John Coleman

During an amazing career, Coleman kicked 537 goals (including 12 on debut), was his club’s leading goalkicker each of the six years he played and led the VFL goals tally on four occasions.

Before his career was cut short by a knee injury, the high-flying Coleman had played in two VFL premierships (1949 and 1950) and his achievements subsequently earned him selection in the AFL Team of the Century and induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

He later coached Essendon for seven seasons, including premierships in 1962 and 1965, before passing away aged 44 in 1973. Since 1955, the year after Coleman retired, the John Coleman Medal has been presented to the VFL/AFL’s leading goalkicker.