On the 50th anniversary of his passing, Essendon is proud to remember the significant contribution the late John Coleman made to the club and the VFL/AFL.

One of the greatest players to ever play with Essendon, John Coleman burst on the football horizon like a meteor in 1949.

Fans were amazed to see him soar high over packs for spectacular marks, and they flocked to Essendon to see their idol in action. He was an overnight football sensation who became the greatest goalkicker League football has ever seen.

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John Coleman tribute

We pay tribute to Essendon legend John Coleman on the 70th anniversary of his debut, in which he kicked 12 goals.

In Coleman's first game in 1949, he stunned the football world, kicking 12 goals to equal Ted Freyer's opening-round record set in 1935. He went from success to success and became the first League player to kick 100 goals in his first season, breaking Essendon's goalkicking record of 70 goals held by Tom Reynolds in 1939.

Coleman also won Essendon’s best and fairest in 1949 and was selected in the state side in his first year. He was the League's leading goalkicker again in 1950 with 120 goals and his four goals in the Grand Final again spearheaded the premiership win.

The full-forward again topped the League goalkickers in 1952 with 103 goals and in 1953 with 97 goals.

He played in the state side in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953, and won an All-Australian blazer in 1953.

The legendary John Coleman became a premiership coach in 1962. (Photo: AFL Photos)

Coleman not only won the Dons' best and fairest in 1949 but was also runner-up in 1952, before becoming vice-captain in 1953 and 1954.

Coleman was kept goalless just once in his career. In his penultimate game, he booted 14 goals against Fitzroy - the most goals ever kicked by an Essendon player.

He also kicked 13 goals twice in 1952, 12 goals in 1949 and 11 goals in 1953. He kicked 10 goals on six occasions, nine goals three times and eight goals on five occasions. 

Career statistics

Played: 1949-54
Games: 98
Goals: 537
Premiership player: 1949, 1950
Premiership coach: 1962, 1965
Grand Final appearances: 1949, 1950
Finals played: 6
Essendon coach: 1961-67
Essendon vice-captain: 1953-54
Essendon best and fairest: 1949
Top five Essendon best and fairest finishes: 1949, 1952
Essendon leading goalkicker: 1949-1954
VFL leading goalkicker: 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953
Top five Brownlow Medal finishes: 1949
Victorian representative: 1949-51, 1953
Victorian coach: 1965
All Australian: 1953