Jeff Gamble
Essendon
AFL career
90 games14 goals
- Debut
- R6 1953 v NTH30 May 1953
- Most recent
- R11 1960 v NTH9 July 1960
Stats
Bio
Recruited from local side Aberfeldie, Jeff Gamble initially broke into the Essendon lineup as a follower before cementing his standing as a premier centre half-back. He reached the peak of his powers in the late 1950s, anchoring the defence during the 1957 Grand Final loss and finishing as the club’s top Brownlow poller during a standout 1958 season where he also finished runner-up in the Crichton Medal. A severe knee injury sustained in 1959 ultimately forced his premature retirement at just 25 years of age, a vacancy that inadvertently opened the door for legendary hardman Ian "Bluey" Shelton. Despite his shortened career, Gamble holds a unique place in club folklore; he is credited with inspiring the lyrics to the club song after a boarder at his parents' home, Kevin Andrews, heard him improvising "See the Bombers fly up" over the tune of Sunny Side Up.
Profile
- Born
- 24 May 1935
- Died
- 20 June 1996 (aged 61y 27d)
- Height
- 191 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Honours
- Brownlow Medal
- Top 10
- 1958
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from local side Aberfeldie, Jeff Gamble initially broke into the Essendon lineup as a follower before cementing his standing as a premier centre half-back. He reached the peak of his powers in the late 1950s, anchoring the defence during the 1957 Grand Final loss and finishing as the club’s top Brownlow poller during a standout 1958 season where he also finished runner-up in the Crichton Medal. A severe knee injury sustained in 1959 ultimately forced his premature retirement at just 25 years of age, a vacancy that inadvertently opened the door for legendary hardman Ian "Bluey" Shelton. Despite his shortened career, Gamble holds a unique place in club folklore; he is credited with inspiring the lyrics to the club song after a boarder at his parents' home, Kevin Andrews, heard him improvising "See the Bombers fly up" over the tune of Sunny Side Up.