Don Furness

Who is Don Furness?

Don Furness was an Australian rules footballer who played his entire career with Fitzroy in the VFL during the 1950s. He was a left footer usually played as a centreman or in the wing.

Furness was at his best in the mid-1950s where he won the Best and Fairest twice. He was also a VFL interstate representative.

After leaving Fitzroy, Furness was coach of Port Melbourne briefly in the 1960s.

He was also an accomplished professional footrunner with his best win being the 1961 Keilor Gift. Since 2003, the richest and most prestigious 70m sprint event on the professional running calendar was named in his honour. The Don Furness Memorial sprint is held at the St Bernards athletic meet each year and has a handicap limit of 6.0m.

Furness died in February 2002.