Gordon Strang
| Gordon Strang | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 10 February 1908[1] | ||
| Date of death | 8 October 1951 (aged 43) | ||
| Original team(s) | East Albury | ||
| Debut | 2 May 1931 (round 1), Richmond vs. Carlton, at Princes Park | ||
| Height / weight | 185 cm / 82.5 kg | ||
| Career highlights | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Gordon "Cocker" Strang (10 February 1908 – 8 October 1951)[2] was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League for the Richmond Football Club between 1931 and 1936.
He was the son of Bill Strang, who played for South Melbourne between 1904 and 1913 (and was South Melbourne's leading goal-kicker in 1913)[3]
After a year in Tasmania as captain-coach of North Launceston, he returned to Richmond, and played all of Richmond's 18 matches in the 1938 season, scoring 6 goals.
He then transferred to Wodonga as captain-coach in 1939.
He was the brother of Richmond premiership player Doug Strang and uncle of dual Richmond premiership player Geoff Strang and 1967 Tiger's premiership player John Perry. His (and Doug's) other brothers, Colin Strang and Alan Strang[4] also played VFL football: for St Kilda (2 games, 1933), and South Melbourne (15 games, 1947-1948),[5][6] respectively.
Richmond
Along with his brother Doug (who was selected at full-forward), he made his debut for Richmond in the first round of the 1931 season, on 2 May 1931, at centre half-back; The Argus commented that, on debut, he had "showed grit" and had "kicked well".[7]
North Launceston
In 1937 he coached North Launceston to runner-up position in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association; and, despite rumours to the contrary, he did not apply for the position of coach in the 1938 season.[8][9]
Richmond
He returned to play for Richmond in 1938;[10] and he played in each of Richmond's 18 games that season.
Wodonga
In May 1939, Richmond cleared Strang to Wodonga.[11] He was Wodonga's best and fairest in 1939 and 1940.[12] In 1939 he coached Wodonga to a Grand Final victory over an Albury team that was coached by his brother, Doug.[13]
Footnotes
- ^ "AFL Tables - Gordon Strang - Stats - Statistics". AFL Tables. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Death of star footballer". The News. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 8 October 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ AFL Statistics: Bill Strang
- ^ AFL Statistics: Allan (sic) Strang.
- ^ Former N.S.W. Rules Stars, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Saturday, 19 June 1948), p.9.
- ^ South Player at Williamstown, The Argus, (Monday 11 April 1949), p.13.
- ^ Football: Great Last Quarter: Richmond's Recovery at Carlton, The Argus, (Monday, 4 May 1931), pp.
- ^ Strang in Melbourne: Probably Available to Play with Richmond, The Mercury, (Wednesday, 16 February 1938), p.13.
- ^ Football: Strang Was Not Applicant, The Mercury, (Tuesday, 25 January 1938), p.9.
- ^ Strang, Crowe Cleared, The Argus, (Saturday, 23 April 1938), p.15.
- ^ League and V.F.A.: Question of Clearances, The Argus, (Thursday, 18 May 1939), p.26.
- ^ Senior Best & Fairest
- ^ Jones, H., "Footy club pays tribute to hero", The Border Mail, (25 April 2006).
References
- Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996
External links
- Gordon Strang's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Gordon Strang at AustralianFootball.com