Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Bruce McMaster-Smith

Known as
Bruce McMaster-Smith

Born
19 November 1939

Died
6 June 2017 (aged 77)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 158d
Last game: 25y 310d

Height and weight
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 61 kg

Senior clubs
Fitzroy; Carlton; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 24
Carlton: 40
St. Kilda: 36

Recruited from
Fitzroy (1962); Carlton (1965)

Bruce McMaster-Smith

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
FitzroyV/AFL1960-19611310.0846%10.00—0.503
CarltonV/AFL1962-19642660.2365%———13
St. KildaV/AFL19651570.4773%9.671.070.931
V/AFL1960-196554140.2663%9.711.070.8817
Total1960-196554140.2663%9.711.070.8817

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,132nd player to appear, 4,173rd most games played, 4,429th most goals kickedFitzroy: 758th player to appear, 563rd most games played, 759th most goals kickedCarlton: 748th player to appear, 498th most games played, 536th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,114th player to appear, 697th most games played, 527th most goals kicked

One of the smallest players of his time at just 169cm and 61kg, Bruce McMaster-Smith nevertheless managed to play well in excess of 50 games of VFL football spread between three clubs, including a grand final. His main asset was his pace, which meant that he tended to be utilised primarily as a wingman.

Originally from Diamond Valley League club Greensborough, he commenced his League career in 1960 with Fitzroy. He spent two seasons with the Roys without really establishing himself, with the highlight of his 13 game, one goal stint arguably coming in the 1960 preliminary final when he was one of his team’s best players in a somewhat unfortunate five point loss to Collingwood.

From 1962 to 1964 McMaster-Smith played for Carlton, adding 54 VFL games and 14 goals to his respective career tallies. He finished that career at St Kilda in 1965 where the last of his 15 appearances (for seven goals) was the aforementioned grand final, in which the Saints went down to Essendon by 35 points. Injuries were responsible for his decision to retire as a player.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Footnotes

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