Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
George Bruce

Known as
George Bruce

Born
5 August 1879

Died
5 June 1928 (aged 48)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 23y 298d
Last game: 34y 18d

Height and weight
Height: 174 cm
Weight: 74 kg

Senior clubs
West Adelaide; Carlton

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 7, 8, 19, 3

Recruited from
West Adelaide (1903)

George Bruce

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
West AdelaideSAFA1898-19024310.02
CarltonV/AFL1903-1913181300.1773%0
Total1898-1913224310.14

AFL: 858th player to appear, 840th most games played, 2,930th most goals kickedCarlton: 152nd player to appear, 52nd most games played, 239th most goals kicked

George Bruce made his debut for West Adelaide in 1898 and went on to play 43 matches for the club over the next five years. In 1903 he transferred to Carlton, where he immediately impressed with his immense pace, determination, elusiveness and intelligence. Bruce's arrival coincided with the onset of a halcyon era for the Blues, and the livewire wingman was one of the key contributors to that success, being listed high among the best players in each of the side's three successive Grand Final wins from 1906 to 1908. Quite why Carlton chose to ignore players from this key era in the club's history, such as Bruce, when it named its official "Team of the Twentieth Century" remains something of a mystery.

The 1908 season saw the inaugural interstate championship series in Melbourne, and Bruce was named on a wing for the VFL's match with South Australia. However, an injury sustained in that match forced him out of the team for the decisive clash of the carnival against West Australia.

During the final couple of years of his illustrious eleven season, 181-game VFL career George Bruce acted as Carlton's secretary.

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.