Eric Glass
Encyclopedia
Eric G. "Tarzan" Glass (born 22 February 1910) was an Australian rules football
er who played for East Fremantle
in the West Australian Football League
(WAFL), with the Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and with Williamstown
in the Victorian Football Association
(VFA). He also served in the Royal Australian Air Force
in World War II
.
and raised in Goomalling, Western Australia
.
, playing in the WAFL. A "heavy, raw recruit", he debuted in 1927 and was considered to be "slow and cumbersome" at the beginning of his career. In his time with East Fremantle Glass played 55 games, becoming one of the team's "strongest and most useful players". Included in that were the 1930 and 1931 Grand Finals, both of which East Fremantle won. In the 1930 Grand Final Glass kicked two goals, playing as a full forward, and in 1931 he again kicked two goals, this time playing on the half forward flank. He played for East Fremantle until the end of the 1932 season.
to play in the VFL. This required Glass to leave his home state of Western Australia and relocate to Victoria, but Melbourne offered Glass a job, as an employee of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
, and Glass accepted the offer. It was during his time at Melbourne that Glass received the nickname "Tarzan", for his ferocious determination to win the ball. Glass began his career at Melbourne as a midfielder, kicking only eight goals in his first 13 games, but polling seven Brownlow Medal
votes. In 1934 and 1935 his goalkicking increased, kicking 20 and 21 goals respectively. Glass's best season for the Demons came in 1936; he played mainly as a forward, where he formed a good combination with full forward, Norm Smith
. Glass finished 1936 having kicked 56 goals and won Melbourne's Leading Goalkicker Award, in a season when the Demons finished third, their best result while Glass played for them. Glass played two more seasons for Melbourne, 1937 and 1938, but neither were as successful as his 1936 season and he could manage only 16 games throughout the two years. Glass left Melbourne at the end of 1938 having played 78 games and amassed 138 goals, but unfortunately for him, the Demons went on to win the next three VFL premierships.
, who played in the VFA, the second tier Australian rules football competition in Victoria. In his first season with Williamstown, the Seagulls won their third VFA premiership, winning the Grand Final against Brunswick
by a single point, with Glass playing as a ruck-rover. Glass played with Williamstown from 1939 until 1941, when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
to serve in World War II.
Glass enlisted after the conclusion of the 1941 season, on 26 November. Due to his involvement in World War II, Glass ceased playing for Williamstown. Despite being officially discharged from the Air Force on 5 September 1946, with the rank of corporal
, Glass did play one more season for the Seagulls in 1945. He was named as the team's vice-captain at the beginning of the season and played for Williamstown in their 1945 Grand Final victory over Port Melbourne
. The 1945 season was Glass' last and he retired having played 82 VFA games for a return of 54 goals.
In 2003 Glass was posthumously selected in the Williamstown Football Club's Team of the Century, in the position of ruck-rover.
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 who played for East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
in the West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
(WAFL), with the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) and with Williamstown
Williamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA). He also served in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Glass was born on 22 February 1910 in Northam, Western AustraliaNortham, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
and raised in Goomalling, Western Australia
Goomalling, Western Australia
Goomalling is a townsite in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia 45 km north north east of Northam, Western Australia. The name Goomalling was first shown for a spring found by explorers Hillman & Lefroy in 1846. Hillman noted on his plan "rich grassy country" and squatters subsequently...
.
East Fremantle
Glass began his senior career with East FremantleEast Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
, playing in the WAFL. A "heavy, raw recruit", he debuted in 1927 and was considered to be "slow and cumbersome" at the beginning of his career. In his time with East Fremantle Glass played 55 games, becoming one of the team's "strongest and most useful players". Included in that were the 1930 and 1931 Grand Finals, both of which East Fremantle won. In the 1930 Grand Final Glass kicked two goals, playing as a full forward, and in 1931 he again kicked two goals, this time playing on the half forward flank. He played for East Fremantle until the end of the 1932 season.
Melbourne
Prior to the 1933 season, Glass was recruited by MelbourneMelbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
to play in the VFL. This required Glass to leave his home state of Western Australia and relocate to Victoria, but Melbourne offered Glass a job, as an employee of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, and Glass accepted the offer. It was during his time at Melbourne that Glass received the nickname "Tarzan", for his ferocious determination to win the ball. Glass began his career at Melbourne as a midfielder, kicking only eight goals in his first 13 games, but polling seven Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes. In 1934 and 1935 his goalkicking increased, kicking 20 and 21 goals respectively. Glass's best season for the Demons came in 1936; he played mainly as a forward, where he formed a good combination with full forward, Norm Smith
Norm Smith
Norman Walter "Norm" Smith was an Australian rules football player and coach in the Victorian Football League. After 200 games as a player with Melbourne and Fitzroy, Smith began a twenty year coaching career, including a fifteen year stint at Melbourne...
. Glass finished 1936 having kicked 56 goals and won Melbourne's Leading Goalkicker Award, in a season when the Demons finished third, their best result while Glass played for them. Glass played two more seasons for Melbourne, 1937 and 1938, but neither were as successful as his 1936 season and he could manage only 16 games throughout the two years. Glass left Melbourne at the end of 1938 having played 78 games and amassed 138 goals, but unfortunately for him, the Demons went on to win the next three VFL premierships.
Williamstown
Having left Melbourne, Glass was recruited by WilliamstownWilliamstown Football Club
The Williamstown Football Club, nicknamed The Seagulls, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne and are currently playing in the Victorian Football League...
, who played in the VFA, the second tier Australian rules football competition in Victoria. In his first season with Williamstown, the Seagulls won their third VFA premiership, winning the Grand Final against Brunswick
Brunswick Football Club
Brunswick Football Club was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1897 until 1990. They were originally nicknamed the Pottery Workers before being renamed the Magpies and were based in Brunswick, Victoria. The club wore black and white guernseys...
by a single point, with Glass playing as a ruck-rover. Glass played with Williamstown from 1939 until 1941, when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
to serve in World War II.
Glass enlisted after the conclusion of the 1941 season, on 26 November. Due to his involvement in World War II, Glass ceased playing for Williamstown. Despite being officially discharged from the Air Force on 5 September 1946, with the rank of corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
, Glass did play one more season for the Seagulls in 1945. He was named as the team's vice-captain at the beginning of the season and played for Williamstown in their 1945 Grand Final victory over Port Melbourne
Port Melbourne Football Club
The Port Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Borough, is an Australian rules football club based in the Melbourne suburb of Port Melbourne and is currently playing in the Victorian Football League ....
. The 1945 season was Glass' last and he retired having played 82 VFA games for a return of 54 goals.
In 2003 Glass was posthumously selected in the Williamstown Football Club's Team of the Century, in the position of ruck-rover.