Bob Beecroft, a Swan, a Lion and a Warrior

It’s not too often you see someone play 300 games at a professional level nowadays… Especially across three different leagues and in three different states.

This is the heir which Swan Districts Life Member Bob Beecroft sits, as he awaits to receive his deserved place in this year’s Swans Hall of Fame.

In 1970, Beecroft was recruited by the black ducks from the Williams Football Club, at just 18 years old. Having come off a great season where he’d won the Williams best and fairest award, he played predominantly as a ruckman in the black and white, and quickly received the same accolade in 1972. A successful Perth carnival that same year also saw him named in the All Australian side.

A powerful mark and lead at the ball, he was recruited by the Fitzroy Lions in 1976, where he transformed his game from that of a ruckman to a key forward. He kicked 291 goals at the Lions, topping their goal kicking list in four of his five seasons at the club, and set the club record (at the time) of 87 goals in one season. He also kicked two bags of 10 goals, one of which was in the game against Melbourne which is still in the record books as the largest win in AFL/VFL history of 190 points.

In 1981 Beecroft moved to South Australia where he joined the Woodville Football Club. In his five seasons at Oval Avenue he continued to dominate as a big man, kicking 219 goals.

Bob finished his football career having played 126 games at Swan Districts, 96 for Fitzroy, 86 with Woodville along with 8 WA games, for a total of 316 games.

Please join us in congratulating Bob on his well-deserved Swan Districts Hall of Fame induction.