Norm Betson
Essendon
AFL career
78 games41 goals
- Debut
- R8 1940 v CAR15 June 1940
- Most recent
- R20 1945 v NTH1 Sept 1945
Stats
Bio
Recruited from the Riverina where he had captain-coached Culcairn, Norm Betson was a tall, gangling ruckman who served Essendon faithfully during the tumultuous war years. Often finding himself behind star followers Hugh Torney and Percy Bushby in the pecking order, he nevertheless proved a valuable asset, winning the club's Most Improved award in 1943. His time at Windy Hill is frequently remembered for a singular moment of misfortune in the 1943 Grand Final against Richmond, where his snap at goal in the dying seconds was touched on the line, condemning the Bombers to a heartbreaking five-point defeat. He missed the 1942 premiership as an emergency but found significant success after leaving the VFL, moving to the SANFL to captain-coach Glenelg and earn state selection for South Australia.
Profile
- Born
- 08 July 1914
- Died
- 05 May 1988 (aged 73y 302d)
- Birthplace
- Shepparton, VIC
- Height
- 193 cm
- Weight
- 92 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from the Riverina where he had captain-coached Culcairn, Norm Betson was a tall, gangling ruckman who served Essendon faithfully during the tumultuous war years. Often finding himself behind star followers Hugh Torney and Percy Bushby in the pecking order, he nevertheless proved a valuable asset, winning the club's Most Improved award in 1943. His time at Windy Hill is frequently remembered for a singular moment of misfortune in the 1943 Grand Final against Richmond, where his snap at goal in the dying seconds was touched on the line, condemning the Bombers to a heartbreaking five-point defeat. He missed the 1942 premiership as an emergency but found significant success after leaving the VFL, moving to the SANFL to captain-coach Glenelg and earn state selection for South Australia.