Bob Spargo
Encyclopedia
Bob Spargo is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Footscray
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
A Braybrook recruit, who was a Stawell Gift
finalist in 1974, Spargo started as a half forward but soon established himself in the side as a centreman and it was in that position that he appeared in the 1961 VFL Grand Final
loss to Hawthorn. He had his best VFL season in 1962 when he polled nine Brownlow Medal votes, placing him second behind John Schultz
amongst Footscray players that year.
Spargo was lured over to West Perth
in 1965, as captain-coach and he won a Simpson Medal
the same year for his performance against the Victorians in an interstate match.
He came from an Australian rules football playing family, his brother Ricky was a Footscray player as was their father Bob senior. A son, Paul Spargo
, was an AFL footballer at both North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears.
After football, Spargo continued running on the professional athletic circuit and at the age of 34, he ran 5th in the 1974 Stawell Gift
final off 9.75 m behind Peter Durham and later (at the same carnival) won the 200 m Jack Donaldson Handicap.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
A Braybrook recruit, who was a Stawell Gift
Stawell Gift
The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
finalist in 1974, Spargo started as a half forward but soon established himself in the side as a centreman and it was in that position that he appeared in the 1961 VFL Grand Final
1961 VFL Grand Final
The 1961 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Footscray Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 23 September 1961. It was the 65th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
loss to Hawthorn. He had his best VFL season in 1962 when he polled nine Brownlow Medal votes, placing him second behind John Schultz
John Schultz
John Schultz is a former Australian rules football player, who played for the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League and is one of the club's greatest players....
amongst Footscray players that year.
Spargo was lured over to West Perth
West Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
in 1965, as captain-coach and he won a Simpson Medal
Simpson Medal
The Simpson Medal, a prize for Australian rules football, has been donated by Dr. Fred Simpson and family since 1945. It is awarded to the best player in a WAFL Grand Final and the best player in an interstate game involving Western Australia....
the same year for his performance against the Victorians in an interstate match.
He came from an Australian rules football playing family, his brother Ricky was a Footscray player as was their father Bob senior. A son, Paul Spargo
Paul Spargo
Paul Spargo is a former Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears in the Australian Football League . A half forward, he is the son of Footscray's Grand Final player Bob Spargo....
, was an AFL footballer at both North Melbourne and the Brisbane Bears.
After football, Spargo continued running on the professional athletic circuit and at the age of 34, he ran 5th in the 1974 Stawell Gift
Stawell Gift
The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
final off 9.75 m behind Peter Durham and later (at the same carnival) won the 200 m Jack Donaldson Handicap.