Felix Russo

Felice Angelo "Felix" Russo (10 June 1926 – 15 February 2005) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He had a son, father-in-law, two sons-in-law and three grandchildren who have all played VFL/AFL football.

Felix Russo
Personal information
Full name Felice Angelo Russo
Date of birth (1926-06-10)10 June 1926
Date of death 15 February 2005(2005-02-15) (aged 78)
Original team(s) Elwood CYMS
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1950–1951 St Kilda 14 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1951.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Biography

Football

Educated at De La Salle College, Russo captained his school to a premiership in 1944.[1] He was recruited to locally from Elwood. As well as playing for Elwood CYMS he also played some of his early football for Footscray Technical School Old Boys.[2][3]

Russo, who worked as a physical education instructor, debuted for St Kilda at the age of 23 in the 1950 VFL season.[3] Used as a wingman, he played eight games in his first season of VFL football.[3][4] In the 1951 season he made six appearances for St Kilda.[4]

Following his two seasons at St Kilda, Russo played with Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Sandringham. He won the club's best and fairest award in the 1953 VFA season.[5] Under the coaching of Tommy Lahiff, Russo captained Sandringham in 1954.[6][7]

Personal life

Russo is of Italian descent. His father was born in Italy, as were his maternal grandparents.[8]

He is related to many past and present league footballers. His son, Peter Russo, was a member of two Hawthorn premiership teams and also played for St Kilda.[9]

One of his daughters, Bernadette, married Hawthorn player John Kennedy, Jr, who is the son of legendary Hawthorn coach John Kennedy, Sr. John and Bernadette had a son, Josh Kennedy, who plays for the Sydney Swans.[10]

Another daughter, Jenny, also married a footballer, Richmond and South Melbourne defender Ray Ball.[11] Two of Ray's sons, Luke and Matthew, played in the AFL.[11]

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References
  1. "Sutherland has the Saints "Happy"". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 1 April 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  2. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  3. "League Footballers of 1950—Wing Men". The Argus Weekend Magazine. Melbourne, Vic.: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1950. p. 6. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  4. "AFL Tables - Felix Russo - Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  5. "Russo Best at Sandringham". The Age. 7 September 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  6. "Honourboard". Sandringham Football Club. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  7. Welch, Bruce (29 March 1954). "Williamstown to Get Young Centre Player". The Age. p. 13. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  8. "Italian Team of the Century - Player Details". Italian Team of the Century. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  9. AFL Record, Round 14, 2011. The Slattery Media Group. 24 June 2011. p. 66.
  10. Flanagan, Martin (29 September 2012). "A man's man and coach's coach". The Age. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  11. Baum, Greg (18 June 2004). "Mum's the word as the Ball boys do battle". The Age. p. 14.
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