Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Neil Pearson

Known as
Neil Pearson

Born
9 September 1925

Died
27 April 2011 (aged 85)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 224d
Last game: 28y 297d

Height and weight
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 73 kg

Senior clubs
Hawthorn

Jumper numbers
Hawthorn: 32, 12, 7

Neil Pearson

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
HawthornV/AFL1945-1954133440.3317%———24
Total1945-1954133440.3317%———24

AFL: 5,422nd player to appear, 1,590th most games played, 2,221st most goals kickedHawthorn: 343rd player to appear, 87th most games played, 137th most goals kicked

An effervescent and highly aggressive winger, Neil Pearson provided Hawthorn with 10 seasons and 133 VFL games of first rate service. He was also a regular VFL representative player. Recruited from Brighton Technical School, Pearson debuted for the Hawks in 1945, and while still registered as a senior player in 1954 he coached the club's seconds. It was while he was serving in that capacity that he won the Gardiner Medal for the best and fairest player in the seconds competition. The sort of player who was always on the move, Pearson eschewed the 'prop and kick' style of play that was still somewhat fashionable during his career for a more dynamic, play-on approach.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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