Australian Football

After playing for Blackburn and Richmond seconds Bill Luff joined VFA side Camberwell in 1931. Two years later, playing mainly at full forward, he registered 106 goals for the season to top the association’s list. The 1934 season found him at Essendon where it soon became evident that he lacked the height and strength necessary to play in a key position in the VFL; instead, he tended to be used as a half forward flanker, as well as playing in defence on occasion.

In 1935 Luff returned to Camberwell for a season and once again topped the VFA goal kicking charts, this time with 75 goals. His two stints with the Tricolours had yielded 77 appearances and 314 goals. On returning to the Dons in 1936 he began to produce consistently compelling performances. His kicking, particularly using punts, was exceptional, and he was very agile and elusive. In 1937 he ran second in the club’s best and fairest count, and he was the Dons’ equal second top goal kicker in 1934 and third in 1936. When he retired in 1940 he had played 82 VFL games and scored 37 goals.

Author - John Devaney