Bruce Morrison (footballer)

Bruce Morrison
Personal information
Full name Russell Bruce Morrison
Date of birth (1923-06-19)19 June 1923
Place of birth Bairnsdale
Date of death 12 April 2012(2012-04-12) (aged 88)[1]
Place of death Geelong, Victoria
Original team(s) Bairnsdale
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1948–1954 Geelong 130 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1954.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Bruce Morrison (19 June 1923 – 12 April 2012) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

"Joey" Morrison was recruited from Bairnsdale, Victoria after winning the 1947 Gippsland Football League best and fairest, Trood award[2] and a best on ground performance in their 1947 premiership win against Sale.[3]

Morrison became a highly regarded full-back for the Geelong Football Club. He played 130 games for Geelong and won a string of awards in his first season of VFL football, winning the 1948 club best and fairest, best first year player, Geelong Workers Club best and fairest award and the Geelong Advertiser Trophy.[4]

He was well remembered for a particular kick against the Footscray at Whitten Oval. When he was playing at full-back, he tried to kick the ball out after a behind was scored but the wind was so strong that when he kicked the ball it floated over his head and through the goals.[5] The goal umpire signalled it as a rushed behind.

  1. ^ Lannen, Danny (13 April 2012). "Champion Cat dies - send your tributes". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  2. ^ "1947 - B Morrison wins Trood Award". Trove Newspapers. Gippsland Times (Vic). 28 August 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  3. ^ "1947 - Bairnsdale win Premiership". Trove Newspapers. Gippsland Times. 8 September 1947. p. 6. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. ^ "1948 - Four Trophies in First Year League Games". Trove Newspapers. Gippsland Times. 16 September 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. ^ Miller, Quentin; et al. (17 September 2010). "MCC Library Fact Sheet" (PDF). Melbourne Cricket Club Library. p. 1. Retrieved 13 August 2011.