Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Reginald Gleeson

Known as
Reg Gleeson

Born
1 May 1950 (age 73)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 345d
Last game: 26y 98d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 79 kg

Senior clubs
South Melbourne

Jumper numbers
South Melbourne: 27

Reg Gleeson

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
South MelbourneV/AFL1970-1976128110.0925%9.531.612.421
Total1970-1976128110.0925%9.531.612.421

AFL: 8,240th player to appear, 1,712th most games played, 4,821st most goals kickedSouth Melbourne: 975th player to appear, 96th most games played, 459th most goals kicked

South Melbourne recruited Reg Gleeson from Lockhart in 1969 and he made his senior VFL debut the following year. The 1970 season proved to be an excellent one for the Swans who qualified for the finals for the first time since 1945 and Gleeson might have been forgiven for believing this was going to be a regular achievement. However, his eventual tally of 128 VFL games did not include any further finals.

Solid and reliable rather than spectacular Gleeson commenced his league career as a wingman before transforming into a consistent, imperturbable half back flanker who seemed to get better over time. In 1975 he enjoyed arguably his finest ever campaign, consistently making the best players list and running fourth in the club's best and fairest voting. However, in 1976 he struggled to get a game under new Swans coach Ian Stewart, who allegedly told Gleeson he did not think he was good enough. Consequently, at season's end after 128 games for his beloved Swans Reg Gleeson's league career was over.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby and Jim Main; https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2011-10-21/swan-songs-with-reg-gleeson

Footnotes

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