Past Bob Beecroft (1976-1980)

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Wikipedia

Beecroft made his debut with Swan Districts in 1970, playing 126 games as a ruckman, being named All Australian for his performance in the 1972 Perth Carnival and the Swan's Best and Fairest award. He played for Western Australia three years later and was recruited by Fitzroy for the following season.

As a key forward for the Lions, Beecroft topped their goalkicking list four times with a best of 87 goals in 1979 which was at the time a club record. He kicked 10 goals in a match twice and by the end of his short VFL career he had managed 291 goals.

He finished his football career in the SANFL with Woodville, where he played 86 games, kicking 219 goals.

Career Statistics

 

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Encounter Bay

Over the next few seasons, Beecroft's form fell away somewhat, and it was something of a surprise when he was selected in West Australia's team for the 1975 knock-out carnival clash with the VFL in Melbourne. However, he performed with considerable credit in a well beaten side, and this may have helped persuade Fitzroy, where he ventured in 1976, that he was a worthwhile acquisition. Beecroft spent five seasons with the Lions, playing 96 games and kicking 291 goals. Fitzroy played him mainly as a key forward, and he topped the club's goal kicking list on three occasions.

Tough, persistent and reliable, he was perhaps better suited to the hurly-burly world of VFL football than the more skill-orientated Western Australian or South Australian manifestations of game. At any rate, he undoubtedly played his best football during his time in Melbourne, although his performances with Swans (for whom he played 126 games and booted 164 goals) were still deemed sufficiently noteworthy for him to secure selection in the club's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

 

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Hell of a day - 190 point win to Fitzroy

Gerard Healy remembers being in awe of the Lions' dominance that afternoon, even admiring the brilliance of some of their players. "I recall David McMahon kicking goals (two) from the wing. In fact I reckon half the Fitzroy crowd kicked goals as well as the Fitzroy players. Every time I looked up Bob Beecroft (who kicked ten) had the ball in his hands and I was just marvelling at Gary Wilson."

 

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VFL ruckman Gary Dempsey spoils his WA opponent Bob Beecroft's attempt to mark. Both Dempsey and Beecroft gained selection in the All Australian team.

 

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Link ....

Bob Beecroft had been a ruckman with Swan Districts before becoming an excellent full forward for Fitzroy, topping their goalkicking from 1977 to 1980. Coming to Woodville in the early 80's, he was still an imposing figure and had plenty to offer. Only trouble was that the rest of the team was crap.

 

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Blast from the past

I actually kicked 10 goals twice in my career - once against South Melbourne and another time against Melbourne when Fitzroy notched up the biggest ever win in VFL/AFL history.

I still that remember that record score. It was a bit surreal the way it happened. It was the only game I’ve ever been involved in where every player was at the very top of their game.

I really enjoyed my time at Fitzroy. Coming from WA, it was always a burning ambition of mine to play in the ‘big time’. I never wanted to just stay in WA and play out my entire football career there.

 

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[LIONHART]

thanks for starting a post on bob beecroft.

the thing I remember most about him was that he was a very accurate kick for goal, if he got the ball anywhere within his kicking range it was usually converted accurately.

i would be interested to know what his conversion rate was whilst at the lions. hard to believe he only played 96 games.

 

[Mr Ripper]

291.141 according to http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/B/Bob_Beecroft.html

 

[Mr Ripper]

Bob boots a six-goal warning