Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Roy West

Known as
Roy West

Born
31 March 1941

Died
19 November 2011 (aged 70)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 15d
Last game: 26y 176d

Height and weight
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 81 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 31

Recruited from
Great Western (1959)

Roy West

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
StawellWFL1959-1960————————
GeelongV/AFL1961-1964, 1966-196710810.0170%8.891.522.5812
Total1959-1964, 1966-196710810.01—————

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 7,225th player to appear, 2,215th most games played, 9,216th most goals kickedGeelong: 655th player to appear, 158th most games played, 774th most goals kicked

Geelong's 1963 premiership full back Roy West initially arrived at the club from Stawell with a reputation as a top quality centre half forward. However, after failing to impress in that position with the Cats he was shifted to the last line of defence where his impact was immediate and considerable. In addition to starring for Geelong in that position he represented the 'Big V' against South Australia, and there were considered to be few better exponents of the position during his career, which comprised 108 VFL games and one goal between 1961 and 1967 (although he missed the entire 1965 season with a back injury).

Unlike most other VFL full backs of his era, West relied less on strength than on a combination of speed, great anticipation, and a prodigious spring. He was also a fine drop kick. His last game in a Cats jumper was the losing Grand Final of 1967 against Richmond when he was one of his side's best players. In 1968 he returned to Stawell as captain-coach.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

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