Ron Tucker
Encyclopedia
Ronald Douglas "Ron" Tucker (born 30 June 1921 in Subiaco
, Western Australia
; died 10 April 1986 in Perth, Western Australia
) was an Australian rules football
er who played for and in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL).
, Tucker made his debut for in 1940, and was their leading goalkicker in 1941 with 44 goals. He served as a driver in the 52 Australian Transport Platoon during World War II
, and also played army football. He was also a noted athlete, winning the Northern Territory 120 yds. hurdles championship in 1944, and the New Britain 200 yds. championship in 1945. Tucker returned to Perth for the 1946 season. Tucker played in losing Grand Finals in both 1949, against , and 1950, against . Tucker kicked 115 goals in 1950 to be the WANFL's leading goalkicker
, which is a Perth record. After a run of poor form for Perth, which resulted in him being switched to centre half-back for the latter half of the 1951 season, Tucker transferred to for the 1952 season. In 18 games at the club, playing either as a goalsneak or as a follower, he kicked 65 goals to lead the club's goalkicking. He transferred back to Perth for the 1953 season, and returned to form, kicking 87 goals. He again led the club's goalkicking in 1954 and 1955, with 44 and 52 goals in each respective season, but was dropped to the reserves several times. Tucker was unavailable for Perth's premiership win over in 1955 after injuring his knee in the preliminary final, and retired at the end of the season.
Tucker died at Royal Perth Hospital
on 10 April 1986, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery
. In 1999, he was named at centre half-forward in Perth's Team of Century, and was posthumously inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2009.
and John Coleman, and was considered superior to Naylor at ground level. Tucker played at either centre half-forward or full-forward in every interstate and carnival
match for the WANFL between 1947 and 1950, kicking 32 goals.
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
; died 10 April 1986 in Perth, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
) was an Australian rules football
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 and in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL).
Career
Born to William Henry Tucker and Annie Florence Lee on 30 June 1921 at King Edward Memorial HospitalKing Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women is located at 374 Bagot Road, Subiaco, Western Australia.It provides pregnancy and neonatal care within the greater Perth Metropolitan area. In cases where patients have gone to private maternity clinics they may be moved to KEMH should complications occur...
, Tucker made his debut for in 1940, and was their leading goalkicker in 1941 with 44 goals. He served as a driver in the 52 Australian Transport Platoon during 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...
, and also played army football. He was also a noted athlete, winning the Northern Territory 120 yds. hurdles championship in 1944, and the New Britain 200 yds. championship in 1945. Tucker returned to Perth for the 1946 season. Tucker played in losing Grand Finals in both 1949, against , and 1950, against . Tucker kicked 115 goals in 1950 to be the WANFL's leading goalkicker
Bernie Naylor Medal
The Bernie Naylor Medal is an Australian rules football award which is given to the leading goalkicker at the end of each home and away season in the West Australian Football League. It is named after South Fremantle full-forward Bernie Naylor...
, which is a Perth record. After a run of poor form for Perth, which resulted in him being switched to centre half-back for the latter half of the 1951 season, Tucker transferred to for the 1952 season. In 18 games at the club, playing either as a goalsneak or as a follower, he kicked 65 goals to lead the club's goalkicking. He transferred back to Perth for the 1953 season, and returned to form, kicking 87 goals. He again led the club's goalkicking in 1954 and 1955, with 44 and 52 goals in each respective season, but was dropped to the reserves several times. Tucker was unavailable for Perth's premiership win over in 1955 after injuring his knee in the preliminary final, and retired at the end of the season.
Tucker died at Royal Perth Hospital
Royal Perth Hospital
Royal Perth Hospital is an 855-bed teaching hospital located on the northeastern edge of the CBD of Perth, Western Australia . Royal Perth Hospital also has specialised rehabilitation facilities at Shenton Park.-History:...
on 10 April 1986, and was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery
Karrakatta Cemetery is a metropolitan cemetery in the suburb of Karrakatta in Perth, Western Australia. Karrakatta Cemetery first opened for burials in 1899, with Robert Creighton. Currently managed by the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, the cemetery attracts more than one million visitors each...
. In 1999, he was named at centre half-forward in Perth's Team of Century, and was posthumously inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame
West Australian Football Hall of Fame
The West Australian Football Hall of Fame was created in 2002 to recognise and enshrine those who have made a significant contribution to Australian rules football in Western Australia...
in 2009.
Reputation
Tucker was considered the equal of leading full-forwards such as Bernie NaylorBernie Naylor
Bernard George "Bernie" Naylor was an Australian rules footballer who was one of the most successful full-forwards in the history of the West Australian Football League...
and John Coleman, and was considered superior to Naylor at ground level. Tucker played at either centre half-forward or full-forward in every interstate and carnival
Interstate matches in Australian rules football
Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were...
match for the WANFL between 1947 and 1950, kicking 32 goals.