John Beckwith (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Beckwith is a former Australian rules football
player and coach, for the Melbourne Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Beckwith's father, Wally Beckwith
, was a VFL player for Fitzroy
and was also a VFL umpire.
Beckwith made his debut in round one against Essendon
at Windy Hill
. Essendon
had been premiers the previous year and as such it was the unfurling of the 1950 premiership flag. The players had to line up, and General Sir Dallas Brooks
, the Governor of Victoria, came past. Beckwith was only 19 years of age, and meeting the governor as well as playing his first game of VFL football was a nerve wracking experience, although he did end up kicking a goal.
Beckwith was a member of Melbourne
premiership sides in 1955–1957 and 1959–1960. He won a club best and fairest award
in 1957, and captained the Demons from 1957 to 1959.
Beckwith spent five years as captain-coach of Colac Football Club in the Hampden Football League from 1961–1965. Under his guildance Colac won two premierships and were runners up twice.
Beckwith was an assistant coach at Melbourne in 1966. He coached Melbourne from 1967 to 1970 for 19 wins and 46 losses.
He was named in the back pocket
in Melbourne 'Team of the Century'.
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...
player and coach, for the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Beckwith's father, Wally Beckwith
Wally Beckwith
John 'Wally' Beckwith was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League .Beckwith played his early footballer at Clifton Hill and West Melbourne CYMS...
, was a VFL player for Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
and was also a VFL umpire.
Beckwith made his debut in round one against Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
at Windy Hill
Windy Hill, Essendon
Windy Hill is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern suburb of the Melbourne metropolitan area....
. Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
had been premiers the previous year and as such it was the unfurling of the 1950 premiership flag. The players had to line up, and General Sir Dallas Brooks
Dallas Brooks
Brooks made his first-class debut for the Royal Navy against Cambridge University in 1919 as a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium. The same season Brooks made his debut for Hampshire against Surrey in the County Championship...
, the Governor of Victoria, came past. Beckwith was only 19 years of age, and meeting the governor as well as playing his first game of VFL football was a nerve wracking experience, although he did end up kicking a goal.
Beckwith was a member of Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
premiership sides in 1955–1957 and 1959–1960. He won a club best and fairest award
Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal
The Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Memorial Trophy is awarded to the Melbourne Football Club player judged Best and Fairest for the season.It is named in honor of Keith 'Bluey' Truscott, a former dual premiership player and World War II fighter ace killed in 1943....
in 1957, and captained the Demons from 1957 to 1959.
Beckwith spent five years as captain-coach of Colac Football Club in the Hampden Football League from 1961–1965. Under his guildance Colac won two premierships and were runners up twice.
Beckwith was an assistant coach at Melbourne in 1966. He coached Melbourne from 1967 to 1970 for 19 wins and 46 losses.
He was named in the back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
in Melbourne 'Team of the Century'.