930.-Maskell Medallists:*John Couttie 1952...
, Rantall moved to the South Melbourne Football Club
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
where he debuted in 1963. He moved to North Melbourne Football Club
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
with the intention of playing in a premiership side in 1973 and got his wish - winning in 1975 and moving back to South for 1976. A reliable defender who worked tirelessly to repel opposition attacks, Rantall had magnificent skills.
He moved to Fitzroy for one last season in 1980, where he played 6 games and broke the VFL games record (which has since been broken by Kevin Bartlett and Michael Tuck
Michael Tuck
Michael Tuck is a seven time premiership winning player, Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League / Australian Football League , where he is the games record holder....
).
In total, Rantall played 336 games - 260 for the Swans (a then club record), 70 for the Kangaroos and 6 for the Lions.
In 1996 Rantall was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
.
Career highlights
Playing career:- 1963-1980 (Games: 336, Goals: 10)
- South Melbourne 1963-1972, 1976-1979 (Games: 260, Goals: 8)
- North Melbourne 1973-1975 (Games: 70, Goals: 2)
- Fitzroy 1980 (Games: 6, Goals: 0)
Player honours:
- North Melbourne Best & Fairest 1974
- North Melbourne premiership 1975
- South Melbourne/Sydney Swans Team of the Century
- North Melbourne Team of the Century
- Victorian representative (5 games, 0 goals).