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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]

External links[edit]

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