Neil Button

Neil Button
Personal information
Full name Neil Alexander Button
Nickname The Bear
Born (1952-07-28) 28 July 1952 (age 74)
Original team Ramblers (RMFL)
Debut 29 May 1971, Norwood vs. Central District, at Elizabeth
Positions Ruckman (1970s), centre half-forward (1980s)
Other occupation Mathematics and physical education teacher
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1971–1985 Norwood 283 (163)
Representative team honours2
Years Team Games (Goals)
1972–1979 South Australia 9 (5)
Coaching career
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1993 VSFL Under-18 (assistant)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1985.
2 Representative statistics correct as of 1979.
Career highlights

  • 3× SANFL Premiership player: 1975, 1978, 1982
  • Ardath Cup: 1977
  • 4× Advertiser Team of the Year: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981
  • 2× State Carnival Representative: 1972, 1979
  • Norwood vice-captain: 1978, 1979
  • Norwood Life Member: 1981
  • Norwood Hall of Fame
  • Norwood Team of the Century (centre half-forward)
  • 3× Norwood Fairest & Most Brilliant runner-up: 1972, 1978, 1979
  • Flehr Trophy runner-up (best first-year player): 1971
  • Meritorious Service Award: 1973, 1981
  • E.A. Johnson Service Award: 1985
Source: Redlegs Museum

Neil "The Bear" Button (born 28 July 1952) is a former Australian footballer who played for the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) between 1971 and 1985. He played primarily as a ruckman.

Career

Button was recruited from River Murray Football League club Ramblers in 1970 and debuted the following year against Central District Football Club. He played a total of 283 league games and kicked 163 goals. In addition, Button played 11 reserves matches and 19 under-19 matches and 9 games for South Australia. He retired in 1986.

Playing style

Button played primarily as a ruckman. After a knee injury during the opening of the 1980 Escort Cup, he primarily played as a centre half forward.

Honours

Among other honours, he was named as centre half forward in Norwood’s official ‘Team of the Twentieth Century’, and inducted in the Player Life Members Award in 1981.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Neil A Button". Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  2. 1 2 "REDLEGS MUESEUM". Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "Neil 'The Bear' Button – champion footballer, quality human being". 10 January 2020.
  4. ↑ "Neil Button". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Player Life Members". Retrieved 24 June 2026.