Lester Ross (born 27 August 1936) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Lester Ross | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Lester Ross | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1936 | ||
| Original team(s) | Prahran, Moe | ||
| Height | 177 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Weight | 72 kg (159 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1959 | St Kilda | 10 (0) | |
| 1961–1962 | Norwood | 27 | |
| 1963–1967 | South Adelaide | 72 | |
| 1968 | Subiaco | 1 | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1968. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Ross, who started his senior football career at Victorian Football Association club Prahran, spent the 1958 season with Moe and won the Latrobe Valley Football League "Best and Fairest" award.[1]
He was granted a clearance to join St Kilda in 1959 and the centreman is credited with having outperformed Footscray's Ted Whitten in his very first game.[1][2] After playing in the opening ten rounds of the season, Ross was demoted to the seconds, causing a dispute which would see him walk out on the club.[3]
Norwood secured his services in 1961 and he spent two seasons with them, in the South Australian National Football League.[1] In his first season, he finished third in the Magarey Medal, even though he had missed five games.[1]
He played the next five years with South Adelaide, after joining the club in 1963. Playing mostly as a half forward flanker, he was a good performer for South Adelaide and was a member of their 1964 premiership team.[1]
His final destination was Subiaco in Western Australia but he played only one senior game.[1] After his debut, Ross seriously injured his arm when he unwittingly smashed it through a window. The injury required 60 stitches and ended his career.[1]
Ross had sons who were also good footballers; Lester junior who played with Norwood and Jonathon who played at both Norwood and Adelaide.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Full Points Footy: Lester Ross (Prahran, St Kilda, Norwood, South Adelaide, Subiaco)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
- ^ "Lester Ross". AFL Tables.
- ^ The Age, "Ross Turns Out", 24 February 1960. p. 13
- ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.