Bill Luff
Essendon
AFL career
82 games37 goals
- Debut
- R1 1934 v FSC5 May 1934
- Most recent
- R14 1940 v SME27 July 1940
Stats
Bio
A prolific goal-kicking sensation in the VFA before his arrival at Windy Hill, Bill Luff successfully reinvented himself from a forward pocket sharpshooter into a reliable VFL defender. The son of former Richmond player Bill Luff Sr., he initially made headlines at Camberwell, where he became the first VFA player to boot over 100 goals in a season during the 1933 campaign. His career followed an unusual trajectory, as he joined Essendon in 1934 only to return to Camberwell for a single season in 1935—topping the VFA goalkicking table once more—before committing to the Bombers permanently in 1936. While he lacked the physical size to dominate as a key forward at the league level, Luff found his niche on a half-back flank, utilizing his evasiveness and superb long kicking to drive play from defence. He became a vital figure in the Essendon side of the late 1930s, eventually serving as vice-captain and finishing runner-up in the 1937 Best and Fairest count.
Profile
- Full name
- Bill N. Luff
- Born
- 25 Dec 1909
- Died
- 09 Oct 1981 (aged 71y 288d)
- Birthplace
- Richmond, VIC
- Deathplace
- Heidelberg, VIC
- Height
- 179 cm
- Weight
- 79 kg
Teams
Family
- Father:Bill Luff
Bio
1 revisionA prolific goal-kicking sensation in the VFA before his arrival at Windy Hill, Bill Luff successfully reinvented himself from a forward pocket sharpshooter into a reliable VFL defender. The son of former Richmond player Bill Luff Sr., he initially made headlines at Camberwell, where he became the first VFA player to boot over 100 goals in a season during the 1933 campaign. His career followed an unusual trajectory, as he joined Essendon in 1934 only to return to Camberwell for a single season in 1935—topping the VFA goalkicking table once more—before committing to the Bombers permanently in 1936. While he lacked the physical size to dominate as a key forward at the league level, Luff found his niche on a half-back flank, utilizing his evasiveness and superb long kicking to drive play from defence. He became a vital figure in the Essendon side of the late 1930s, eventually serving as vice-captain and finishing runner-up in the 1937 Best and Fairest count.