Ron Reeves
Collingwood
AFL career
122 games2 goals
- Debut
- R18 1957 v STK24 Aug 1957
- Most recent
- R5 1965 v CAR15 May 1965
Stats
Bio
Recruited from East Melbourne via the Richmond Scouts, Ron Reeves was a tenacious defender who defied the conservative conventions of his era. While most back pocket players in the late 1950s were instructed to simply check their opponent and clear the ball, Reeves was a natural counter-attacker who backed his judgement to mark and run from the last line of defence. After breaking into the senior side in late 1957, he became a fixture of the Collingwood backline the following season, playing a crucial role in the club's famous 1958 Premiership victory over Melbourne. Standing just 175cm, he possessed an exceptional leap and strong hands, often out-marking taller forwards before launching drive up the field.
Reeves established himself as one of the premier small defenders in the VFL, earning state selection for Victoria in both 1959 and 1960. His adventurous style was complemented by genuine courage and reliability, qualities that saw him named Collingwood's best finals player in 1959 despite the team's early exit. Over a 122-game career, he played in three Grand Finals—winning in 1958 but falling short in 1960 and 1964—and is remembered at Victoria Park as a pioneer of the attacking defender role that became standard in modern football.
Profile
- Born
- 06 Dec 1938 (age 87y 310d)
- Height
- 175 cm
- Weight
- 76 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from East Melbourne via the Richmond Scouts, Ron Reeves was a tenacious defender who defied the conservative conventions of his era. While most back pocket players in the late 1950s were instructed to simply check their opponent and clear the ball, Reeves was a natural counter-attacker who backed his judgement to mark and run from the last line of defence. After breaking into the senior side in late 1957, he became a fixture of the Collingwood backline the following season, playing a crucial role in the club's famous 1958 Premiership victory over Melbourne. Standing just 175cm, he possessed an exceptional leap and strong hands, often out-marking taller forwards before launching drive up the field.
Reeves established himself as one of the premier small defenders in the VFL, earning state selection for Victoria in both 1959 and 1960. His adventurous style was complemented by genuine courage and reliability, qualities that saw him named Collingwood's best finals player in 1959 despite the team's early exit. Over a 122-game career, he played in three Grand Finals—winning in 1958 but falling short in 1960 and 1964—and is remembered at Victoria Park as a pioneer of the attacking defender role that became standard in modern football.