Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Albert Pannam

Known as
Alby Pannam

Born
19 April 1914

Died
17 March 1993 (aged 78)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 94d
Last game: 33y 7d

Height and weight
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 66 kg

Senior clubs
Collingwood; Richmond

Jumper numbers
Collingwood: 30, 21, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, 2, 1
Richmond: 12

Recruited from
Collingwood (1947)

Family links
Charlie Pannam (Father)Charlie Pannam Jnr (Brother)Albert Pannam (Uncle)Lou Richards (Nephew)Ron Richards (Nephew)

Alby Pannam

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CollingwoodV/AFL1933-1943, 19451814532.5062%19.664.3427
RichmondV/AFL1947263.0050%0
V/AFL1933-1943, 1945, 19471834592.5162%19.664.3427
Total1933-1943, 1945, 19471834592.5162%19.664.3427

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 4,087th player to appear, 823rd most games played, 76th most goals kickedCollingwood: 368th player to appear, 53rd most games played, 6th most goals kickedRichmond: 466th player to appear, 1,046th most games played, 493rd most goals kicked

One of the finest rovers of his generation, Alby Pannam was a product of Abbotsford, one of Collingwood's most fruitful recruiting grounds. He made his VFL debut with the Magpies in 1933, and had played 181 senior games and booted 453 goals for the club by the time he finished in 1945. Particularly renowned for his adeptness near goal, he topped Collingwood's goal kicking list on three occasions, and his best afield performance in the winning Grand Final of 1936 against South Melbourne was capped with five of his team's 11 goals.

Pannam also played in the premiership win of 1935 against the same opposition, and in the losing Grand Finals of 1937 and 1938. Extremely small and light at 169 cm and 66 kg, he dodged and weaved brilliantly, but at the same time was not shy of 'mixing it' whenever the need arose. Sometimes accused of his selfishness, his value to the 'Woods was nevertheless considerable as he was always in the thick of the action, and if he sometimes attempted to do too much this was counterbalanced by his consistent effectiveness in negating the impact of his direct opponent.

A VFL interstate representative in both 1941 and 1945, Pannam won a Copeland Trophy as club best and fairest in 1942, and served as skipper of the side in his final league season. In 1946 he crossed to Richmond as captain-coach of the reserves, but he made a brief, two-game senior comeback in 1947. Between 1959 and 1963 he served as non-playing coach of Oakleigh in the VFA, steering the side to its fifth senior flag in 1960.

Alby Pannam was the son of Charles Pannam senior, and the brother of Charles Pannam junior, both of whom also played league football for Collingwood.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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