Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Hugh Landles Purse

Known as
Hugh Purse

Born
2 October 1881

Died
6 September 1952 (aged 70)

Place of death
Brighton, VIC (3186)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 22y 218d
Last game: 33y 316d

Senior clubs
Melbourne

Jumper numbers
Melbourne: 23

Family links
Jack Purse (Brother)

Hugh Purse

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
MelbourneV/AFL1904-1909, 1912, 191584260.3135%0
Total1904-1909, 1912, 191584260.3135%0

AFL: 927th player to appear, 2,882nd most games played, 3,199th most goals kickedMelbourne: 122nd player to appear, 203rd most games played, 256th most goals kicked

Hugh Purse was a strong marking half forward who was one of the leading lights at Melbourne during a uniformly lean time for the club. Between 1904 and 1909 and in 1912 and 1915 he played 84 VFL games and kicked 26 goals. He was excellent overhead and a fine kick who seldom lowered his colours. Always seemingly calm regardless of the amount of duress he was under sound judges regarded him as the best Melbourne footballer of his era. Originally from Brighton he returned there in 1910 before resuming at the Redlegs. He did not play football in 1913-14.

In 1908 he was club captain and also represented Victoria at the Australasian football carnival in Melbourne.

Hugh Purse served in the Boer War prior to commencing his football career. His older brother Jack also played for Melbourne.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; http://www.demonwiki.org/Hugh+Purse

Footnotes

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