This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2016) |
Ernie "Sonny" Coward (27 January 1916 – 5 April 1985) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Ernie Coward | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ernest Coward | ||
| Date of birth | 27 January 1916 | ||
| Date of death | 5 April 1985 (aged 69) | ||
| Original team(s) | West Perth | ||
| Height | 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Weight | 67 kg (148 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Wingman | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1939–45 | Essendon | 118 (20) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Coward was originally from West Perth and along with his teammate Wally Buttsworth had to spend the 1938 season on the sidelines while waiting for a clearance to Essendon.[1]
He soon established himself as a wingman in Dick Reynolds's strong Essendon side of the early 1940s and appeared in three consecutive VFL Grand Finals in 1941, 1942 and 1943, with a premiership in 1942.[2]
The Western Australian was runner-up in the 1944 Essendon Best and Fairest count.
A VFL representative in 1945, Coward played a total of 11 finals matches with Essendon during his career.
Tasmanian club Scottsdale secured his services as captain-coach in 1949,[3] after he had played three seasons at Maryborough.[4]
References
edit- ^ "New Personalities". Sporting Globe. No. 1753. Victoria, Australia. 15 April 1939. p. 6 (Edition1 : Football Section). Retrieved 22 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "1942 - Our 7th Flag". Essendon FC. 19 September 1942. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- ^ "MAGPIES' COACH ARRIVES". The Examiner (Tasmania). Vol. CVII, no. 217. Tasmania, Australia. 20 November 1948. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "1946 - COWARD TAKES JOB AS COACH". The Herald (Melbourne, Vic). 12 March 1946. p. 12. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
- Ernie Coward's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
 | This Australian rules football biography of a person born in 1916 is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |