Gus Dobrigh

Laurence Augustine "Gus" Dobrigh (11 February 1893 – 21 September 1982)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2]

Gus Dobrigh
Dobrigh in 1914
Personal information
Full name	Laurence Augustine Dobrigh
Date of birth	11 February 1893
Place of birth	Huntly, Victoria
Date of death	21 September 1982(1982-09-21) (aged 89)
Place of death	Ferntree Gully, Victoria
Original team(s)	Trafalgar
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	75 kg (165 lb)
Position(s)	Utility
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1914–1921	Collingwood	88 (33)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1925	Northcote	15 (11–4–0)
1926–1927	Preston	38 (21–16–1)
1934	Port Melbourne	18 (6–12–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1921.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

A half forward flanker in Collingwood's 1917 premiership team, Dobrigh was also a three time losing Grand Finalist. He was suspended by his club in 1919 over a payment dispute, but there were incorrect rumours at the time that it was because he had been suspected of playing dead in a game. After finishing with Collingwood at the end of 1921, Dobrigh moved to Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football Association (VFA), where he captained the club to a premiership in 1922; he was again caught up in a bribery scandal, being offered and turning down a significant sum of money by former Footscray player Vern Banbury to play dead in the Grand Final.[3][4] He was playing coach at Northcote in 1925, then with Preston, for the club's inaugural VFA season in 1926. He would later return to Port Melbourne once his playing days were over, as coach.[5]