Fred Rusby

Fred and Laurie Rusby were the first brothers from South to each go onto league and state football. A protege of the great Winky Price, elder brother Fred immediately established himself as a forward in the back-to-back undefeated premierships of 1901 and 1902. Quite an introduction to senior footy.

By 1906, he was entering his prime - emerging as a prominent leader of the club representing the GFA on a number of occasions and a crucial contributor to the premiership of that year.

In 1907, Fred was lured to North Adelaide where he also played a second season in 1908. Unlike his younger brother Laurie in the next decade, he would not stay on playing in the city however, so there were celebrations back at the club when Fred announced that he was coming back to finish his celebrated twelve year career at South.

Fred's much-heralded return home was followed by a hat-trick of premeirships in 1909,1910 and 1911. At his peak, Fred Rusby was a very marketable talent who could have played at a higher level anywhere, but he just loved playing his footy at South where he always had.

Although Fred retired as World War One broke out, he continued on at the club as probably our first (unofficial) senior coach, and would finish his football involvement as South's 1921 premiership architect. Fred Rusby was to have a lasting impact on the football department, eschewing the golden era of the 1920s to come.