Harry Saunders

Henry George 'Harry' Saunders (21 May 1898 – 9 December 1930)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood and coached Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Harry Saunders
Saunders during his Collignwood career
Personal information
Date of birth	21 May 1898
Date of death	9 December 1930(1930-12-09) (aged 32)
Original team(s)	Collingwood Senior Cadets
Debut	Round 4, 1916, Collingwood vs. Richmond, at Victoria Park
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	76 kg (168 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1916–1926	Collingwood	135 (10)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1926	Footscray	10 (3–7–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1926.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Saunders was recruited locally to Collingwood and went on to play 11 seasons with the club as a defender, mostly at full-back. He was a member of Collingwood premiership teams in 1917 and 1919 as well as playing in three losing Grand Finals. Saunders also represented the VFL at interstate football on three occasions.

He met with controversy in 1922 following a game where he had pole axed Carlton's Alex Duncan. Suspended for the next six games, Saunder was also penalised by the police who fined him £5.

After playing the opening two rounds of the 1926 season, Saunders crossed to Footscray and although he didn't take the field for his new club he coached them in 10 games that year for three wins.

Saunders died in 1930 from pancreatitis, aged 32.