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Australian rules footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albert William "Gunga" Franks (11 March 1880 – 14 September 1951) was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]
| Bert Franks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Franks in 1907 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Albert William Franks | ||
| Date of birth | 11 March 1880 | ||
| Place of birth | Costerfield, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 14 September 1951 (aged 71) | ||
| Place of death | Fitzroy, Victoria | ||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1906–10, 1912–13 | South Melbourne (VFL) | 99 (63) | |
| 1914–15, 1918–19 | North Melbourne (VFA) | 42 (18) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1913. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
The son of Nicholas Franks, and Adeline Ann Franks (?–1919),[2] Albert William Franks was born at Costerfield, Victoria on 11 March 1880.
He married Lillian Amelia Powell (1889–1979).[3]
Although born and bred in Victoria, Franks played initially in the Goldfields Football Association with Kalgoorlie Railways and then at North Fremantle in the Western Australian Football Association.
Usually playing as a ruckman, he was a vital member of South Melbourne's 1909 premiership team and kicked a goal in the low scoring Grand Final. He made another Grand Final in 1912, but on that occasion finished on the losing side and finished his career in the Victorian Football Association at North Melbourne.
Franks had a poor disciplinary record, and missed the 1907 Grand Final due to suspension he received for striking Carlton's Doug Gillespie. The suspension was to have run until June 1908,[5] but was lifted two weeks early when it was ruled to be illegal – he had been reported by the Carlton club secretary, rather than by the game's umpire, which was traditionally allowed under VFL rules but turned out no longer to be allowed under the Australasian Football Council rules which had come into effect in 1907.[6] Gent played four more games after return before retiring.
Following an extremely rough match (in which spectators invaded the ground and took part in the all-in melee between players and officials) between South Melbourne and Carlton on 28 May 1910, the field umpire, Lawrence Tulloch, reported the South Melbourne half-forward flanker Dick Casey for charging and striking the much taller Carlton player Jim Marchbank.[7]
Because Marchbank could not attend the VFL tribunal's Wednesday, 1 June 1910 hearing, the tribunal reconvened on the evening of Saturday, 4 June 1910 in order to hear Marchbank's evidence.[8] Controversially,[9] the tribunal found Casey guilty, and Casey was suspended for the remainder of the 1910 season.
Franks was in the unruly crowd on several hundred that gathered outside the Block Arcade, in Collins Street, where the tribunal's hearing was conducted, to hear the outcome of Casey's hearing. As Tulloch left the building, Franks abused Tulloch, kicked him in the ankle and, as Tulloch returned to the building for safety, Franks followed him inside.[10]
There was some uncertainty about whether the VFL could act against Franks in what appeared to be a matter for the law courts, and, if so, what form that action might take.[11] On hearing a wide range of views, and after an hour's deliberation the VFL decided that it did have the power to deal with such a case.
Found guilty of the charge of "insult and assault" lodged by Tulloch, and due to the ambiguity of the VFL's decision, Franks was (apparently) suspended for life – the matter was soon clarified, and the VFL specified the penalty as 33 matches[13] — the longest suspension for such a charge in the league's history.
At the age of 34, he was cleared from South Melbourne to the VFA team North Melbourne,[14] and played his first match, against Brighton, on 18 April 1914.[15]
He played in 42 matches in four seasons, over six years (1914–1919).[16]
He played his last match for North Melbourne, against Brighton on 28 June 1919, his only match for the season (having played in the victorious Grand Final team, at centre half-back,[17] the year before), at the age of 39.[18]
He died on 14 September 1951,[19] in Fitzroy, Victoria. At the time of his death he was the publican at the Golden Fleece Hotel,[20] on the corner of Russell Street and Little Bourke Street, Melbourne.[21]
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