Rupe Bethune
Geelong
AFL career
29 games3 goals
- Debut
- R6 1939 v STK27 May 1939
- Most recent
- R18 1941 v RCH30 Aug 1941
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Dalyston in the Gippsland region, Rupe Bethune was a formidable big man who joined Geelong just as the league entered the shadow of the Second World War. Standing 187cm—a significant height for the era—he was utilized as a key position player capable of imposing himself on aerial contests. Bethune quickly established himself in the senior lineup, missing very few games across his three-year tenure and providing stability for the Cats as they sought to remain competitive after their 1937 flag. His promising VFL stint concluded at the end of 1941, with his football journey ultimately cut short by the societal disruptions of the war years, leaving him as a dependable country recruit who served the club faithfully during a turbulent era.
Profile
- Born
- 15 Aug 1917
- Died
- 02 Mar 1984 (aged 66y 200d)
- Birthplace
- Dalyston, VIC
- Deathplace
- Mulgrave, VIC
- Height
- 187 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Dalyston in the Gippsland region, Rupe Bethune was a formidable big man who joined Geelong just as the league entered the shadow of the Second World War. Standing 187cm—a significant height for the era—he was utilized as a key position player capable of imposing himself on aerial contests. Bethune quickly established himself in the senior lineup, missing very few games across his three-year tenure and providing stability for the Cats as they sought to remain competitive after their 1937 flag. His promising VFL stint concluded at the end of 1941, with his football journey ultimately cut short by the societal disruptions of the war years, leaving him as a dependable country recruit who served the club faithfully during a turbulent era.