Russell Renfrey

Russell 'Hooker' Renfrey (born 11 August 1923) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the VFL.

Russell Renfrey played 202 games for Geelong in a career spanning 1946-56.

Renfrey at 182 cm and 83.5 kg was an important team member of that era playing Ruck Rover in a team that boasted many great players.

He was a vital member of the Geelong side which won back to back premierships in 1951 and 1952. Over the 1952 and 1953 seasons Renfrey was the only player to play in all 26 wins without loss that is a record that stands to date.

Renfrey represented Victoria in the interstate football during the 1948 season.

Renfrey joined Geelong in 1946 with his only football experience in matches played during his stint in the Army. He was selected immediately in the Geelong Senior team and never played in the second eighteen, although was the 19th man in his 152nd match.

Renfrey claims to have been the first ever Ruck Rover in league football playing second fiddle to George Card when he first started, then Tom Morrow and Bill McMaster. He believes that the football scribes who consider Ron Barassi to be the first Ruck Rover must have memory loss.

Even though he was giving away height to his opponents, Renfrey made sure they earned every kick as he was a very determined and aggressive player. He was the leading goal kicker for Geelong in his debut year (1946) with 38 goals. He has said he owes a lot to his first coach Tommy Quinn and the legendary Reg Hickey who was not only a great coach but a great friend.

External links

• Russell Renfrey's statistics from AFL Tables