Neil Button
| Neil Button | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Neil Alexander Button | ||
| Nickname | The Bear | ||
| Born | 28 July 1952 | ||
| Original team | Ramblers (Murray Bridge) | ||
| Debut | 29 May 1971, Norwood vs. Central District, at Elizabeth | ||
| Positions | Ruckman (1970s), centre half-forward (1980s) | ||
| Other occupation | Mathematics and physical education teacher | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1971–1985 | Norwood | 283 (163) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1972–1979 | South Australia | 9 (5) | |
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1993 | VSFL Under-18 (assistant) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1985. 2 Representative statistics correct as of 1979. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Source: Redlegs Museum | |||
Neil "The Bear" Button (born 28 July 1952)[1] is a former Australian footballer who played for the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) between 1971 and 1985. He played primarily as a ruckman.[2]
Early career
[edit]Button was recruited from Ramblers in 1970 and debuted the following year against the Central District Football Club.[1]
SANFL career
[edit]Button made his senior debut for Norwood in 1971. He played a total of 283 league games and kicked 163 goals. In addition, he played 11 reserves matches and 19 under-19 matches and 9 state games. He retired in 1986.[1][3]
Playing style
[edit]Button played primarily as a ruckman. After a knee injury during the opening of the 1980 Escort Cup, he primarily played as a centre half forward.[2]
Honours
[edit]Among other honours, he was named as centre half forward in Norwood’s official ‘Team of the Twentieth Century’, and was inucted in the Player Life Members Award in 1981.[4][5]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Neil A Button". Retrieved 24 June 2026.
- 1 2 "REDLEGS MUESEUM". Retrieved 24 June 2026.
- ↑ "Neil 'The Bear' Button – champion footballer, quality human being". 10 January 2020.
- ↑ "Neil Button". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018.
- ↑ "Player Life Members". Retrieved 24 June 2026.