George William Henry Bates (5 January 1914 – 1 April 1983) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood, Richmond and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Bates returned to his original club, Northcote, after just once season at Collingwood. He was a centre half-back in Northcote's 1934 premiership team and had a starring role in another premiership two years later.
He resumed his VFL career in 1937 and made 14 appearances that year, including a semi final.AFL Tables: George Bates
After two more seasons with Richmond, Bates made his way to South Melbourne in 1940.
1937 Best First-Year Players In September 1937, The Argus selected Bates in its team of 1937's first-year players.Football Season's Many Good Recruits, The Argus, (Tuesday, 7 September 1937), p.14.
Best First-Year Players (1937)BacksBernie Treweek(Fitzroy)Reg Henderson(Richmond)Lawrence Morgan(Fitzroy)H/BacksGordon Waters(Hawthorn)Bill Cahill(Essendon)Eddie Morcom(North Melbourne)Centre LineTed Buckley(Melbourne)George Bates(Richmond)Jack Kelly(St Kilda)H/ForwardsCol Williamson(St Kilda)Ray Watts(Essendon)Don Dilks(Footscray)ForwardsLou Sleeth(Richmond)Sel Murray(North Melbourne)Charlie Pierce(Hawthorn)Rucks/RoverReg Garvin(St Kilda)Sandy Patterson(South Melbourne)Des Fothergill(Collingwood)Second RuckLawrence MorganCol WilliamsonLou Sleeth
References