Thought this might be of interest to Blitzers young and old...
The National Sound and Film Archive have unearthed this rare footage (no sound) of the 1953 VFL First Semi-Final between Essendon and Footscray at the MCG.
The game features legendary Bomber players such as John Coleman, Bill Hutchison (last through the guard of honour, fresh from his Brownlow Medal win earlier that week) and a young Jack Clarke (No.1).
Sadly we lost the game 6.13.49 to 5.11.41... apparently the match was played in 100kph gale force winds which made conditions particularly difficult for marking forwards. Coleman was also physically unwell and was kept to just 1 goal for the match (in what was reported as his worst performance of the 1953 season in which he kicked 97 goals).
Regardless there is some great slow motion footage included in the video of Coleman up against Footscray fullback Herb Henderson.
Also in the footage is a young Ted Whitten (No.3) for the Bulldogs.
My wallet went missing yesterday (duly found after several hours contemplating how many cards, licenses etc I'd have to get cancelled and re-issued prior to christmas) and the search prompted a more wide-scaled clean up. which i continued this morning. which revealed this photo in one of my drawers.
Three likely looking lads. Could play a bit too, from all reports:
