Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Bert Clay

Known as
Bert Clay

Born
7 May 1915

Died
30 April 1972 (aged 56)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 25y 46d
Last game: 36y 117d

Height and weight
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 94 kg

Senior clubs
Fitzroy

Jumper numbers
Fitzroy: 31

Family links
Ivor Clay (Brother (Twin))

Bert Clay

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
FitzroyV/AFL1940-1951157480.3158%———9
Total1940-1951157480.3158%———9

AFL: 4,822nd player to appear, 1,189th most games played, 2,111th most goals kickedFitzroy: 562nd player to appear, 37th most games played, 109th most goals kicked

Originally from Henty in New South Wales, Bert Clay was a fine aerialist and penetrative kick as well as an intelligent palmer of the ball to his rovers. He played 157 games - mostly as a ruckman - for Fitzroy between 1940 and 1951. By some measure the best remembered of these was the 1944 VFL Grand Final when he was heavily instrumental in the Gorillas' - as they were then known - defeat of Richmond. Clay rucked throughout the game that day and, in the opinion of his opposite number, Tiger champion Jack Dyer, was the single most important factor in Fitzroy's upset win.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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