DOB: 15 May 1931
Died: 4 September 2020
Only Game: Round 1, 1957 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street
From: Burnie/North Launceston/Essendon/Corowa/Mangoplah
Number: 39 (1957)
Games: 1
Goals: 0
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |
After debuting in Tasmania in 1948, Byrne joined North Launceston in 1951 and played three seasons. The midfielder shared the 1952 best and fairest played in the Northern Tasmanian competition, and after training with Essendon in the 1953 pre-season was told he'd make their list. Byrne was unwilling to stand down for three months until he qualified to play in Victoria and returned home. That year he was also coach of Youth Club, a team affiliated to North Launceston.
Byrne instead signed by the Demons the next year when Essendon's hold on him ran out. He had the option of returning to the Bombers, but in the interim they'd found another centreman. Melbourne organised a job for him in the railways but he pulled out of the deal, taking up a £25 a week offer to coach NSW side Corowa. His application came at the same time that the Tasmanian football bodies had agreed not to grant any clearances to Victoria, and his application had been deferred when accepted the Corowa job.
In 1957 he was invited to Melbourne training after an accidental meeting with secretary Jim Cardwell where he said that he regretted moving to the country and was keen for another try at the league. He was picked for the first game of the year but it was his only VFL match. He was never called off the bench, then returned to Mangoplah, where he'd coached the season before.
| Year | Games | Goals | |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 | |
Lists
Interstate recruits
One Game
Media
Examiner - 05/03/1953
Examiner - 31/03/1953
Examiner - 14/04/1953
Examiner - 20/;01/1954
Herald - 05/02/1954
Examiner - 03/03/1954
Examiner - 09/03/1954
Herald - 11/03/1954
Age - 12/03/1954
Examiner - 12/03/1954
Mercury - 12/03/1954
Advocate - 12/03/1954
Corowa Free Press - 27/07/1954
Age - 15/04/1957
Football Record R1 1957
Age - 29/04/1957
Links
Boyles Football Photos
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Wikipedia profile