John Birt (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Birt is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon
in the VFL
. Birt had an unusual physical characteristic that sometimes reduced his capacity to impose authority in one-on-one situations; whenever he spoke, the tip of his nose would move.
Birt was a rover and after being recruited to Essendon
from Ballarat, he made his VFL
debut in 1957. The following year he had one of his finest seasons, finishing 6th in the Brownlow Medal
and topping Essendon
's goalkicking charts with 31 goals. He was a premiership player in 1962 and 1965 as well as playing in two losing Grand Finals
, and won the
W. S. Crichton Medal
for his club's Best and Fairest in 1961, 1965 and 1967.
Birt was playing coach for West Torrens
in the SANFL
from 1968 - 1970.
He returned to Victoria
to coach Essendon
in 1971.
However, Essendon only won four games in the 1971 season. In 1972 he was replaced by Des Tuddenham
.
Footscray then picked him up and he served as their assistant coach Between 1972 and 1976.
In 2002 an Essendon
panel selected Birt as number twenty-one of the 25 "Champions of Essendon".http://www.essendonfc.com.au/champions/rules.asp
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 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...
. Birt had an unusual physical characteristic that sometimes reduced his capacity to impose authority in one-on-one situations; whenever he spoke, the tip of his nose would move.
Birt was a rover and after being recruited to Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
from Ballarat, he made his 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...
debut in 1957. The following year he had one of his finest seasons, finishing 6th in the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
and topping Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
's goalkicking charts with 31 goals. He was a premiership player in 1962 and 1965 as well as playing in two losing Grand Finals
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
, and won the
W. S. Crichton Medal
W. S. Crichton Medal
The W.S. Crichton Medal is the name given to Best and Fairest award for Australian rules football team the Essendon Football Club. The naming of the award is to honour Walter S...
for his club's Best and Fairest in 1961, 1965 and 1967.
Birt was playing coach for West Torrens
West Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
from 1968 - 1970.
He returned to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
to coach Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in 1971.
However, Essendon only won four games in the 1971 season. In 1972 he was replaced by Des Tuddenham
Des Tuddenham
Desmond Vincent Tuddenham is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1960s and 1970s. He was a half forward flanker....
.
Footscray then picked him up and he served as their assistant coach Between 1972 and 1976.
In 2002 an Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
panel selected Birt as number twenty-one of the 25 "Champions of Essendon".http://www.essendonfc.com.au/champions/rules.asp