| George Bates | |
| Fullname: | George William Henry Bates |
| Birth Date: | 5 January 1914 |
| Birth Place: | Abbotsford, Victoria |
| Death Place: | Geelong West, Victoria |
| Originalteam: | Northcote (VFA) |
| Height: | 180 cm |
| Weight: | 80 kg |
| Statsend: | 1940 |
| Years1: | 1933 |
| Club1: | Collingwood |
| Games Goals1: | 1 (0) |
| Years2: | 1937–1939 |
| Club2: | Richmond |
| Games Goals2: | 26 (4) |
| Years3: | 1940 |
| Club3: | South Melbourne |
| Games Goals3: | 3 (0) |
| Games Goalstotal: | 30 (4) |
George William Henry Bates (5 January 1914 – 1 April 1983)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood, Richmond and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]
Bates returned to his original club, Northcote, after just once season at Collingwood. He was a centre half-back in Northcote's 1934 premiership team and had a starring role in another premiership two years later.[3]
He resumed his VFL career in 1937 and made 14 appearances that year, including a semi final.[4]
After two more seasons with Richmond, Bates made his way to South Melbourne in 1940.[4]
In September 1937, The Argus selected Bates in its team of 1937's first-year players.[5]
| Best First-Year Players (1937) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backs | Bernie Treweek (Fitzroy) | Reg Henderson (Richmond) | Lawrence Morgan (Fitzroy) | |
| H/Backs | Gordon Waters (Hawthorn) | Bill Cahill (Essendon) | Eddie Morcom (North Melbourne) | |
| Centre Line | Ted Buckley (Melbourne) | George Bates (Richmond) | Jack Kelly (St Kilda) | |
| H/Forwards | Col Williamson (St Kilda) | Ray Watts (Essendon) | Don Dilks (Footscray) | |
| Forwards | Lou Sleeth (Richmond) | Sel Murray (North Melbourne) | Charlie Pierce (Hawthorn) | |
| Rucks/Rover | Reg Garvin (St Kilda) | Sandy Patterson (South Melbourne) | Des Fothergill (Collingwood) | |
| Second Ruck | Lawrence Morgan | Col Williamson | Lou Sleeth |