Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Donald Grossman

Known as
Don Grossman

Born
27 December 1920

Died
5 August 2004 (aged 83)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 143d
Last game: 26y 246d

Height and weight
Height: 182 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
South Melbourne

Jumper numbers
South Melbourne: 17, 25

Don Grossman

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
South MelbourneV/AFL1940-1942, 1944-194793320.3460%———0
Total1940-1942, 1944-194793320.3460%———0

AFL: 4,796th player to appear, 2,616th most games played, 2,844th most goals kickedSouth Melbourne: 556th player to appear, 160th most games played, 236th most goals kicked

Don Grossman was one of a multitude of footballers to play in the V/AFL after commencing their careers in the VFA/L with Port Melbourne. A redoubtable ruckman/defender, he commenced with the Bloods in 1940 and continued until 1947, although he missed the entire 1943 season owing to RAAF commitments. When South Melbourne lost the notorious 1945 'bloodbath' grand final to Carlton Grossman, who played as a ruckman resting in a back pocket, was reported for striking Jim Mooring and outed for the first eight matches of the following season. He carried on with South for another couple of seasons by which time he had played a total of 93 VFL games and kicked 32 goals.

After leaving South Melbourne Don Grossman captain-coached Warrnambool for six seasons, winning a Hampden Football League best and fairest award in 1951. He then crossed to South Warrnambool whom he steered to the 1954 HFL premiership.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby & Jim Main; Wikipedia article

Footnotes

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