Edwin 'Eddy' James was an Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

er who played for Geelong

Geelong Football Club

The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...

 in the years following the formation of the VFL

Australian Football League

The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...

.

James started his career as a backman but was pushed forward during the inaugural VFL season and after kicking 22 goals in the home and away season ended up sharing the Leading Goalkicker Award

Coleman Medal

The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...

 with Jack Leith

Jack Leith

John G. 'Jack' Leith was an Australian rules footballer who played for Melbourne in the early years of the Victorian Football League ....

. His end of year tally of 27 goals was the most in the league and the following season he became the first footballer to kick 50 VFL goals. He again topped the VFL's goalkicking in 1899 with 31 goals and was rewarded with selection for Victoria in an interstate match against South Australia.

He kicked a career high seven goals in game against St Kilda in 1898.

A knee injury ended his career prematurely in 1900.