Australian Football

Between 1905 and 1919, barring a three year break for the war, Horrie Pope was a more or less permanent feature of Port Adelaide’s league teams. In 1920 he played one final senior game to give himself a career tally of 156, although given that player statistics were not assiduously maintained in 1910 and 1915 the precise number remains unknown. What is known is that he was a key member of Magpie premiership sides in 1910, 1913 and 1914, as well as of championship of Australia-winning combination in the same years. 

A defender for the majority of his career, Pope tended to get on with his work quietly and efficiently, rarely making mistakes, but seldom capturing the headlines either. Nevertheless, it is somewhat surprising to note that he was never selected to represent South Australia. Pope captained Port during the second half of the 1919 season after original skipper ‘Bandy’ McFarlane resigned.

Author - John Devaney