Ronald Frederick Byrne (17 August 1900 – 14 December 1966) was a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1]

Ronnie Byrne
Byrne in 1925
Personal information
Full name Ronald Frederick Byrne
Date of birth (1900-08-17)17 August 1900
Place of birth Hobart, Tasmania
Date of death 14 December 1966(1966-12-14) (aged 66)
Place of death Tasmania
Original team(s) Lefroy
Height 171 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight 65 kg (143 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1925–26 Carlton 14 (3)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1926.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

In August 1918 Byrne enlisted to fight for his country in World War 1, having trained for four years with the Army Cadets, however the war ended before he saw active duty.[2]

Byrne returned to Hobart where he was an apprentice electrician and commenced his football career with his local football club, Lefroy, playing as a clever centreman and half back flanker. In 1924 Lefroy won their seventh TFL Premiership, with Ronnie Byrne a key contributor. That effort brought an approach from the Carlton Football Club, and Byrne moved to Melbourne in late 1924.[3]

After a successful 1925 season with Carlton, he quit the club early in 1926, finishing his VFL career with 14 games. He returned to Tasmania a few years later.

Notes

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  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2009). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (8th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-921496-00-4.
  2. ^ Cullen, Barbara (2015). Harder than football : league players at war. Richmond, Victoria: Slattery Media Group. p. 124. ISBN 978-0-992379-14-8.
  3. ^ "FOOTBALL". The Mercury. Vol. CXXI, no. 17, 793. Tasmania, Australia. 25 October 1924. p. 5.
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