Vic Lawrence (Australian rules footballer)

Victor Thomas Lawrence (2 January 1928 – 1 April 1986)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

A key defender, Lawrence was used as both a centre half-back and fullback during his career.[1] Lawrence was a North Melbourne player from Colts level and broke into the seniors for the first time in 1948.[2] He was a regular member of the side from 1950 to 1955, playing 105 of a possible 109 games.[3] In the 1950 VFL Grand Final, which North Melbourne lost to Essendon, Lawrence played as the 19th man.[1] He represented the VFL at interstate football in 1952 and was captain of North Melbourne in 1955, his final season.[1]

In 1956 he was cleared to Tongala, a club in the Goulburn Valley Football League,[4] and he later played for and coached Yallourn.

Following his death in 1986, the following tribute appeared in the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper:

Football never fails to produce lively debate on the merits of individual players; however I doubt whether our club had ever seen a better high mark than Vic. My most vivid memory of Vic Lawrence was on a cold and wet wintry afternoon when he took some 30 marks against the Warragul club… I shall always remember Vic Lawrence as a remarkable player, positive coach and a modest champion.