Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Norman Frederick Ford

Known as
Norm 'Shooter' Ford

Nickname
Shooter

Senior clubs
Footscray; Subiaco; Coburg

Recruited from
Footscray (1920); Subiaco (1922); Footscray (1925)

Norm 'Shooter' Ford


ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
FootscrayVFA1914-1915, 1919, 1922-1924
SubiacoWAFL1920-192130
CoburgVFA1925-1926
V/AFL1914-1915, 1919, 1922-1926
WAFL1920-192130
Total1914-1915, 1919-192630

Norman 'Shooter' Ford was a dynamic and imposing centre half back much admired for his relentless attack on the football and his booming punt kicks out of defence. He began his senior career in the VFA with Footscray in 1914, and at the end of the season was a member of the team's losing Grand Final team against North Melbourne. When the VFA suspended operations because of the war in 1916 Ford embarked on military service and did not resume with Footscray until 1919, the Association having recommenced the previous year. The 1919 Challenge Final saw Footscray defeating reigning premier North Melbourne by 22 points, with Ford starring in his accustomed position of centre half back. 

The following year he traversed the country to line up with ambitious WAFL club Subiaco, where he was to play a total of 30 games in two seasons. His form in 1921 was particularly outstanding, and he represented his adopted state of Western Australia with distinction at that year's Perth carnival. In the decisive match of the series against South Australia, Ford played for a time as first ruckman, before settling into his more customary half back role. He featured prominently among the best players in both positions as the sandgropers won by 10 points to clinch their first Australian championship.

The 1922 season saw Norman Ford back at Footscray, albeit without a clearance - a fact that would come back to haunt him a few years later. In the meantime, he enjoyed further premiership success as the Tricolours overcame Port Melbourne by 14 points in the decisive match of 1923, and Williamstown by 55 points the following year. He also played in the losing Challenge Final of 1922 against Port Melbourne. At the end of the 1924 season a special challenge match was arranged between the VFL and VFA premiers, with the proceeds going to the Limbless Soldiers' Fund. With Norm Ford in typically sterling form, Footscray beat their VFL counterparts Essendon by 38 points, 9.10 (64) to 4.12 (36).

In 1925, Footscray was admitted to the VFL, but 'Shooter' Ford was one of three players whose permits the league refused to sanction on the grounds that they had all crossed to the VFA without clearances. Somewhat reluctantly therefore, the Tricolours agreed to release Ford to Coburg, where he played out the remainder of his senior career, culminating in participation in the 12.9 (81) to 9.11 (65) Grand Final win over Brighton in 1926.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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