George Bisset (footballer)

Not to be confused with the Scottish soccer player George Bissett (footballer).

George Bisset
Personal information
Date of birth	(1943-03-17) 17 March 1943 (age 81)
Original team(s)	Braybrook (FDFL)
Height	168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight	70 kg (154 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1963–1972	Footscray (VFL)	166 (288)
1973–1974	Collingwood (VFL)	041 0(49)
1977	Yarraville (VFA)	017 0(54)
Total		224 (391)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1977.
Career highlights
Charles Sutton Medal: 1969 5× Footscray leading goalkicker: 1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

George Bisset (born 10 March 1943) is a former Australian rules footballer. He played as a rover and spent most of his career at Footscray. He was often referred to as "Wee Georgie" Bisset because of his diminutive size. ^[1]

Footscray career

1969 Brownlow Medal

In 1969, Bisset came second to Fitzroy's Kevin Murray by one vote. ^[2]

Bisset had been reported for striking Carlton's Ian Robertson during the 12 July 1969 match against Carlton; and, although evidence was given that Bisset had punched Robertson (who had also been reported for striking Bisset) at least six times, the charge against Bisset was not sustained. ^[3]

As a result of being reported, Bisset was not eligible to receive Brownlow votes (for the best player amongst the fairest) for that match; and, given that he had more than 30 "disposals" and had kicked 6 goals, it was very likely that he would have received, at least, one vote.

Team of the Century

He is a half forward in Footscray's official Team of the Century.

Collingwood career

Moving to Collingwood in 1973 under the short-lived VFL's "10-year rule", which allowed players with ten years' service at one club to move to another club without a clearance, Bisset played 41 games in two seasons (1973 and 1974) and kicked 49 goals. ^[4]

Footnotes

1. "George Bisset". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
2. Carter, Ron, "Tense Brownlow to Kevin Murray", The Age, (Tuesday, 2 September 1969), p.26.
3. Carter, Ron, "Ian Robertson and Bisset not guilty of striking", The Age, (Wednesday, 16 July 1969), p.26, p.24.
4. The 10-year rule was introduced by the VFL in August 1972, in order to render it immune from the sorts of "restraint of trade" difficulties that were being experienced, at the time, in New South Wales in relation to Rugby League footballers. Although twenty-two VFL players were eligible under the rule, only Bisset, Barry Davis, Carl Ditterich, John Rantall, Adrian Gallagher, and Doug Wade, took advantage of it — transferring to Collingwood, North Melbourne, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Footscray, and North Melbourne (respectively). The rule was rescinded in May 1973.

External links

• George Bisset's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• George Bisset at AustralianFootball.com
• Boyles Football Photos: George Bisset
• George Bisset (1973-1974): Collingwood Forever.
• George Bisset, at The VFA Project.