Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Marcel Louis Hilsz

Known as
Marcel 'Nugget' Hilsz

Nickname
Nugget

Born
9 February 1921

Place of birth
Adelaide, SA (5000)

Died
5 May 1997 (aged 76)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 21y 110d
Last game: 21y 187d

Height and weight
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 83 kg

Senior clubs
Perth; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 1

Recruited from
Perth (1942)

State of origin
SA

Marcel 'Nugget' Hilsz

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
PerthWANFL1938-1941, 1946-1952187840.45
St. KildaV/AFL1942800.0050%0
Total1938-1942, 1946-1952195840.43

AFL: 5,053rd player to appear, 8,756th most games played, 11,409th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 807th player to appear, 920th most games played, 1,447th most goals kicked

Best known as a rugged and dashing defender, 'Nugget' Hilsz was also extremely versatile as he proved in 1951 by topping Perth's goal kicking list with 65 goals after a season spent playing mainly at full forward. He commenced with Perth in 1938, but it was when football resumed after World War II (during which he had played briefly with St Kilda) that he really came into his own. All eight of his interstate appearances for Western Australia were made post-war and he was widely acknowledged as one of the pre-eminent defenders in the land. 

He retired in 1952 after 187 games in 11 seasons with the Redlegs (he did not play from 1942 to 1945). Capable of playing in any defensive position with equal effectiveness, Hilsz was chosen in a back pocket in Perth's official 'Team of the Century'.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion

Footnotes

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