Ron Alexander
Encyclopedia
Ron Alexander is a former Australian rules football
er who played in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and West Australian Football League
(WAFL) as well as being the inaugural coach of the West Coast Eagles
.
13 times, Victoria
twice, and was awarded a Simpson Medal
for a match against Victoria in 1974.
where from 1971 to 1975 he played 98 games and kicked 49 goals. He was a big, strong ruckman
, weighing 98 kg and standing at 196 cm tall.
He was a member of their 1972 premiership team and won the club's fairest and best award in 1974.
in 1976. He was their captain from 1979–80, and in 1981 won their best and fairest
, finishing ahead of that season's Brownlow Medal
list Bernie Quinlan
by nine votes. In total he played 133 games and booted 30 goals for the Roys. While in Melbourne he gained a degree in Physical Education
and for a time was president of the VFL Players Association. He went back to Perth after the 1981 season.
taking them to the grand final in 1984 and 1985, the latter time winning them a premiership.
In 1986, after 76 games for East Fremantle, he stepped down as a player, but as coach he once again took his side the grand final and like 1984 they were again runners-up.
.
He was controversially replaced by John Todd
the following season despite being close to taking his side to the finals in their first year.
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 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) and West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL) as well as being the inaugural coach of the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
.
Playing career
During his career he represented Western AustraliaWestern Australia Australian rules football team
The Sandgropers is the representative side of Western Australia in the sport of Australian rules football. The team is currently the representative team of the West Australian Football League and West Australian under-age footballers.-History:...
13 times, Victoria
Victoria Australian rules football team
The Victorian Australian rules football team, also known as the Big V is the representative side of Victoria, Australia in the sport of Australian rules football....
twice, and was awarded a Simpson Medal
Simpson Medal
The Simpson Medal, a prize for Australian rules football, has been donated by Dr. Fred Simpson and family since 1945. It is awarded to the best player in a WAFL Grand Final and the best player in an interstate game involving Western Australia....
for a match against Victoria in 1974.
WANFL career
He began his career with East Perth Football ClubEast Perth Football Club
The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club that is a member of the West Australian Football League...
where from 1971 to 1975 he played 98 games and kicked 49 goals. He was a big, strong ruckman
Ruckman (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...
, weighing 98 kg and standing at 196 cm tall.
He was a member of their 1972 premiership team and won the club's fairest and best award in 1974.
VFL career
He then crossed over to FitzroyFitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
in 1976. He was their captain from 1979–80, and in 1981 won their best and fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
, finishing ahead of that season's Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
list Bernie Quinlan
Bernie Quinlan
Bernie Quinlan , was a former Australian rules footballer and coach, who enjoyed a lengthy career with Footscray and Fitzroy in the VFL. He played 366 league games in total.- Playing career :...
by nine votes. In total he played 133 games and booted 30 goals for the Roys. While in Melbourne he gained a degree in Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and for a time was president of the VFL Players Association. He went back to Perth after the 1981 season.
Coaching career
He returned to Western Australia in 1982 and took on the role of captain/coach at East FremantleEast Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
taking them to the grand final in 1984 and 1985, the latter time winning them a premiership.
In 1986, after 76 games for East Fremantle, he stepped down as a player, but as coach he once again took his side the grand final and like 1984 they were again runners-up.
West Coast Eagles
In 1987 he was picked to be the inaugural coach of the West Coast EaglesWest Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
.
He was controversially replaced by John Todd
John Todd (footballer)
John Todd is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. After becoming youngest ever winner of the Sandover Medal in his first year of senior football he suffered a serious knee injury, which affected his playing career...
the following season despite being close to taking his side to the finals in their first year.