George Bates
Richmond, South Melbourne and Collingwood
AFL career
30 games4 goals
- Debut
- R8 1933 v STK17 June 1933
- Most recent
- R6 1940 v NTH1 June 1940
Stats
Bio
A resilient utility whose VFL career was defined by a successful redemption arc in the VFA, George Bates played his best football during a three-year stint at Punt Road. Originally debuting for Collingwood in 1933, he managed just a single senior appearance before returning to the VFA, where he reinvented himself as a dominant centre half-back for Northcote, anchoring their 1934 and 1936 premiership sides. This form commanded a second chance in the top flight with Richmond in 1937, where the 180cm defender immediately impressed, earning media recognition as one of the season's best recruits and featuring in the Tigers' semi-final campaign. A sturdy and reliable operator who could also push up the ground, Bates eventually concluded his 30-game journey with a brief spell at South Melbourne in 1940.
Profile
- Born
- 05 Jan 1914
- Died
- 01 Apr 1983 (aged 69y 86d)
- Birthplace
- Abbotsford, VIC
- Deathplace
- Geelong West, VIC
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionA resilient utility whose VFL career was defined by a successful redemption arc in the VFA, George Bates played his best football during a three-year stint at Punt Road. Originally debuting for Collingwood in 1933, he managed just a single senior appearance before returning to the VFA, where he reinvented himself as a dominant centre half-back for Northcote, anchoring their 1934 and 1936 premiership sides. This form commanded a second chance in the top flight with Richmond in 1937, where the 180cm defender immediately impressed, earning media recognition as one of the season's best recruits and featuring in the Tigers' semi-final campaign. A sturdy and reliable operator who could also push up the ground, Bates eventually concluded his 30-game journey with a brief spell at South Melbourne in 1940.