Vic Lawrence (Australian rules footballer)

Victor Thomas Lawrence (2 January 1928 – 1 April 1986)^[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Vic Lawrence
Personal information
Full name	Victor Thomas Lawrence
Date of birth	2 January 1928
Place of birth	North Melbourne, Victoria
Date of death	1 April 1986(1986-04-01) (aged 58)
Place of death	Ascot Vale, Victoria
Original team(s)	North Colts
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1948–1955	North Melbourne	121 (21)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1955.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

A key defender, Lawrence was used as both a centre half-back and fullback during his career.^[1] Lawrence was a North Melbourne player from Colts level and broke into the seniors for the first time in 1948.^[2] He was a regular member of the side from 1950 to 1955, playing 105 of a possible 109 games.^[3] In the 1950 VFL Grand Final, which North Melbourne lost to Essendon, Lawrence played as the 19th man.^[1] He represented the VFL at interstate football in 1952 and was captain of North Melbourne in 1955, his final season.^[1]

In 1956 he was cleared to Tongala, a club in the Goulburn Valley Football League,^[4] and he later played for and coached Yallourn.

Following his death in 1986, the following tribute appeared in the Latrobe Valley Express newspaper:

Football never fails to produce lively debate on the merits of individual players; however I doubt whether our club had ever seen a better high mark than Vic. My most vivid memory of Vic Lawrence was on a cold and wet wintry afternoon when he took some 30 marks against the Warragul club… I shall always remember Vic Lawrence as a remarkable player, positive coach and a modest champion.