Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Albert Sawley

Known as
Albert Sawley

Nickname
Pongo

Born
27 October 1915

Died
13 August 1983 (aged 67)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 23y 226d
Last game: 23y 331d

Height and weight
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 66 kg

Senior clubs
Norwood; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 16

Family links
Gordon Sawley (Brother)Frank Sawley (Brother)Brian Sawley (Nephew)

Albert Sawley

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
NorwoodSANFL1935-1938, 1940-1941, 1945-1946110630.57—————
St. KildaV/AFL19391120.1873%———0
Total1935-1941, 1945-1946121650.54—————

AFL: 4,726th player to appear, 8,081st most games played, 7,954th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 767th player to appear, 797th most games played, 820th most goals kicked

A silkily skilled centreman who used the ball impeccably Albert Sawley gave Norwood excellent service in 110 SANFL games between 1935 and 1938, in 1940-1 and 1945-6. He won the Redlegs' best and fairest award in 1937. He spent the 1939 season playing for St Kilda in the VFL but his clearance was delayed and he did not front up until the second half of the season, ultimately registering just 11 games and a couple of goals.

A member of the Redlegs 1941 premiership team Sawley also played in the Norwood-North Adelaide wartime flag-winning combinations of 1943 and 1944. His last SANFL game was the 1946 grand final in which Norwood overcame Port Adelaide, the club to which Sawley had requested, and been refused, a clearance earlier in the season.

The esteem in which Albert Sawley was held at the Parade was reflected by his inclusion in Norwood’s official ‘Team of the Century’, albeit in the somewhat unaccustomed position of half forward flank.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

http://www.redlegsmuseum.com.au/ON_FIELD/PLAYERS/SAWLEY__Albert_.aspx

Footnotes

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