Wally Coates

Originally from Romsey, Wally Coates earned his initial shot at VFL level after cutting his teeth in the Carlton seconds and playing with East Brunswick. He managed just two senior appearances for Fitzroy in the latter half of the 1932 season before drifting out of the league for half a decade. Coates was eventually handed a footballing lifeline by Essendon in 1937, resurfacing at Windy Hill as a handy 180cm utility capable of pushing forward. He added five games and two goals to his tally during his second stint, demonstrating the persistence required to break back into the elite level after a long absence, ultimately representing two foundation clubs in a brief but resilient career.