Rodney Olsson
Encyclopedia
Rodney Olsson is a former Australian rules football
er and coach who played with Hawthorn
in the VFL
during the 1960s.
Olsson was a ruck-rover for Hawthorn but when he started his career he played as a half forward as well as on the half back flanks. He was a member of the Hawthorn side which lost the 1963 Grand Final
to Geelong, the club he would later coach.
He spent the early 1970s in Tasmania as playing coach of Sandy Bay
. In what would be the club's strongest era he steered them to the 1971 and 1972 TFL premierships and to another Grand Final in 1973, which they lost despite winning 20 consecutive games that year. As a player he also had success and was a William Leitch Medal
ist in both 1971 and 1973.
In 1976 Olsson returned to the VFL and he coached Geelong for four seasons, twice making the finals.
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 and coach who played with Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
during the 1960s.
Olsson was a ruck-rover for Hawthorn but when he started his career he played as a half forward as well as on the half back flanks. He was a member of the Hawthorn side which lost the 1963 Grand Final
1963 VFL Grand Final
The 1963 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Geelong Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 5 October 1963. It was the 67th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the...
to Geelong, the club he would later coach.
He spent the early 1970s in Tasmania as playing coach of Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay Football Club
The Sandy Bay Football Club was an Australian rules football club based in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia that participated in the Tasmanian Football League from 1945 to 1997.-Club History:...
. In what would be the club's strongest era he steered them to the 1971 and 1972 TFL premierships and to another Grand Final in 1973, which they lost despite winning 20 consecutive games that year. As a player he also had success and was a William Leitch Medal
William Leitch Medal
The William Leitch Medal was an annual award which was presented to the Best and Fairest player in the TANFL/TFL Statewide League.At various times prior to 1930 and between 1935 and 1939 the TFL award was known by other names....
ist in both 1971 and 1973.
In 1976 Olsson returned to the VFL and he coached Geelong for four seasons, twice making the finals.