Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
George Paget

Known as
George Paget

Place of birth
Mauritius (Port Louis Island)

State of origin
Mauritius (Port Louis Island)

George Paget


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
Wynnum (original)QFA1909
Total1909

An early southern import who played in the first Australian football match of the 20th century in Brisbane, at the Botanical Gardens in 1904, George Paget was a half back flanker cum rover renowned for pace, skill, elusiveness and work ethic. 

Born on the Port Louis Island of Mauritius in 1871 to an English father and a French Mauritian mother, he started his career in the lower grades at South Melbourne and played senior representative football in Adelaide and Broken Hill before moving north. His relocation to Queensland was precipitated by his employment as a drover. He drove cattle from South Australia up the Birdsville track to places such as Thargomindah, Windorah, Bedourie and Victoria River Downs. 

When at home Paget played for various Queensland clubs, settled in Queensland and started farming on the Gold Coast. He was a huge success story as far as football was concerned in the pre-World War I era, playing a key role in the resurgence of the code’s popularity and the escape from a slump which had followed a golden era in the 1880s in which there were clubs all over Queensland. He was part of the successful Wynnum Gordon’s 1909 premiership and also spent time at the Brisbane, Ipswich, Wests and City clubs. 

Paget captained Wynnum and Ipswich and was known to travel up to 40 miles by horse for a game of football. He was a member of Queensland’s first interstate team of the new era in 1904 and went on to play for his state in every year through until 1912, except 1911 when were no interstate games. He was Queensland vice-captain from 1905 to 2009 and captained his adopted State in 1910. In 1912 he was part of a Brisbane representative team that played a series of matches against Central Queensland and Mount Morgan,  receiving a gold medal as best player of that series. His stellar play had Central Queensland rugby enthusiasts lamenting … “We regretted George was not a member of the rugby union – his pace, dash and judgment would earn him a place in any rugby team in Queensland.” 

Author - Murray Bird and Peter Blucher

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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