Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Charles Julius Perry

Known as
Charles Perry

Nickname
Redwing

Born
20 October 1888

Place of birth
Terowie, SA (5421)

Died
4 January 1961 (aged 72)

Place of death
North Adelaide, SA (5006)

Occupation
Minister of the Gospel

Height and weight
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 79 kg

Senior clubs
Norwood

State of origin
SA

Charles Perry


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
NorwoodSAFL1909-1913, 1915, 192057150.26
Total1909-1913, 1915, 192057150.26

One of a select band of Christian clergymen to have played top level football, Charles ‘Redwing’ Perry enjoyed a 57-game league career with Norwood on either side of World War I. Boasting a thick crop of vibrant red hair - hence his nickname - Perry, a Methodist minister, was an ebullient, pacy player who was always in the thick of the action. Capable of playing in a variety of positions, he marked and kicked superbly, and was the consummate team player. 

In 1915 he tied for the Magarey Medal with South Adelaide’s ‘Dinky’ Barry and ‘Shine’ Hosking of Port Adelaide, but as the rules in force at the time allowed for only one winner, the SAFL field umpires were called upon to adjudicate, and voted unanimously to confer the award on the South player. Perry and Hosking were later awarded retrospective Medals by the league.

During the Great War, Perry undertook military service in Europe, and in 1916 was one of many top footballers from all over Australia to take part in the famous AIF exhibition match at Queen’s Park in London. Perry was appointed captain of the Combined Training Units team which, in front of a crowd estimated at 6,000, lost by 16 points to an AIF Third Division combination led by South Melbourne’s Bruce Sloss.

Perry resumed with Norwood after the war, but retired in 1920 without ever tasting premiership success. He represented South Australia on one occasion, and also served as vice-captain of the Redlegs for a time.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy's SA Football Companion

Footnotes

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