Shinboner number: 22
Guernsey number: 20
Born: July 10, 1902
Died: May 28, 1947
Occupation: Labourer
North Melbourne games: 11 (1925, 1930)
Goals: 21

Rutley played 30 games, kicking 30 goals in 1922-24 with North Melbourne's VFA side before debuting with the North VFL team in Round 4, 1925, against Essendon.

On May 30, 1924, the Australasian newspaper noted, "Rutley was the best of the forwards", although the Argus newspaper noted that Rutley received a head injury and was unconscious for a time. He took the field again and collapsed in the dressing room and was sent home. Three weeks later he was back into the thick of it and named as one of the best forwards against St Kilda.

The Prahran Telegraph in June 1925 sung his praises in Round 7: "North Melbourne had the finest player in the match in Rutley, who seemed to be everywhere", "He kicked three goals".

He continued playing in Rounds 7 and 9-12 kicking goals in every match except Round 9.

Unfortunately, he is remembered for having been part of an all-in brawl against Geelong. He knocked Geelong player Lloyd Hagger to the ground and exchanged punches with two others, an action that started a brawl which ended up with the Geelong Captain Cliff Rankin and a teammate carried unconscious from the field.

Rutley faced six charges and was suspended for 89 matches, which is the longest suspension for an on field incident in VFL history.

Initially he was banned for life, but in July 1930 the VFL lifted his suspension, and he played a further four games with North.

Also in 1930, Johnson married Mary Helen (nee Johnson) and they had a daughter, Irene. Known by his family nickname of Jo-Jo, he died in Heidelberg, Victoria aged 44 after several years of hospitalisation in the Austin Hospital and is buried in Fawkner Cemetery with his wife.