Ron Hovey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ron Hovey |
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| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 25 August 1932 | ||
| Date of death | 6 January 2015 (aged 82) | ||
| Original team | St Brendans Shepparton, Shepparton Boys | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Ronald Clive Hovey was a famous Australian rules footballer. He played for the Geelong Cats in the VFL (Victorian Football League). Ron was born on August 25, 1932, and passed away on January 6, 2015. He was known for being a strong player and a great leader.
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Ron Hovey's Football Career
Ron Hovey started playing football when he was young. At just 15 years old, he was part of the Shepparton Boys Football Club's team that won a championship in 1947. Soon after, in 1948, he moved to Geelong to play for their Under-19s team.
Ron became a key player in Geelong's defense during the 1950s. He was very good at stopping opposing players from scoring. Sometimes, he would even move into the midfield to help his team attack.
Winning Championships
Ron was a very important part of the Geelong team that won two big championships. These were called "premierships." Geelong won the VFL premierships in 1951 and 1952. Winning these two titles in a row was a huge achievement for the team.
In 1959, Ron Hovey finished seventh in the Brownlow Medal count. This award goes to the best and fairest player in the league. This shows how highly he was thought of by the umpires.
Captain of Geelong
In 1960, Ron Hovey was chosen to be the captain of the Geelong team. This was a great honor, showing that his teammates and coaches trusted him to lead. Sadly, he had to stop playing football just six games into that season because of a knee injury.
Ron had two brothers, Ced and Jim, who also played league football for Geelong. Football talent clearly ran in their family!
Life After Playing Football
Even after he stopped playing, Ron Hovey stayed very involved with the Geelong Football Club. He took on many important jobs behind the scenes.
From 1988 to 1998, Ron served as the President of the Geelong Football Club. This meant he was in charge of the whole club. He helped make many important decisions during those years.
Because of his long and dedicated service, Ron was given "life membership" at the club. This means he was recognized for his amazing contributions. He also received life membership from other groups connected to the club and from the Australian Football League itself.
Awards and Recognition
Ron Hovey received special awards for his service to the community and to Australian rules football.
In 1997, he was given the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This is a national award that recognizes people who have done great things for Australia. In 2001, he also received the Centenary Medal.
Ron Hovey passed away on January 6, 2015, when he was 82 years old. He left behind a great legacy in Australian rules football.
