JOHN COLEMAN'S HISTORY AS TOLD BY HIM IN 1949. TERRIFIC PHOTO OF ONE OF HIS HIGH MARKS.
itellya
John Coleman barracked for Collingwood as a child and his brother Albert barracked for South Melbourne.
John played his first competitive game of football for Ascot Vale West State School at the age of 12.
If John's career had been at Richmond it would have been Essendon's own fault. If John had sat out the 1949 season, playing one more year at Hastings with Albert, there would have been a very good chance that both brothers would have played for the Tigers. Richmond certainly wanted Albert (and John of course!) John stated that Albert was a better footballer than he was.
It is almost certain that those who have read the recent biography of John Coleman will find much other information, not included in that splendid work, in this 1949 article.
JOHN COLEMAN'S HISTORY AS TOLD BY HIM IN 1949.
See also:
ALBERT COLEMAN'S BROTHER, HASTINGS' DEADSHOT JACK ...
www.familytreecircles.com/albert-coleman-s-brother-deadshot-jack-60303.html
Although John and Albert's mother only arrived in the Hastings district in 1943, the Colemans were linked by Albert's future wife, Joy, with much of the area's long history.
ALBERT'S WIFE
MORE ABOUT JOHN COLEMAN from an email to Lance Hodgins (secretary of the Hastings Historical Society) who had sent me a photo of the Hastings team, premiers in the Mornington Peninsula Social Football League in 1945.
Many state that John Coleman was the best full forward ever born but according to VICTORIAN BDM, like Albert, he wasn't born at all! At least there's a death record.
EventDeathEvent registration number8697Registration year1973
Personal information
Family nameCOLEMANGiven namesJohn DouglasSexMaleFather's nameCOLEMAN Albert ErnestMother's nameElla Elizabeth (Matthews)Place of birthPort FairyPlace of deathDromanaAge44
Essendon supporters waited and waited for the next John Coleman and several, such as John Towner, Terry Rodgers, Ted Fordham and Geoff Blethyn offered some sort of hope. Chris Goullet, son of John's daughter, Jenny, seemed to offer hope but as he admitted himself, he lacked his grandfather's spring. However the legends of the Essendon Football Club still flocked to him at club functions because he was the grandson of the great John Coleman!
John Coleman's last game was actually on the tiny University High School oval in Parkville when he played for the Old Boys in the annual match against the school team*. I was among the huge crowd of students,old boys and gals, staff, parents and blow ins, which was disappointed in the hope of seeing at least one more spectacular mark.
*
Club History | UHS VU Football Club
UNI HIGH OLD BOYS'F.C.HISTORY
"Wal Johnson: Patron
Wal must go down as the staunchest Clubman/supporter the Old Boys has had. From his own words he is “the ancient you see posting up wrong scores at home games”. This particular “job” he acquired a half a century ago, from Howard Toyne who was absent at a bike meet! Wal calculates he has played in or witnessed about 1500 games, following the fortunes of 3000 or so players. Wal, an Old Boy of the School, first played in 1937 with the juniors. After being a member of the services in WWII, Wal returned home and to his beloved UHSOB in 1948.
His last game of football was in the School versus Old Boys game, coincidentally, the last game of the great John Coleman."
by itellya
Profile | 
Research |
Contact | Subscribe | Block this user on 2018-09-28 11:57:10
Itellya is researching local history on the Mornington Peninsula and is willing to help family historians with information about the area between Somerville and Blairgowrie. He has extensive information about Henry Gomm of Somerville, Joseph Porta (Victoria's first bellows manufacturer) and Captain Adams of Rosebud.
Comments
itellya on 2018-09-29 23:56:49Another Coleman Star at Hastings
MORNINGTON, Sunday.-.
Albert Coleman, brother of Essendon's star full-forward, John Coleman, yesterday kicked the nine goals scored by Hastings against Sorrento in the Peninsula league. Sorrento won by three points.(P.12, The Age, 29-5-1950.)
Hastings' strongest-ever team?
John not only continued to support his old club, but brought some of his Essendon team mates with him.
COLEMAN TO LEAD SIDE
Hastings Football Club, led by champion goal-kicker John Coleman will play Rochester at Rochester on October 4 in aid of the local hospital. In the Hastings side will be Essendon players Hutchison, McDonald, Bigelow and Syme. Rochester will be led by former Footscray captain Harry Hickey and will field five Footscray players. (P.19, The Herald, 13-9-1952.)
RUNS IN FAMILY. 1950.
ALBY
AN INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO JOHN COLEMAN, ASPIRING BUSINESSMAN, WHO LOVED DANCING, DID NOT INTEND TO PLAY UNTIL HE WAS AN OLD CROCK, OR COACH, WAS PAID FOUR POUNDS PER MATCH AND AGAIN STATED THAT ALBY WAS THE BETTER FOOTBALLER. SEPT. 1950.
MODEST JOHN
CLEVER HASTINGS FORWARD
Hastings Club has a happy knack of securing excellent forwards. Some seasons ago they had the champion Jock McMillan who, before going to Footscray, took the Peninsula goalkicking record. He was about the best sharpshooter ever seen in Peninsula football. Later seasons saw Hastings with another "star." He was the late O. Peterson, one of the greatest little forwards in the game.
Now J. Coleman looks like becoming a real champion. This lad has scored well over 50 goals in seven games, and his play in the lightning premiership was a revelation.He scored 6 goals in this match.
The goal-kicking by McMillan and Peterson would be well worth publication. We look upon Hastings officials to furnish this information.
(P.7, Standard, 3-7-1947.)
Richmond May Get Coleman's Brother
By Follower
Among seven new country recruits to train at Richmond last night was Albert Coleman, brother of John Coleman, who trained at Essendon. Richmond tried to secure both players, but John was tied to Essendon. Officials are hopeful of signing Albert.
He played half-back for Hastings, and was judged best and fairest player in the side last year. He is 21, 6 ft., and weighs 12.10. He has promised
to have a run at Essendon next week, but is likely to return to Richmond.
(P.14, The Age, 25-3-1949.)
The above articles were discovered in my quest to discover who had nicknamed Jack Coleman "Deadshot". I'd had the impression that the Hastings correspondent to the Standard had coined the word but could find no evidence of this. Jack Cannon was the first one that I've found to have used the word.
Jack "Deadshot" Coleman, full forward from Hastings, may go straight into Essendon's team. (P.12, Argus, 5-4-1948.)
janilye on 2018-09-30 06:46:41Essendon Great John Coleman on youtube