Mal Drury
Encyclopedia
Mal Drury was an Australian rules football
er who played for Hawthorn
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and West Torrens
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
Drury was a member of the West Torrens premiership team of 1933 and topped their goal-kicking with 34 majors for the year. The following season he was picked up by Hawthorn, coached by Bill Twomey, Sr.
, and played 15 of a possible 18 games.
He then returned to West Torrens and was made club captain in 1937, before being appointed coach in 1940. Drury oversaw two poor seasons but when the war induced three year recess ended, steered West Torrens to a surprise premiership in 1945. After winning both the Semi Final and Preliminary Final by a kick, the former due to a controversial goal from Jim Thoms
, West Torrens took on Port Adelaide
in the decider. Having lost just twice during the season, Port Adelaide were the favourites but West Torrens, despite conceding eight first quarter goals, won by 13 points.
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 Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
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 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...
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).
Drury was a member of the West Torrens premiership team of 1933 and topped their goal-kicking with 34 majors for the year. The following season he was picked up by Hawthorn, coached by Bill Twomey, Sr.
Bill Twomey, Sr.
William 'Bill' Patrick Twomey was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood and Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League . His sons Mick, Pat and Bill all played league football with Collingwood....
, and played 15 of a possible 18 games.
He then returned to West Torrens and was made club captain in 1937, before being appointed coach in 1940. Drury oversaw two poor seasons but when the war induced three year recess ended, steered West Torrens to a surprise premiership in 1945. After winning both the Semi Final and Preliminary Final by a kick, the former due to a controversial goal from Jim Thoms
Jim Thoms
Jim Thoms was an Australian rules footballer who played forFootscray in the Victorian Football League .Thoms, a speedy rover, was good enough to represent the VFL in both 1941 and 1946. Pushed forward in 1946, his final season, Thoms kicked 50 goals and at least one in each of his 19 games for the...
, West Torrens took on 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...
in the decider. Having lost just twice during the season, Port Adelaide were the favourites but West Torrens, despite conceding eight first quarter goals, won by 13 points.