Ron Bywater | |||
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Personal information | |||
Full name | Ronald Charles Eric Bywater | ||
Date of birth | 8 January 1919 | ||
Place of birth | Moonee Ponds | ||
Height/Weight | 183 cm / 83 kg | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
1942-1950 | South Melbourne | 58 (39) | |
1 Playing statistics to end of 1950 season .
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Ronald Charles Eric "Ron" Bywater (born 8 January 1919) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
A key position player, Bywater missed many games early in his career due to his war service.[2] He made just two appearances from 1942 to 1945.[3] During the 1946 season, in July, Bywater announced his retirement, due to heart problems.[4] He however returned the following year and in what was his first full season came within five votes of winning the 1947 Brownlow Medal, finishing equal third.[3] As a result of a broken ankle, Bywater was out of action for much of the 1948 season.[5] He was used up forward in 1949 and kicked 25 goals from his 16 appearances.[3] Only Dick Jones kicked more goals for South Melbourne that year.
Bywater left South Melbourne midway through the 1950 season and joined Corowa, a club which he would later coach. He was reunited with former teammate Billy King, the then captain-coach.[6]