Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
John Heriot

Known as
John Heriot

Born
6 January 1940 (age 85)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 152d
Last game: 28y 238d

Height and weight
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 79 kg

Senior clubs
South Melbourne

Jumper numbers
South Melbourne: 21

John Heriot

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
South MelbourneV/AFL1958-1968153390.2531%10.500.874.0246
Total1958-1968153390.2531%10.500.874.0246

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 6,950th player to appear, 1,292nd most games played, 2,498th most goals kickedSouth Melbourne: 809th player to appear, 72nd most games played, 195th most goals kicked

Renowned for his ability to get his stick insect-like frame high off the ground, South Melbourne's John Heriot is nowadays remembered as one of the finest full backs of his era. When he initially arrived at the Lake Oval from Spotswood, however, it was with a glowing reputation as a forward, and indeed he never entirely forsook his goalkicking prowess, with the Swans often switching him to the forward lines when things were going badly.

A member of the VFL's 1961 Brisbane carnival team, Heriot was a model of consistency throughout his 11-season, 153-game league career, and the high esteem which he generated during that time was officially recognised in August 2003 with his selection as full back in the club's official 'Team of the 20th Century'.

After leaving the Swans at the end of the 1968 season, John Heriot briefly served as coach of Yarraville.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

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Footnotes

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