Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Albert Charles Linton Jnr

Known as
Alby Linton

Born
18 November 1926

Place of birth
Footscray, VIC (3011)

Died
11 April 2010 (aged 83)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 236d
Last game: 25y 265d

Height and weight
Height: 170 cm
Weight: 70 kg

Senior clubs
Footscray; Williamstown

Jumper numbers
Footscray: 2, 20, 23

Recruited from
Footscray Reserves (1953)

State of origin
VIC

Family links
Curly Linton Snr (Father)

Alby Linton

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
FootscrayV/AFL1947-195253460.8745%0
WilliamstownVFA1953-1956872262.60
Total1947-19561402721.94

AFL: 5,729th player to appear, 4,160th most games played, 2,169th most goals kickedFootscray: 339th player to appear, 245th most games played, 138th most goals kicked

Originally from Spotswood in the Footscray District Football League, Alby Linton was an energetic and clever rover who scouted the packs well and loved to kick a goal. He went from Spotswood to his local VFL club, Footscray, and played a total of 53 league games and kicked 46 goals between 1947 and 1952. He was the club's top goalkicker (jointly with Charlie Sutton) in 1951 when he booted 23 goals.

Linton's best football came during his time with Williamstown, however, where he moved in 1953. During a four-season stint with the 'Gulls, he played a total of 87 games and kicked 226 goals, besides establishing himself as arguably the finest rover in the VFA. Williamstown was a force to be reckoned with during the 1950s, and Linton had the good fortune to appear in the club's 1954, 1955 and 1956 premiership teams. His form in 1955 was especially impressive and saw him secure the club's best and fairest award as well as head the Association's goal kicking ladder with 84 goals. He rounded off the season in style, too, with a six-goal, best afield performance in the Grand Final as the Seagulls came from 25 points down at three quarter time to beat Port Melbourne 13.19 (97) to 13.10 (88).

Despite the comparative brevity of his time at the club Alby Linton produced football of such consistently high quality to earn inclusion, as first rover, in Williamstown's official 'Team of the Century'.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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