Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Russell Renfrey

Known as
Russ Renfrey

Nickname
Hooker

Born
11 August 1923

Died
28 April 2018 (aged 94)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 252d
Last game: 32y 345d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 92 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 8

Russ Renfrey

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
GeelongV/AFL1946-19562011650.8262%17.004.7513
Total1946-19562011650.8262%17.004.7513

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 5,528th player to appear, 636th most games played, 564th most goals kickedGeelong: 494th player to appear, 41st most games played, 49th most goals kicked

Known as 'Hooker', Geelong's Russell Renfrey was a tough, durable follower whose consistency is evidenced by the fact that he was never once selected for the reserves. Not tall for a ruckman at just 180cm he was nevertheless extremely adept at using his body to manoeuvre himself into prime position to win the tap, and he rarely lowered his colours over the course of an entire game.

Later in his career Renfrey moved from being a knock ruckman in the traditional sense to a more modern ruck-rover type, à la Barassi. Renfrey was selected to represent the VFL in 1948, and was a key figure in the Cats' 1951 and 1952 premiershipwinning teams. Originally recruited from Drysdale in the Geelong and District Football League, he played 201 VFL games for Geelong between 1946 and 1956, booting 165 goals.

Author - John Devaney


Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.