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.

In 1922, following a game where he had knocked out Carlton's Alex Duncan, the VFL Tribunal suspended him for six matches.

[5][6] He was also charged by the police,[7] found guilty in court, and fined £5, in default a month's imprisonment.

South Melbourne's Paddy Scanlan was appointed as Footscray's captain-coach at the beginning of the 1927 season.