DOB: 4 November 1902
Died: 1 October 1974
Debut: Round 2, 1923 against Geelong at Corio Oval
Last Game: Round 11, 1932 against Essendon at Windy Hill
From: Shepparton/Wesley College
Number: 14 (1923-1924), 4 (1926-1932)
Honours:
Premiership Player - 1926
Life Member - 1961
Games: 130
Goals: 61
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 71 | 2 | 57 | 54.61 |
Originally from Shepparton, Abernethy was recruited from Wesley College where he had boarded, and played from 1919 to 1922.. He had been the champion footballer in the schools competition and captained his side to a premiership in 1922. When Melbourne attempted to sign him, St Kilda argued that Wesley was in their catchment area, but the league ruled that Abernethy's actual residential address was with his parents and he was cleared in March 1923.
Abernethy missed the 1925 season after being cleared back to Shepparton to further his law career. The tough half-back coached his home-town side that year then returned in 1926, where he was amongst the best players in that year's Grand Final victory.
He was one of a handful of players to play every game of the 1927 season and was voted 'most versatile player of the season'. In 1929 he played for the VFL against a Bendigo league representative team.
Abernethy was named vice-captain in 1932, but troubled by injury he retired at the end of the year.
His brother Bob played two games in 1923.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1923 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
| 1924 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 1926 | 19 | 6 | 0 |
| 1927 | 18 | 11 | 0 |
| 1928 | 14 | 20 | 0 |
| 1929 | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| 1930 | 12 | 4 | 0 |
| 1931 | 18 | 0 | 2 |
| 1932 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
Lists
Family
Notes
Shown in 1927 Shepparton team photo.
Media
Argus - 29/03/1923, 02/04/1923, 02/04/1925
Shepparton Advertiser - 30/03/1925
Kyabram Free Press - 12/05/1925
Sporting Globe - 25/06/1927, 10/08/1935
Age - 14/07/1936
Links
Australian Football profile
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile