Ronald Osmond Hartridge (8 November 1919 – 28 May 1973)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Ron Hartridge
Personal information
Full name Ronald Osmond Hartridge
Date of birth 8 November 1919
Date of death 28 May 1973(1973-05-28) (aged 53)
Original team(s) South Melbourne Tech Col
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1938–1940 St Kilda 15 (11)
1943–1946 South Melbourne 50 (71)
Total 65 (82)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1946.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Hartridge had a slow start to his career, after arriving at St Kilda from South Melbourne Technical College.[2] A key position player, he could only put together 11 appearances in his first three seasons and then didn't play any VFL football in 1941 and 1942.[3]

He had his first seasons with South Melbourne in 1943 and the following year was finally able to make regular appearances, playing 17 games.[3] In 1944 he also kicked 31 goals to top South Melbourne's goal-kicking.[4] He didn't miss a single game in 1945 and was again successful up forward with 32 goals, but would only play as a reserve in the 1945 VFL Grand Final. In 1947 he made two appearances early in the season but would finish the year at Coburg in the Victorian Football Association.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Ron Hartridge - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ^ The Argus,"Young Player for St. Kilda", 21 February 1936, p. 16
  3. ^ a b AFL Tables: Ron Hartridge
  4. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
  5. ^ The Argus,"Hartridge May Rejoin VFA", 28 April 1948, p. 16