Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
George Thomas Kruse

Known as
George Kruse

Born
2 February 1880

Place of birth
Stawell, VIC (3380)

Died
30 March 1965 (aged 85)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 125d
Last game: 22y 125d

Senior clubs
Footscray; Fitzroy

State of origin
VIC

George Kruse

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
FootscrayVFA1897-1906————————
FitzroyV/AFL1902100.00100%———0
Total1897-1906100.00—————

AFL: 755th player to appear, 12,207th most games played, 10,101st most goals kickedFitzroy: 78th player to appear, 1,030th most games played, 835th most goals kicked

Recruited locally, George Kruse made his VFA debut for Footscray away against arch rival Williamstown in the opening round of the 1897 season. It was an auspicious start, as he helped the Tricolours to a hard-earned seven-point win. A skilful and pacy player who could play in a variety of positions, Kruse enjoyed an illustrious, 10-season VFA career which saw him feature prominently in Footscray's 1898, 1899 and 1900 premiership teams. In 1899, he served simultaneously as the club's secretary. He crossed to Fitzroy in 1902 but after just one game he decided that life in the VFL was not for him and returned home to the Tricolours.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

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Footnotes

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