Overdue honour as Belcher enters Tassie’s Hall of Fame

HE has been a member of the AFL Hall of Fame for 22 years, and former South Melbourne premiership ruckman Vic Belcher is finally being added to the Tasmanian football HOF.

Born near Launceston in 1888, Belcher grew up near New Norfolk before moving to Melbourne in 1905 to start his senior playing career alongside older brother Allan at VFA club Brunswick.

He was quickly noticed by South Melbourne, and began a 14-year VFL career with the Swans in 1907.

Belcher became South Melbourne/ Sydney’s only dual premiership player until 2012 after playing in the premiership sides of 1909 and 1918 — the latter seen by many as his finest hour.

An outstanding leader, Belcher was appointed South Melbourne captain and coach from 1914-17 and, in this capacity, Belcher made history during the 1912 finals series when he and Allan became the first brothers to captain opposing VFL teams.

Departing South Melbourne in 1920 after 226 games, Belcher spent a season as a VFL boundary umpire before resuming his coaching career with Fitzroy for three seasons, winning the 1922 premiership in his first year at the helm.

An inaugural Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee, and a member of the South Melbourne/Sydney Team of the Century, Belcher passed away in 1977, aged 88.

Belcher will be inducted into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame at a gala dinner at Wrest Point on June 23.