Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
George Smeaton

Known as
George Smeaton

Born
27 May 1917

Died
9 June 1978 (aged 61)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 47d
Last game: 29y 96d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 86 kg

Senior clubs
Richmond; Oakleigh

Jumper numbers
Richmond: 24

George Smeaton

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
RichmondV/AFL1935-1942, 1944-1946149360.2464%13.56—4.1921
OakleighVFA1948-1949————————
Total1935-1942, 1944-1946, 1948-1949149360.24—————

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 4,304th player to appear, 1,364th most games played, 2,633rd most goals kickedRichmond: 353rd player to appear, 73rd most games played, 204th most goals kicked

A defender of the highest quality, George Smeaton played 149 VFL games and kicked 36 goals for Richmond between 1935 and 1946. He also represented the VFL in 1941. He was at full back in the Tigers' losing Grand Final teams of 1940, 1942 and 1944, and indeed was close to best afield in the 15-point loss to Fitzroy in 1944, but unfortunately missed the victorious 1943 finals series because of a temporary services posting to New South Wales.

While there, he took up rugby league, earning rave reviews for his penchant for long drop goals. In December 1947 Smeaton joined Oakleigh as captain-coach¹ and, after a mediocre first year, steered the side to a losing Grand Final against Williamstown in 1949. He then oversaw premierships as non-playing coach in 1950 and 1952.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. The Age, December 4, 1947 .

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

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Footnotes

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