Bob Hank
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth | June 19, 1923, |
| Recruited from | |
| Playing career¹ | |
| Debut | 1945, West Torrens, SANFL vs. , at |
| Team(s) | West Torrens (1945-1958)
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| Coaching career¹ | |
| Team(s) | West Torrens (1951) |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2006 season | |
| Career highlights | |
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Robert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).
Hank actually began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Port Adelaide in 1944. He stepped smoothly in the West Torrens senior side next year when the official SANFL competition resumed. Indeed, he featured prominently playing centre in Torrens' winning Grand Final side that triumphed that year over their former wartime partners, Port Adelaide.
Hank's brilliant start to his career continued in 1946 with the first of back-to-back Magarey Medals - the SANFL's highest individual award for the "fairest and most brilliant" player.
1946 was also when he was selected for the first of 27 State representative appearances. He went on to captain the State side between 1951 and 1954. Hank earned selection in the inaugural All-Australian team at the 1953 Adelaide carnival.
Throughout his career Hank was known for his fine ball handling and his distinctive left foot drop-kicks. Hank played in the centre or across half-forward with immense courage and tantalising elusiveness. In his latter years he played despite serious injuries and when finally retired in 1958 he had played a total of 224 games.
In total Hank won the West Torrens' best and fairest award nine times (6 in a row between 1945 and 1950). He captained his club for nine seasons and was captain-coach in 1951. He was a member of West Torrens' last ever premiership team in 1953.
Hank was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1999 in recognition of his superb playing skills and achievements. He was inducted into the SANFL Hall of Fame in its first year in 2002.
[edit] References
- Ross, John (1999). The Australian Football Hall of Fame. Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers, p. 143. ISBN 0-7322-6426-X.
[edit] External links
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