Harry Saunders

Who was Harry Saunders?

Henry George 'Harry' Saunders was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the VFL during the 1910s and 1920s.

Saunders was recruited locally to Collingwood and went on to play 11 seasons with the club as a defender, mostly at full-back. He was a member of Collingwood premiership teams in 1917 and 1919 as well as playing in three losing Grand Finals. Saunders also represented the VFL at interstate football on three occasions.

He met with controversy in 1922 following a game where he had pole axed Carlton's Alex Duncan. Suspended for the next six games, Saunder was also penalised by the police who fined him £5.

After playing the opening two rounds of the 1926 season, Saunders crossed to Footscray and although he didn't take the field for his new club he coached them in 10 games that year for three wins.

Saunders died in 1930 from pancreatitis, aged 32.