Norm Bussell
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{BLP sources|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Norm Bussell
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|1|6|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = King Valley, Wangaratta Rovers (OMFL)
| height = 193 cm
| weight = 91 kg
| position =
| statsend = 1973
| years1 = 1960–1961
| club1 = King Valley
| games_goals1 =
| years2 = 1962–1967 & 1974-1976
| club2 = Wangaratta Rovers
| games_goals2 = 146 (28)
| years3 = 1968–1973
| club3 = Hawthorn
| games_goals3 = 113 (2)
| years4 = 1977–1980
| club4 = Whorouly
| games_goals4 =
| careerhighlights = * VFL Premiership: 1971
- O&MFL Premierships: 1964, 1965, 1974, 1975
- O&KFL Premierships: 1977 & 1978
- Wangaratta Rovers Best & Fairest: 1967 & 1975
- Wangaratta Rovers: Hall of Fame - 2008
}}
Norman 'Norm' Bussell (born 6 January 1945) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the VFL.
Early career
Bussell was a highly rated youngster who initially played with King Valley in the Ovens & King Football League from 1960 to 1961, then moved onto play with Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens & Murray Football League in 1962. He developed with the help of VFL legend Bob Rose, who was coaching Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray FL.
When Rose was appointed to coach {{AFL Col}} he got Bussell to sign a Form Four registration tying him to Collingwood. Bussell refused to move to Melbourne as he was competing an Auto Electrical apprenticeship. A few years later after his form four had expired, Hawthorn managed to persuade Bussell to move to Hawthorn.
VFL career
Bussell was a centre half back and his no-fuss tough approach to the game saw him play 113 games.
The highlight of his career was the 1971 VFL Grand Final / Premiership. Bussell played an important role in one of the most brutal games in VFL history.
After VFL
After sustaining a back injury Bussell decided to retire from VFL football. He returned to Wangaratta Rovers, playing in their 1974 and 1975 Ovens & Murray Football League premierships. Bussell then went onto captain-coach Whorouly in the Ovens & King Football League to premierships in 1977 and 1978, then runners up in 1979 and 1980, before retiring as a player. Bussell then coached Myrtleford in the Ovens & Murray Football League in 1985.{{cite web |author1=Kevin B. Hill |title=Wang Rovers FNC - Hall of Fame |url=https://wangrovers.com.au/hall-of-fame-norm-bussell/ |website=Wangaratta Rovers FNC |publisher=Wangaratta Rovers FNC |access-date=17 November 2023}}
His son Aidan was drafted by Hawthorn 1991 AFL draft but he never played a senior AFL game.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{AFL Tables | N/Norm_Bussell }}
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/140137596@N02/53339537954/in/dateposted-public/ 1964 - O&MFL Premiers: Wangaratta Rovers FC team photo]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/140137596@N02/53339199321/in/dateposted-public/ 1967 - O&MFL Runners Up: Wangaratta Rovers FC team photo]
- [https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/887706/1971/ 1971 VFL Premiers: Hawthorn FC team photo]
- [https://www.flickr.com/photos/140137596@N02/51392696797/in/album-72157719698816398/ 1975 - O&MFL Premiers: Wangaratta Rovers FC team photo]
{{1971 Hawthorn premiership players}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bussell, Norm}}
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Hawthorn Football Club players
Category:Hawthorn Football Club premiership players
Category:Wangaratta Rovers Football Club players
Category:VFL/AFL premiership players
Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen
{{AFL-bio-1940s-stub}}