| Bruce Carruthers | |
| Fullname: | Bruce Carruthers |
| Birth Date: | 18 January 1903 |
| Birth Place: | Bendigo, Victoria |
| Death Place: | Bendigo, Victoria |
| Originalteam: | South Bendigo, Rochester |
| Statsend: | 1928 |
| Years1: | 1927–28 |
| Games Goals1: | 12 (6) |
Bruce Carruthers (18 January 1903 – 8 March 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
In 1923, Carruthers was involved in a long drawn out clearance dispute. Carruthers, a South Bendigo player applied for a clearance to Rochester, where he was working, but subsequently withdrew it and South Bendigo played Carruthers and a protest was lodged by Rochester.[2] Rochester lost the appeal and Carruthers was allowed to play with South Bendigo.[3]
Ironically, Carruthers ended up playing with Rochester in 1924[4] and was their captain-coach in 1925,[5] before returning to Bendigo with work midway through 1925 and played in South Bendigo's 1925 premiership.[6]
In 1926, Carruthers applied for a permit to play with Essendon, after training with them for three weeks,[7] but was refused after he admitted that he had received payment from Richmond a few seasons ago.[8] Carruthers returned to play with South Bendigo in 1926.[9]
Carruthers made his VFL debut for Essendon in 1927 against Footscray in round one and kicked four goals.[10]
In 1930, Carruthers was appointed as captain-coach of Launceston Football Club and coached them from 1930 to 1932. [11]