Ambrose Palmer
Footscray
AFL career
83 games44 goals
- Debut
- R2 1933 v SME6 May 1933
- Most recent
- R3 1943 v COL22 May 1943
Stats
Bio
Ambrose Palmer holds a unique place in sporting history as a premier dual-code athlete, balancing a VFL career with his status as the Australian professional heavyweight boxing champion. Recruited locally to Footscray, Palmer operated primarily as a ruckman and key defender where he utilised his formidable strength, balance, and pugilistic toughness to impose himself on contests. His football consistency was significantly impacted by his fighting commitments, with boxing injuries and training camps frequently restricting his availability and limiting him to just 83 games over 11 seasons. Despite these interruptions, he commanded enough respect at the Bulldogs to serve as captain-coach in 1943, eventually retiring to pursue a legendary career as a boxing trainer for world champions such as Johnny Famechon.
Profile
- Born
- 16 Oct 1910
- Died
- 16 Oct 1990 (aged 80y 0d)
- Birthplace
- Footscray, VIC
- Deathplace
- Yarraville, VIC
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 82 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionAmbrose Palmer holds a unique place in sporting history as a premier dual-code athlete, balancing a VFL career with his status as the Australian professional heavyweight boxing champion. Recruited locally to Footscray, Palmer operated primarily as a ruckman and key defender where he utilised his formidable strength, balance, and pugilistic toughness to impose himself on contests. His football consistency was significantly impacted by his fighting commitments, with boxing injuries and training camps frequently restricting his availability and limiting him to just 83 games over 11 seasons. Despite these interruptions, he commanded enough respect at the Bulldogs to serve as captain-coach in 1943, eventually retiring to pursue a legendary career as a boxing trainer for world champions such as Johnny Famechon.