Ernie Coward
| 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 / weight | 170 cm / 67 kg | ||
| Position(s) | Wingman | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1939–45 | Essendon | 118 (20) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945. | |||
Ernie "Sonny" Coward (27 January 1916 – 5 April 1985) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Coward was originally from West Perth and along with his team-mate Wally Buttsworth had to spend the 1938 season on the sidelines while waiting for a clearance to Essendon. He soon established himself as a wingman in Dick Reynolds's strong Essendon side of the early 1940s and appeared in three consecutive Grand Finals from 1941 to 1943, with a premiership in 1942. 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, after he had played three seasons at Maryborough.
References
- Ernie Coward's statistics from AFL Tables
- Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.