Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Ralph George Rogerson

Known as
Ralph Rogerson

Born
24 April 1938 (age 85)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 25y 360d
Last game: 28y 27d

Height and weight
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 86 kg

Senior clubs
North Adelaide; East Perth; Fitzroy; Waverley

Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 1

Recruited from
North Adelaide (1961); East Perth (1964); Fitzroy (1966)

Ralph Rogerson

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
North AdelaideSANFL1956-19585350.09
East PerthWANFL1961-1963591031.75
FitzroyV/AFL1964-196639541.3810%12.481.905.909
WaverleyVFA1966
Total1956-1958, 1961-19661511621.07

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,560th player to appear, 4,890th most games played, 1,946th most goals kickedFitzroy: 803rd player to appear, 308th most games played, 93rd most goals kicked

His name might seldom if ever crop up during discussions about the all time greats of the game, but Ralph Rogerson's comparatively rare feat of playing with some distinction for three top level clubs in three states is worthy of considerable commendation.

He began with North Adelaide in 1956, where his strength and aerial prowess made him a force to be reckoned with, and as such he was selected in South Australia's squad for the 1958 Melbourne carnival. A profile in South Australia's weekly football paper of the 1950s, "Football News" described Rogerson thus: 

His game is based on keen anticipation, superb judgement, and safe hands. Although spectacular overhead he loses balance on landing, falling to the ground with at least half of his marks. Ralph wouldn't win a Stawell Gift, but makes up for his lack of pace with determination in general field play. Generally his kicking is too high for successful passing, but he can find team mates with well-directed 30 yard drop kicks.¹

Equally at home at centre half forward and full forward, he later moved to East Perth, lining up at the goal front for the Royals against Swan Districts in the losing Grand Final of 1961.

Rogerson's next port of call was Fitzroy, where he played 39 VFL games between 1964 and 1966, captaining the side in 1965 and part of the way into the following season, before deciding to retire because of injury. However, just weeks later he bobbed up again as a member of the Waverley side which reached that year's VFA first division Grand Final, only to lose to Port Melbourne.

During the 1965 season Rogerson had the rare distinction of lining up at centre half-forward for Victoria against his home state in Adelaide. Rogerson himself performed reasonably well, and with two goals was the Big V's top scorer, but otherwise it was a forgettable occasion of almost unparalleled dimension for the men in navy and white who stuttered to their lowest ever interstate match total of 3.1 (19) to go down by a near record margin of 65 points.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. "Football News", 27/9/58, page 6.

Sources

Full Points Footy's SA Football Companion

Footnotes

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