Harry Saunders

For other people named Harry Saunders, see Harry Saunders (disambiguation).

Harry Saunders
Saunders during his Collignwood career
Personal information
Full name Henry George Saunders
Date of birth 21 May 1898
Place of birth Portland, Victoria
Date of death 9 December 1930(1930-12-09) (aged 32)
Place of death East Melbourne, Victoria
Original team(s) Collingwood Senior Cadets
Debut Round 4, 1916, Collingwood vs. Richmond, at Victoria Park
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1916–1926 Collingwood 135 (10)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1926 Footscray 10 (3–7–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1926.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Henry George 'Harry' Saunders (21 May 1898 – 9 December 1930)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood and coached Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]

Family[edit]

The son of Henry Saunders (1859-1921),[3] and Hannah Saunders (1863-1941), née Guiney,[4] Henry George Saunders was born at Portland, Victoria on 21 May 1898.

He married Millicent May "Mollie" Allen (1900-1963), later Mrs. Walter William James Crawford, in 1922.

Education[edit]

He attended Christian Brothers' College, East Melbourne.

Football[edit]

Collingwood (VFL)[edit]

Saunders was recruited locally to Collingwood and went on to play 11 seasons with the club as a defender, mostly at full-back. He was a member of Collingwood premiership teams in 1917 and 1919 as well as playing in three losing Grand Finals. Saunders also represented the VFL at interstate football on three occasions.

1922[edit]

In 1922, following a game where he had knocked out Carlton's Alex Duncan, the VFL Tribunal suspended him for six matches.[5][6] He was also charged by the police,[7] found guilty in court, and fined £5, in default a month's imprisonment.[8][9][10]

1926[edit]

After playing the opening two rounds of the 1926 season Saunders retired from playing.[11]

Footscray (VFL)[edit]

He was cleared to Footscray in mid-season 1926,[12] and coached them, as non-playing coach, in 10 games for three wins. South Melbourne's Paddy Scanlan was appointed as Footscray's captain-coach at the beginning of the 1927 season.

Death[edit]

Saunders died on 9 December 1930 following an operation for pancreatitis, aged 32.[13][14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Harry Saunders". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  2. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 786. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  3. ^ Deaths: Saunders, The Argus, (Thursday, 27 January 1921), p.1.
  4. ^ Deaths: Saunders, The Age, (Wednesday, 7 May 1941), p.1.
  5. ^ Three Players Disqualified, The Age, (Saturday, 5 August 1922), p.14.
  6. ^ Three League Players Disqualified in Victoria, The Barrier Miner, (Thursday, 10 August 1922), p.3.
  7. ^ 'Kickero', "Dirty Work in Football: Police may take Action", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 5 August 1922), p.4.
  8. ^ Footballer Punched: Player fined £5: J.P. Declines to Act, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 1 September 1922), p.5.
  9. ^ Assault on Football Field: £5 Fine Inflicted, The Argus, (Saturday, 2 September 1922), p.23.
  10. ^ Footballers in Court: Player fined £5 for Assault on Field, The Geelong Advertiser, (Saturday, 2 September 1922), p.9.
  11. ^ 'Kickero', "Time Beats All: Saunders Leaves Football", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 19 May 1926), p.3.
  12. ^ H. Saunders (Collingwood) Cleared, The Argus, (Wednesday, 30 June 1926), p17.
  13. ^ Deaths: Saunders, The Age, (Wednesday, 10 December 1930), p.1.
  14. ^ Star Full Back: Late H. Saunders of Collingwood, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Wednesday, 10 December 1930), p.3.

External links[edit]

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