Past John 'Mopsy' Rantall (1980)

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Wikipedia

A reliable defender who worked tirelessly to repel opposition attacks, Rantall had magnificent skills. He moved to Fitzroy for one last season in 1980, where he played 6 games and broke the VFL games record (which has since been broken by Kevin Bartlett and Michael Tuck).
In total, Rantall played 336 games - 260 for the Swans (a then club record), 70 for the Kangaroos and 6 for the Lions.
In 1996 Rantall was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Career statistics

 

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Link

 

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Fullpointsfooty

Despite the fact that he scarcely looked like a league footballer, with skinny, shrunken legs and an almost emaciated physique, John Rantall had few peers in the VFL during his eighteen season, 336 game senior career with three clubs.

Recruited from Cobden, he began with South Melbourne in 1963, and was selected to represent the VFL in his very first season. He went on to play a total of 260 league games (a club record) in two stints with South, most of them on a half back flank, although it was as a back pocket that he achieved selection in the Swans official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Renowned for his superb judgement and tremendous all round skills John Rantall was without doubt one of the best specialist half back flankers ever to have played this game. In 2003 he was selected on his favoured half back flank in the Kangaroos' official 'Team of the Century'.

 

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North Melbourne

With the introduction of the ten year rule by the VFL, John was recruited by Ron Joseph to North along with several other key players to be part of Norths plan to win a flag. His ambition was to play in a premiership side, a wish that came true when he was a member of 1975 premiership team. Although John only played 70 games with North Melbourne he left behind an indelible imprint.

He won the Syd Barker Medal in 1974 and is a member of the North Melbourne Team of the century. In a strange twist of fate John returned to South Melbourne in 1976 again at the request of Ron Joseph who had moved there as club secretary. He played there until 1979 finishing his long and successful career with six games at the Fitzroy football club the following year.

 

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All-time biggest AFL player moves

4. The 10 year rule (1973) Free agency lasted only a few months back at the end of 1972 but long enough for North Melbourne to grab 10-year veterans Barry Davis (Essendon), Doug Wade (Geelong) and John Rantall (South Melbourne), all of who helped the club go from one win in 1972 to a flag in 1975.