Career
Hank began his senior playing career with the wartime combination of West Torrens-Portuguese Adelaide in 1944. He then moved to West Torrens the next year when the official SANFL competition resumed, featuring prominently in the centre in Torrens" winning Grand Final side that triumphed that year over their former wartime partners Portuguese Adelaide. Hank"s brilliant start to his career continued in 1946 with the first of back-to-back Magarey Medals – the SANFL"s highest individual award for the "fairest and most brilliant" player.
1946 was also when he was selected for the first of 27 State games for South Australia.
Throughout his career Hank was known for his fine ball handling and his distinctive left foot drop-kicks. Hank played in the centre or across half-forward with immense courage and tantalising elusiveness.
In his latter years he played despite serious injuries and when finally retired in 1958 he had played a total of 224 games. Hank"s brothers Bill and Ray Hank also played for West Torrens, as did Hank"s son Barry.
Hank suffered from an inoperable abdominal aortic aneurysm and died when it burst around 1 a.m. local time at his home in Australia, 5 days before his 89th birthday.