Bruce Schultz

Who was Bruce Schultz?

Bruce Schultz was an Australian rules footballer who played with Norwood in the South Australian National Football League. He also played Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia and grade cricket at East Torrens.

Schultz is the full-forward in Norwood's official "Team of the Century" and holds the club record for most goals kicked, at 669. His best match tally of 19 goals, which included two posters, was achieved in his penultimate game. He scored 10 or more goals in a game on 12 occasions and averaged 5.4 goals a game, which for comparison is more than prolific VFL/AFL forwards Gary Ablett, Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett managed in their careers. On the six occasions he represented the South Australian interstate team, he kicked 23 goals.

Tall and thin, Schultz was a strong aerialist and started out at Norwood in 1933. He topped Norwood's goal-kicking in both 1934 and 1935 but over the next three seasons was surpassed as his club's main forward by R. J. Brown.

His father, Julius, had represented the state as a first-class cricketer and he followed in his footsteps in the 1936/37 Sheffield Shield season when he was called up to the state squad.