Felix Russo

Felix Russo
Personal information
Full name Felice Angelo Russo
Date of birth (1926-06-10)10 June 1926
Date of death 15 February 2005(2005-02-15) (aged 78)
Original team(s) Elwood CYMS
Height / weight 178 cm / 76 kg
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1950–1951 St Kilda 14 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1951.

Felice Angelo "Felix" Russo (10 June 1926 – 15 February 2005) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He had a son, father-in-law, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren play VFL/AFL football.

Biography

Football

Educated at De La Salle College, Russo captained his school to a premiership in 1944.[1] He was recruited to locally from Elwood. As well as playing for Elwood CYMS he also played some of his early football for Footscray Technical School Old Boys.[2] [3]

Russo, who worked as a physical education instructor, debuted for St Kilda at the age of 23 in the 1950 VFL season.[3] Used as a wingman, he played eight games in his first season of VFL football.[3][4] In the 1951 season he made six appearances for St Kilda.[4]

Following his two seasons at St Kilda, Russo played with Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Sandringham. He won the club's best and fairest award in the 1953 VFA season.[5] Under the coaching of Tommy Lahiff, Russo captained Sandringham in 1954.[6][7]

Personal life

Russo is of Italian descent. His father was born in Italy, as were his maternal grandparents.[8]

He is related to many past and present league footballers. His son, Peter Russo, was a member of two Hawthorn premiership teams and also played for St Kilda.[9]

One of his daughters, Bernadette, married Hawthorn player John Kennedy, Jr, who is the son of legendary Hawthorn coach John Kennedy, Sr. John and Bernadette had a son, Josh Kennedy, who plays for the Sydney Swans.[10]

Another daughter, Jenny, also married a footballer, Richmond and South Melbourne defender Ray Ball.[11] Two sons, Luke and Matthew, played in the AFL.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Sutherland has the Saints "Happy".". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 1 April 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  3. 1 2 3 "League Footballers of 1950—Wing Men.". The Argus Weekend Magazine. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 "AFL Tables - Felix Russo - Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Russo Best at Sandringham". The Age. 7 September 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Honourboard". Sandringham Football Club. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  7. ↑ Welch, Bruce (29 March 1954). "Williamstown to Get Young Centre Player". The Age. p. 13. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Italian Team of the Century - Player Details". Italian Team of the Century. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  9. ↑ AFL Record, Round 14, 2011. The Slattery Media Group. 24 June 2011. p. 66.
  10. ↑ Flanagan, Martin (29 September 2012). "A man's man and coach's coach". The Age. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  11. 1 2 Baum, Greg (18 June 2004). "Mum's the word as the Ball boys do battle". The Age. p. 14.

External links

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