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ThePope

ThePope

Premiership Player
Veteran
Jun 23, 2003
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424
32º 03'S 115º 45'E
AFL Club
Fremantle
Other Teams
South Fremantle
On Boxing Day Hawthorn announced the passing of 102 year old Ken Feltscheer on Christmas Day, leaving Carlton's Mac Wilson (103) and Keith Rae (100, Carlton & Richmond) as the only 2 confirmed living VFL player centurions.

Wikipedia has Footscray's Jim Miller (no, not Frosty, 138 games 1938-1948, President 1963-66, also played/coached Yarraville) as the next possible player to reach the ton, on 30 May 2019. Has anyone confirmed recently that Jim is still alive?
After Jim, it may be another year until Richmond's Don Benson gets to 3 figures on 9 April 2020.

There are 8 1910s & 1920 births listed as possibly living (with details from the DOD missing thread listed):
  • Jack Matthews (Australian footballer); *John "Jack" Llewellen Matthews b:22/10/1914 NthMelb 1941 Orig club Mirboo North
  • Jim McDonald (footballer, born 1916); *James "Jim" Kenneth McDonald b:24/6/1916 Melb 1942 Orig club: Leongatha. Brother of Alan McDonald who played Richmond 1939-1943, and coached Richmond 1957-1960- Any follow up rbartlett? #206
  • Alby Williams; *Albert "Alby" Joseph Williams b:3/8/1916 NthMelb 1943 Orig club Oakleigh WW2 Army VX87070
  • Brendon O'Donnell; b: 12/4/1917 St Kilda 1939,1945 - WW2 V47290 - Not listed in the DOD thread,
  • Jack Cliff; Jack Louis Cliff b:23/5/1919 StK 1940-42 - ex Broken Hill, St Kilda Gangster? poss killed, unmarked grave #297
  • Dick Day; Richard James Day, b: 17/2/1920, Nth: 1943, Orig club Yarraville, VFA
  • Frank Parker b: 20/9/1920, Haw 1941, - Not listed in the DOD thread
  • Haydn/Hyden Sharp b: 20/10/1920 - poss died SHARP Hyden William 18/09/1998 Altona Memorial Park Cremation #372
It would be good to confirm or rule out if there are any more 100 year old players out there. I've assumed that any of the death date unknown players born earlier than 1910 aren't living.
 
ThePope said:
  • Brendon O'Donnell; b: 12/4/1917 St Kilda 1939,1945 - WW2 V47290 - Not listed in the DOD thread,
  • .
Click to expand...
If the St Kilda page is to be believed then its possible Brendon passed in 1996 on the Gold Coast - confirmation required
Saints WW2 Tribute page lists him as Brendon Bernard O'Donnell

Ryerson says a Brendan Bernard O'Donnell passed before Aug 26 1996 (notes Funeral notice not death notice but assumes DOD 23/8)
O'DONNELL Brendan Bernard Funeral notice 23AUG1996 Death at Gold Coast Gold Coast Bulletin 26AUG1996

If you can confirm his wife was Betty Rose then that would match this notice in the Herald Sun
http://tributes.heraldsun.com.au/archivenotice/3118166/view?random=1514326971738
 
ThePope said:
On Boxing Day Hawthorn announced the passing of 102 year old Ken Feltscheer on Christmas Day, leaving Carlton's Mac Wilson (103) and Keith Rae (100, Carlton & Richmond) as the only 2 confirmed living VFL player centurions.
<snip>
There are 8 1910s & 1920 births listed as possibly living (with details from the DOD missing thread listed):
  • <snip>
  • Jack Cliff; Jack Louis Cliff b:23/5/1919 StK 1940-42 - ex Broken Hill, St Kilda Gangster? poss killed, unmarked grave #297
It would be good to confirm or rule out if there are any more 100 year old players out there. I've assumed that any of the death date unknown players born earlier than 1910 aren't living.
Click to expand...

A check on Ancestry which has Aust electoral rolls up to 1980 shows a Jack Louis Cliff listed both in 1977 and 1980 [occupation not listed !] as living at 34 Mitford St Elwood in St Kilda sub-district of Melbourne Ports electorate.

One day perhaps someone will have chance to check later rolls to see if we can narrow down the time period when Cliff "disappears."
 
GreyCrow said:
If the St Kilda page is to be believed then its possible Brendon passed in 1996 on the Gold Coast - confirmation required
Saints WW2 Tribute page lists him as Brendon Bernard O'Donnell

Ryerson says a Brendan Bernard O'Donnell passed before Aug 26 1996 (notes Funeral notice not death notice but assumes DOD 23/8)
O'DONNELL Brendan Bernard Funeral notice 23AUG1996 Death at Gold Coast Gold Coast Bulletin 26AUG1996

If you can confirm his wife was Betty Rose then that would match this notice in the Herald Sun
http://tributes.heraldsun.com.au/archivenotice/3118166/view?random=1514326971738
Click to expand...

Yes, you have found him.

Ancestry shows 1949 and 1963 electoral rolls with both he and Betty Rose at same address.
His name in both cases is shown as Brendan [as per the Ryerson index] so that seems preferred spelling.
 

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ThePope said:
<snip>
There are 8 1910s & 1920 births listed as possibly living (with details from the DOD missing thread listed):
<snip>
  • It would be good to confirm or rule out if there are any more 100 year old players out there. I've assumed that any of the death date unknown players born earlier than 1910 aren't living.
Click to expand...
Here is a ref to Jack Matthews at end of his playing career in 1951
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/69266089

Via Ancestry copy of 1954 electoral roll for Darwin [now known as Braddon in Tas] shows Jack Llewellyn Matthews at same address in Ulverstone with a lady named Rubena Evaline Matthews. Will see if that helps track him in later years.
 
the croucher said:
Here is a ref to Jack Matthews at end of his playing career in 1951
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/69266089

Via Ancestry copy of 1954 electoral roll for Darwin [now known as Braddon in Tas] shows Jack Llewellyn Matthews at same address in Ulverstone with a lady named Rubena Evaline Matthews. Will see if that helps track him in later years.
Click to expand...
Rubeena is his wife. Married 1938 Rubeena Evalina Whitehead
 
GreyCrow said:
Rubeena is his wife. Married 1938 Rubeena Evalina Whitehead[/QUOTE
ThePope said:
On Boxing Day Hawthorn announced the passing of 102 year old Ken Feltscheer on Christmas Day, leaving Carlton's Mac Wilson (103) and Keith Rae (100, Carlton & Richmond) as the only 2 confirmed living VFL player centurions.

Wikipedia has Footscray's Jim Miller (no, not Frosty, 138 games 1938-1948, President 1963-66, also played/coached Yarraville) as the next possible player to reach the ton, on 30 May 2019. Has anyone confirmed recently that Jim is still alive?
After Jim, it may be another year until Richmond's Don Benson gets to 3 figures on 9 April 2020.

There are 8 1910s & 1920 births listed as possibly living (with details from the DOD missing thread listed):
  • Jack Matthews (Australian footballer); *John "Jack" Llewellen Matthews b:22/10/1914 NthMelb 1941 Orig club Mirboo North
  • Jim McDonald (footballer, born 1916); *James "Jim" Kenneth McDonald b:24/6/1916 Melb 1942 Orig club: Leongatha. Brother of Alan McDonald who played Richmond 1939-1943, and coached Richmond 1957-1960- Any follow up rbartlett? #206
  • Alby Williams; *Albert "Alby" Joseph Williams b:3/8/1916 NthMelb 1943 Orig club Oakleigh WW2 Army VX87070
  • Brendon O'Donnell; b: 12/4/1917 St Kilda 1939,1945 - WW2 V47290 - Not listed in the DOD thread,
  • Jack Cliff; Jack Louis Cliff b:23/5/1919 StK 1940-42 - ex Broken Hill, St Kilda Gangster? poss killed, unmarked grave #297
  • Dick Day; Richard James Day, b: 17/2/1920, Nth: 1943, Orig club Yarraville, VFA
  • Frank Parker b: 20/9/1920, Haw 1941, - Not listed in the DOD thread
  • Haydn/Hyden Sharp b: 20/10/1920 - poss died SHARP Hyden William 18/09/1998 Altona Memorial Park Cremation #372
It would be good to confirm or rule out if there are any more 100 year old players out there.

Yes, Jim Miller is still alive.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
GreyCrow said:
Rubeena is his wife. Married 1938 Rubeena Evalina Whitehead
Click to expand...

Thanks. Helped straight away...

According to an Ancestry family tree she died on 1 December 1982 at Quoiba [NW] Tas.
The tree has no death date shown for J L Matthews.

Later in week I'll have chance to check her death notice in The Advocate and hopefully that'll give more clues about his later years.
 
ThePope said:
Click to expand...
No news yet. Richmond have closed up shop for a few weeks, so I can't get access to their records for McDonald family.
The best bet is to find Alan McDonald's family, and then ask them about Jim.

(Btw, how do you link a post from another thread into a reply. Like you did with #206)
 
ThePope said:
  • Frank Parker b: 20/9/1920, Haw 1941, - Not listed in the DOD thread
  • .
Click to expand...
Frank attended a 2007 reunion held at the HFC and was listed as living in QLD http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2007-08-15/past-players-reunite-

Initially, attendees were seated in the order that they represented / debuted with the Club. It was great to see two nonagenarians Phil Ryan and Laurie Peters heading Table 1 with Wally Bristowe who played his first game in 1940, and his friend Frank Parker who debuted in 1941. Frank had flown from Pewantin Queensland for the occasion.

This should read Tewantin (mistake by Hawks website)
 
Last edited:
rbartlett said:
(Btw, how do you link a post from another thread into a reply. Like you did with #206)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update.
Easiest way is just click on the number at the bottom of the post (on web) or top of the post (on mobile), then copy the bbcode that pops up. I then replace the thread name between url tags with the post number.
 
the croucher said:
Here is a ref to Jack Matthews at end of his playing career in 1951
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/69266089

Via Ancestry copy of 1954 electoral roll for Darwin [now known as Braddon in Tas] shows Jack Llewellyn Matthews at same address in Ulverstone with a lady named Rubena Evaline Matthews. Will see if that helps track him in later years.
Click to expand...
Jack Matthews was named on the list of OLDEST LIVING LEAGUE PLAYERS in AFL Record Season Guide 2015 but not there for the 2016 edition, so it seems highly likely that the AFL are aware of his passing.
 

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the croucher said:
Thanks. Helped straight away...

According to an Ancestry family tree she died on 1 December 1982 at Quoiba [NW] Tas.
The tree has no death date shown for J L Matthews.

Later in week I'll have chance to check her death notice in The Advocate and hopefully that'll give more clues about his later years.
Click to expand...

Well, spanner in the works in a sense...Rubeena's death notice reveals a change of circumstances in her latter decades - she died with surname Donohue, not Matthews. The notice makes no reference to him, but does list a daughter (Janette - Mrs G Winduss).

Although the entries for electoral rolls (Tasmania) on Ancestry are not thoroughly indexed after 1954,
subscribers can browse up until 1980.

Rubeena and "Jack" Matthews are both at same address in 1958 and 1963, but Rubeena is on her own in 1968.
By 1972 Leslie James Donohue is with Rubeena and also through to 1980 rolls.

Summing up, JL Matthews either died between about 1963 and 1968, or he and Rubeena were divorced.

Cannot find him listed after 1963 at another address in Tasmania, or on the mainland.
 
Mac Wilson, who played for Carlton in 1943-1944 was born on 9th July 1914 and (according to sources on this site) died on 9th August 2017 at the age of 103. I think this makes him the only player to have lived at the same time all 21 AFL/VFL clubs were existence. He was a baby when University were getting chopped up week after week in their final season and he lived to see newest teams Gold Coast and GWS join the AFL.

Harry Selover, a Melbourne player in 1919 was according to the AFL Season Record 2017 born on 24th August 1898 and died on 18th May 2001. I think he his the only player to have lived in 3 centuries.

At the other end of the scale, were there any former AFL/VFL players who died prematurely (before age 50) this year?
 
emuboy said:
At the other end of the scale, were there any former AFL/VFL players who died prematurely (before age 50) this year?
Click to expand...
I can't think of any that fit the description for this year. Just in case you're not aware, AustralianFootball covers the topic very well:- https://australianfootball.com/

If you were to go to e.g. the Hawthorn page, click on Every player, then click (twice) to sort on DOD you should see who are the players from that club who have died most recently:- https://australianfootball.com/club...son_to=2018&limit=1000&order_by=dod&sort=desc
 
35Daicos said:
I can't think of any that fit the description for this year. Just in case you're not aware, AustralianFootball covers the topic very well:- https://australianfootball.com/

If you were to go to e.g. the Hawthorn page, click on Every player, then click (twice) to sort on DOD you should see who are the players from that club who have died most recently:- https://australianfootball.com/club...son_to=2018&limit=1000&order_by=dod&sort=desc
Click to expand...
The youngest I can see is Malcolm Scott (SM/St K) who certainly fits the description of dying prematurely - but was aged 59.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/...fraternity-mourns-great-mentor-malcolm-scott/
 

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Young deaths could/should probably be in its own thread, but Daniel Fletcher in 2015 was the last sub-50 year VFL/AFL footballer to die. Dean Bailey the previous year the next most recent.

Using Wikidata (completeness/accuracy is not guaranteed, but is easily updated if you find errors), here is the full list of people with "Australian rules footballer" listed as an occupation (so includes some non-AFL/VFL players, and even some who only played as amateurs) who've died under the age of 50. Click on the edit this query link bottom left to refine the filters. Don't ask me too much about the SPARQL language, I only learn by copying. The documentation is fairly confusing.

Getting back on topic, here is a list of centurions (who have died):

Here is a list of people without a date of death listed, but aged over 95. This includes a lot of people that are obviously dead, but we don't have a date of death recorded (many mentioned on the DOD missing thread or above) - again not just VFL/AFL, but anyone with Australian rules footballer listed as an occupation:
 
ThePope said:
Young deaths could/should probably be in its own thread, but Daniel Fletcher in 2015 was the last sub-50 year VFL/AFL footballer to die. Dean Bailey the previous year the next most recent.

Using Wikidata (completeness/accuracy is not guaranteed, but is easily updated if you find errors), here is the full list of people with "Australian rules footballer" listed as an occupation (so includes some non-AFL/VFL players, and even some who only played as amateurs) who've died under the age of 50. Click on the edit this query link bottom left to refine the filters. Don't ask me too much about the SPARQL language, I only learn by copying. The documentation is fairly confusing.

Getting back on topic, here is a list of centurions (who have died):

Here is a list of people without a date of death listed, but aged over 95. This includes a lot of people that are obviously dead, but we don't have a date of death recorded (many mentioned on the DOD missing thread or above) - again not just VFL/AFL, but anyone with Australian rules footballer listed as an occupation:
Click to expand...
A good resource. Thanks. Some of those in the DOD have been solved and accepted by the AFL ie Marr and Anderson etc.
 
ThePope said:
Alby Williams; *Albert "Alby" Joseph Williams b:3/8/1916 NthMelb 1943 Orig club Oakleigh WW2 Army VX87070
Click to expand...
Alby is in the DOD thread as well but I thought I might chase him through here. Looked at a few things and I want to run some thoughts past and hope that helps others look for clues. This is all based on Albert Joseph being the one we seek

Albys war record : 115 Australian General Hospital says his NOK was a Doris Williams. As Alby would have been 25 I have taken the presumption its his wife. Albert Joseph Williams married a Vivienne Doris Jackman in 1940 reg:11707 . This is the only relevant marriage in Victoria that suits the time period

A Doris Vivienne Williams is in the Age passing away March 14 1964. In the notices it gives Albert Joseph as husband (still alive) and an address for those electoral spotters. 44 McArthur Place Carlton. The notice also intimates no children were born (or survived) . Checking cemetery records it seems Doris was cremated and no plaque is mentioned. This was at Fawkner. Doris is listed aged 46 for a DOB 1917/18, which is in line with the marriage and AJs DOB

The assumption might be that Albert also remarries.

115th AGH was located at Heidelberg Hospital

But apart from that nothing as yet after 1964
 

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