Albert Sawley Explained

Albert Sawley
Fullname:Albert George Sawley[1]
Birth Date:27 October 1915
Birth Place:Norwood, South Australia
Height:182 cm
Weight:66 kg
Statsend:1946
Years1:1935–1946
Club1:Norwood
Games Goals1:143 (93)
Years2:1939
Club2:St Kilda
Games Goals2:11 (2)

Albert George Sawley, also known as Pongo Sawley (27 October 1915 – 13 August 1983),[2] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He fought in World War II alongside his brother Gordon Sawley, a Norwood and South Melbourne footballer who was killed in a training accident.[3]

Sawley started his career at Norwood and was their best and fairest winner in 1937.[4] In the same year he represented South Australia at the Perth Carnival. He spent a season at St Kilda in 1939 and played 11 games, including their preliminary final loss to Collingwood.[5] Back at Norwood, Sawley was a member of premiership sides in 1941 and 1946. During the war Norwood merged with fellow SANFL club North Adelaide to form Norwood-North, which Sawley captained.[6] He was named on a half forward flank in Norwood's Team of the Century.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World War Two Nominal Roll. Australian Government.
  2. Web site: Albert Sawley - Player Bio. Australian Football. 14 March 2015.
  3. Book: Holmesby, Russell. Main. Jim. The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. 2007 . Melbourne . 978-1-920910-78-5.
  4. Web site: History - Honour Roll . Norwood Football Club . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130426015249/http://www.norwoodfc.com.au/HISTORY/HONOUR_ROLL.aspx . 26 April 2013 .
  5. http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/A/Albert_Sawley.html AFL Tables: Albert Sawley
  6. The Advertiser,"Football League Gives £500 to P.O. W. Fund", 9 October 1943, p. 8