FORMER North Melbourne player Ernest Thomas O’Rourke has died at the age of 97.

He had been the club’s oldest living player.

O’Rourke first debuted for Melbourne in 1945 against Fitzroy, after making his mark in the VFL in Leitchville, and quickly settled in the rover position.

He played 39 of his total 48 games for Melbourne, before moving to North Melbourne for the 1949 season.

Wearing...