Younger brother of champion Fred, Laurie Rusby was the sixth South son to play league and then state footy before World War Two. Of the same prolific generation as Eddie Mahoney, Ron May and Howard Abbott, Laurie would play at the highest level and for a very long time - nearly twenty seasons over B and A grades.

In the footsteps of his brother Fred, Laurie began very young in the South seconds after World War One, and by the late 1920s had celebrated five consecutive premierships at that level between 1920 and 1924. By the 1930s, he knew how to win and had become an accomplished champion in the 1929, 1931 and 1932 A Grade premierships, finishing third in the Mail Medal for season 1932, and regularly representing the GFA.

Laurie was then recruited by South Adelaide - one of the powers of the SANFL in those days - in 1933, where he would stay for a 12 year 178 game career, kicking 370 goals. Laurie played State football during this time and was captain of the Panthers' 1941 premiership.

Finishing his league career on this high note, he returned to South to play A Grade back at his origins. In fact, almost immediately! South were fortunate enough to have this very league premiership captain represent us in the finals that same football year. Something that would never happen now.