John Coleman

“Everybody needs a hero…”

My drawing of John Coleman with his young fan at a 1950s suburban VFL ground.

Sublime talent and matinee idol looks, Coleman took the game by storm, kicking twelve goals in his first game and a century of goals in his debut season.

He retired 537 goals and 98 games later when a serious knee injury curtailed his playing career.

The leading goalkicker in the AFL is awarded the Coleman medal.

My father Alan once told me “I’ve seen many great players, but none better than John Coleman”