Percy Rodriguez (footballer)


John Filomeno "Percy" Rodriguez was an Australian rules footballer who played with University and Melbourne in the Victorian Football League. Born in Broome, Western Australia.
He was killed in action at France during the Battle of the Somme.

Family

The second of ten children, and the eldest son of pearl fisherman and hotelier Filomeno Francisco "Francis" Rodriguez, and Maud Winifred Gwenevere Rodriguez, née Miller, John Filomeno Rodriguez was born at Broome, Western Australia on 5 January 1893; he was "the first white boy" to be born at Broome.

Education

Educated at Christian Brothers' College, Perth, and Xavier College, Melbourne.

Football

A champion schoolboy footballer at CBC, he was playing senior WAFL football while still at school.

Siblings

Percy and Joe played together for Perth before Percy left for Melbourne; Clarrie and Pat played together for both West Perth and Subiaco; and Clarrie and Tom played together for Claremont-Cottlesloe.

Perth (WAFL)

He played 31 games for the Perth Football Club in three seasons, 1910 to 1912, when, on the suggestion of the Perth captain, he decided to move to Melbourne. He went to Xavier College ; however, because he was too old for Associated Public Schools' football, he coached at a junior level at the school.

University (VFL)

He played 17 games for University in the 1914 season.

Melbourne (VFL)

The University team withdrew from the VFL competition prior to the 1915 season; and, along with Claude Bryan, Jack Doubleday, Roy Park, he was cleared from University to Melbourne on 31 March 1915.

Military service

He enlisted in the First AIF in Melbourne on 1 June 1915 under the name of "Percy John Rodriguez". On 3 February 1917 he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Death

He was killed in action on 20 March 1917 during the Battle of the Somme. He has no known grave. His name is listed on the Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial.

Footnotes