Bob Hank
Encyclopedia
Robert W. "Bob" Hank is a former Australian rules football
er 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 Medal
s – 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.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(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
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
senior side next year when the official SANFL competition resumed. Indeed, he featured prominently playing centre in Torrens' winning Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
side that triumphed that year over their former wartime partners, Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
.
Hank's brilliant start to his career continued in 1946 with the first of back-to-back Magarey Medal
Magarey Medal
For the biography award of the same name, see Magarey Medal for biography. For a list of winners, see List of Magarey Medallists.The Magarey Medal is an Australian rules football honour awarded annually since 1898 to the fairest and most brilliant player in the South Australian National Football...
s – 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
1953 Adelaide Carnival
The 1953 Adelaide Carnival was the 12th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition...
.
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
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
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
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
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.