Frank Crapper
Encyclopedia
Francis Gerald "Frank" Crapper (22 May 1911 – February 1991) was an Australian rules football
er who played with North Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Crapper was a prolific full-forward
for Eaglehawk
in the Bendigo Football League
(BFL), who had two stints at North Melbourne. Two brothers, Fred and Harry, played briefly at Richmond
and Melbourne
respectively.
He had come to the attention of North Melbourne scouts in 1930 when he became the first player in history to kick over 100 goals in a BFL season. Crapper was then signed by North Melbourne but would only play three games for them in 1931 before returning to Eaglehawk.
Crapper beat his own BFL record in 1932 when he kicked 129 goals. He bettered that effort in 1933 with 154 goals in the home and away season and 163 after finals. Both those tallies remain a league record.
The forward made a return to North Melbourne in 1935 and kicked 10 goals from his six appearances. He finally kicked a big haul for his VFL club in the sixth round of the 1936 season
, with nine goals against St Kilda. His eventual season tall of 29 goals was second only to Dudley Cassidy
at North Melbourne. Over the next three years he managed only five more games but did put in another memorable performance, kicking eight goals against Footscray
on his 26th birthday. Despite his efforts he still finished on the losing team, as he had after his nine goal haul from the previous season.
Crapper served in the second World War
.
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 with North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
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).
Crapper was a prolific full-forward
Full-forward
Full-forward is a position in Australian rules football and Gaelic football with a key focus on kicking goals.Leading full-forwards of the Australian Football League are usually among those awarded with the Coleman Medal for the most goals in an AFL season....
for Eaglehawk
Eaglehawk Football Club
The Eaglehawk Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Bendigo Football League .They are based in the town of Eaglehawk, Victoria and have competed in every BFL season since the league began in 1880, with the exception of 1904.Eaglehawk drew level with Sandhurst in...
in the Bendigo Football League
Bendigo Football League
The Bendigo Football League is an Australian rules football competition based in the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia.Formed in 1880, it is one of the oldest football leagues in Australia, and among its members are some of the oldest football clubs in Australia, including the Castlemaine...
(BFL), who had two stints at North Melbourne. Two brothers, Fred and Harry, played briefly at Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
and Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
respectively.
He had come to the attention of North Melbourne scouts in 1930 when he became the first player in history to kick over 100 goals in a BFL season. Crapper was then signed by North Melbourne but would only play three games for them in 1931 before returning to Eaglehawk.
Crapper beat his own BFL record in 1932 when he kicked 129 goals. He bettered that effort in 1933 with 154 goals in the home and away season and 163 after finals. Both those tallies remain a league record.
The forward made a return to North Melbourne in 1935 and kicked 10 goals from his six appearances. He finally kicked a big haul for his VFL club in the sixth round of the 1936 season
1936 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1936.-Premiership season:In 1936, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
, with nine goals against St Kilda. His eventual season tall of 29 goals was second only to Dudley Cassidy
Dudley Cassidy
Sylvester Jervis "Dudley" Cassidy was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League ....
at North Melbourne. Over the next three years he managed only five more games but did put in another memorable performance, kicking eight goals against 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...
on his 26th birthday. Despite his efforts he still finished on the losing team, as he had after his nine goal haul from the previous season.
Crapper served in the second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.