PASCOE, Mal

Mal Pascoe was a rugged half-back and ruck rover who played locally with Essendon Bombers and started with the Essendon Under 19s in 1949 when he was only 15.

He was one of the best drop kicks in the League, a good mark and never gave his opponent a break.

Pascoe played in the Club's Seconds premiership team in 1952 and made his senior debut in mid-1953 against Hawthorn. After that he began stringing games together, missing only one game in his last three seasons. He was also ruck-rover in the losing 1957 Grand Final team.

Pascoe then headed to Hobart FC in 1959 where he had immediate success after the Club "made full enquiries into the authenticity of the offer" and agreed he should be cleared. In his first season he won the Tasmanian Football League's Best and Fairest award, (the William Leitch Medal), was the League's top goalkicker, and a member of Hobart's 1959 premiership team. He was also vice-captain for Tasmania that year winning the Weller Arnold Medal for being the TFL's Intrastate Best and Fairest player.

Pascoe's Tasmanian success continued in 1960, when he was again the TFL's top goalkicker, a premiership player and Tasmanian representative. He represented Tasmania again in 1962.

In 1971, Pascoe went close to winning the Essendon coaching appointment before it was offered to former team-mate John Birt.

Pascoe then returned to Hobart as coach in 1978 and 1979.