AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Robert Bonnett
Known as
Bob Bonnett
Nickname
Bonox
Born
1933
Died
11 May 2018 (aged 85‡)
Senior clubs
Port Melbourne
‡ Approximate age
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Port Melbourne | VFA | 1952-1963 | 229 | 933 | 4.07 | — | — | — | — | — |
Total | 1952-1963 | 229 | 933 | 4.07 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bob Bonnett, who has been scoring heavily for Port Second Eighteen this season, capped previous efforts on Saturday by bagging 10 goals, displaying splendid form. Port senior club supporters are at a loss to understand why this lad has not been brought up to the first eighteen, but Port Seconds, who have won nine successive games, are loath to part with him, as they believe they are certainties for the premiership with such a reliable forward.¹
Only two players have kicked more goals in the VFA/L than Port Melbourne's Bob Bonnett, who amassed 933 over the course of a 229-game career between 1952 and 1963. He was the VFA's leading goal kicker of the season four times, with a best tally of 111 goals in 1961. Captain of the Borough in 1958-9 and 1962, he was a premiership player in 1953, and represented the VFA in the interstate arena several times. In August 2003 he was included in the official Port Melbourne 'Team of the Century'. After his retirement as a player Bonnett spent many years coaching the Port Melbourne seconds and also coached the seniors from 1969 to 1971.
Bob Bonnett's younger brother Barry, also a full forward, played 125 VFA games for Port between 1962 and 1972.
Author - John Devaney
1. “Record”, 30/6/51, page 1.