16 Facts About Allan Ruthven

Allan Gordon Ruthven was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.

Allan Ruthven's uncle took him to trial with Collingwood, but they rejected him.

Universally known as "the Baron", for his dapper dress sense, Allan Ruthven reportedly earned his nickname when a teammate called out "here comes Baron Rothschild" after he turned up to the club in one of his flamboyant suits.

Allan Ruthven stood only 173 centimetres tall and weighed 73 kilograms, but was renowned for his skill, fitness and flawless left-foot kicking.

Tough, talented and tenacious, Allan Ruthven was renowned for his ability to gain possession of the ball under the most challenging of circumstances, and use it purposefully.

Allan Ruthven was dangerous near goal, winning Fitzroy's goal kicking award on three occasions.

In 1942, Allan Ruthven spent three months in hospital recovering from a serious back injury and missed the entire season.

In 1950, Allan Ruthven was reappointed captain after Norm Smith retired as a player.

Allan Ruthven responded by winning the Brownlow medal with 21 votes, 3 clear of the next player.

Fitzroy won the game despite having 9 fewer scoring shots at goal than the Blues, with Allan Ruthven snapping the match-winning behind in the dying seconds of the game, in a best on ground performance.

Allan Ruthven retired at the end of the 1954 season after 222 games over 15 seasons, finishing second on the club's all-time games list behind Frank Curcio, at the time of his retirement.

In later life, Allan Ruthven retired with his wife to the country life of Yarrawonga, in rural Victoria, where he continued to play his other favourite sport, golf.

Allan Ruthven was a vocal supporter of the Brisbane Lions, after the 1997 merger of Fitzroy and the Brisbane Bears.

Allan Ruthven was involved in the official unfurling ceremony of the Lions' 2001 premiership flag in Melbourne in April 2002, but failing health prevented him from being a part of the Lions' successful national tour with the 2002 premiership cup.

On 14 March 2003,34 days short of his 81st birthday, Allan Ruthven died after suffering a stroke at Wangaratta Hospital.

Allan Ruthven was buried at St Brigid's Catholic Church, Mulwala.