A superb ruckman who gave tremendous value all over the ground, Neil Button gave distinguished service to the Norwood Football Club in what, at the time of his retirement in 1985, was a Redlegs record 283 senior games. During the 1970s in particular he was without doubt one of the two or three best big men in the SANFL, a status he emphasised with outstanding performances in Norwood's victorious finals campaigns of 1975 and 1978. In the 1975 grand final defeat of Glenelg he was most observers' choice as best afield, and his display in the premiership-clinching victory over Sturt three years later was only marginally inferior. Neil Button's 9 interstate appearances for South Australia included games at the 1972 Perth carnival when he was in only his second league season. Away from football, he enjoyed success as an oarsman, with the strength he derived from that sport standing him in good stead repeatedly on the various suburban ovals of the SANFL on Saturday afternoons. Button's immense reputation at the Parade was endorsed a decade and a half after his retirement as a player when he was named at centre half forward in Norwood's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.


*Courtesy of John Devaney at www.fullpointsfooty.net

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