Australian Football

Francis Dunne (the 'e' on the end is correct), known to friend and foe alike as 'Diver', owing to his great propensity for swimming and diving, was one of many football itinerants to enjoy success during the early part of the 20th century. A formidable physical presence, he performed the now forgotten role of ruck shepherd to perfection, initially with St Kilda, with whom he managed just one VFL game in 1905, secondly with South Fremantle, where he played 59 senior games between 1905 and 1908, and latterly at Sturt, for whom he made another 54 appearances from 1909 to 1913. 

He arrived at Sturt as one of 'Dempsey's immigrants' (see Sturt), and went on to play a couple of games for South Australia, having earlier represented Western Australia on four occasions at the 1908 Melbourne carnival. He remained in Adelaide after his football career was over, and died there in 1937 aged 61.

Author - John Devaney