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Key Facts
Full name
Ross William Glendinning
Known as
Ross Glendinning
Born
17 September 1956 (age 67)
Place of birth
Subiaco, WA (6008)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 21y 196d
Last game: 31y 352d
Height and weight
Height: 188 cm
Weight: 89 kg
Senior clubs
East Perth; North Melbourne; Australia; West Coast
Jumper numbers
North Melbourne: 4
West Coast: 4
Recruited from
East Perth (1978); North Melbourne (1987)
State of origin
WA
Hall of fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame (2000); Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame (2004)
Family links
Gus Glendinning (Father)
Ross Glendinning
| Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Perth | WANFL | 1974-1977 | 56 | 2 | 0.04 | — | — | — | — | — |
| North Melbourne | V/AFL | 1978-1986 | 190 | 214 | 1.13 | 59% | 12.80 | 5.34 | 6.25 | 102 |
| Australia | IR | 1984 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| West Coast | V/AFL | 1987-1988 | 40 | 111 | 2.78 | 55% | 10.25 | 3.68 | 6.20 | 18 |
| WANFL | 1974-1977 | 56 | 2 | 0.04 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| V/AFL | 1978-1988 | 230 | 325 | 1.41 | 59% | 12.36 | 5.05 | 6.24 | 120 | |
| IR | 1984 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 1974-1988 | 289 | 327 | 1.13 | — | — | — | — | — | |
AFL: 8,960th player to appear, 399th most games played, 168th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 696th player to appear, 35th most games played, 26th most goals kickedWest Coast: 6th player to appear, 124th most games played, 26th most goals kicked
After joining East Perth under the father-son rule (Dad Angus played 70 games for the Royals in 1941 and from 1945 to 1951) Ross Glendinning made his WANFL debut on Anzac Day 1974 against Subiaco, and immediately seemed right at home. Solidly built, he was nevertheless extremely quick, could take a grab, and kicked beautifully with both feet.
In 1975 he finished as a runner-up to team mate Alan Quartermaine in the Sandover Medal count and VFL talent scouts began to take notice. Courted by several Victorian clubs, Glendinning ultimately opted to join North Melbourne in time for the 1977 season, but East Perth, understandably, refused to clear him. Having played only 46 WANFL games the Royals' hierarchy felt that Glendinning owed them at least another season, and so, after sitting out of the game until July, the prodigal son returned to play out the remainder of the year with East Perth. The understanding was that, in return for this comparatively meagre display of loyalty, Glendinning would be cleared to the Kangaroos in 1978, and this indeed was what transpired.
Sadly for Glendinning, playing the 1977 season with East Perth instead of North Melbourne meant involvement in a losing WANFL Grand Final team rather than, possibly, a VFL premiership. Glendinning did get to front up at the MCG on that 'one day in September' the following year, but North lost to Hawthorn, and it would be the club's last Grand Final appearance for almost two decades.
Ross Glendinning was a regular interstate representative, and, with 13 appearances, holds the record for the most state of origin games for Western Australia. In 1987, after a stellar stint with North, which included winning the 1983 Brownlow Medal, he returned to his home state to join the newly formed West Coast Football Club where he spent the final couple of seasons of his league career.
Despite the brevity of his time with the club Ross Glendinning was chosen at centre half back in East Perth's official 'Team of the Century 1945 to 2005'.
Author - John Devaney