Ronald Herbert Smith (4 September 1914 – 23 January 1979)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon and North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]
| Ron Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ronald Herbert Smith | ||
| Date of birth | 4 September 1914 | ||
| Place of birth | Geelong, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 23 January 1979 (aged 64) | ||
| Place of death | Mildura, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | Werribee | ||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Weight | 69 kg (152 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1939–41 | Essendon | 11 (0) | |
| 1942–44 | North Melbourne | 33 (1) | |
| Total | 44 (1) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1944. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family edit
The son of Herbert George Gordon Smith (1885–1966), and Annie Grace Smith (1884–1949), née Harrison,[3][4] Ronald Herbert Smith was born at Geelong, Victoria on 4 September 1914. Two of his younger brothers, Maxwell Henry Smith (1915–1941) and Clive Wesley Smith (1923–1999), also played VFL football; Max, for Essendon, and Clive, for North Melbourne.
He married Eulalie May Sharp (1915–1999), at Werribee, Victoria on 11 April 1942.[5]
Education edit
He was educated at Geelong High School.[6]
Football edit
Originally from Werribee, a wingman able to kick with both feet, he trained with South Melbourne in the 1939 pre-season.[7][8]
Essendon (VFL) edit
Cleared from Werribee South to Essendon, subject to a clearance from Geelong, on 19 April 1939,[9] he made his debut for Essendon, on the wing (replacing the injured Jack Caesar), in the match against Geelong, at the Corio Oval, on 13 May 1939, which was also the occasion of Dick Reynolds' 100th game.[10][11]
North Melbourne (VFL) edit
Cleared from Essendon to North Melbourne on 13 May 1942,[12] he made his debut for North Melbourne, against South Melbourne, at the Arden Street Oval, on 30 May 1942.[13] He was injured in his last match for North Melbourne, against St Kilda, at the Junction Oval, on 2 September 1944.[14][15]
Notes edit
- ^ The headstone of his grave has his date of death as 22 January 1979 (photograph at [1]).
- ^ Holmesby & Main (2014), p. 832.
- ^ Deaths: Smith, The Argus, (Saturday, 16 April 1949), p. 9.
- ^ Obituary: Mrs. Annie Grace Smith, The Werribee Shire Banner, (Thursday, 21 April 1949), p. 2.
- ^ Wedding Bells: Smith—Sharp, The Werribee Shire Banner, (Thursday, 16 April 1942), p. 2.
- ^ Blake, Jim, "Who's Who of Football: No.12. Essendon: Ron Smith", The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 6 July 1940), p.5.
- ^ Southerners Impressed, The Age, (Thursday, 16 March 1939), p. 6.
- ^ Essendon Training, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 10 April 1939), p. 18.
- ^ Sawley Case, The Age, (Thursday, 20 April 1939), p. 6.
- ^ League Teams: Geelong v. Essendon, The Age, (Friday, 12 May 1939), p. 7.
- ^ Dons' Misfortune, The Age, (Friday, 12 May 1939), p. 7.
- ^ League Permits, The Argus, (Thursday, 14 May 1942), p. 6.
- ^ League Teams: Nth Melbourne v. Sth Melbourne, The Argus, (Friday, 29 May 1942), p.6.
- ^ Good Form by North at St Kilda, The Argus, (Monday, 4 September 1944), p. 9.
- ^ Injured Players, The Age, (Monday, 4 September 1944), p. 4.
References edit
- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2014), The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.), Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
External links edit
- Ron Smith's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Ron Smith at AustralianFootball.com
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