[3] Prior to joining Carlton, he had played in two premiership teams at North Adelaide.

A talented sprinter, in 1899 he won the 130-yard (120 m) Stawell Gift in 114⁄5 seconds off a handicap of 14 and a half yards.

After leaving Carlton at the end of the 1918 season, he took up the head coaching role at Richmond.

He attained the rare feat of coaching two separate clubs in VFL Grand Finals.

In 1931 he was appointed coach of North Melbourne; after ten winless games, he resigned.