BLUMFIELD, Justin

Justin Blumfield came from the ACT and played a number of exciting games in the Reserves in 1995, and finally got his chance to play senior football in 1996.

He played his first game in unusual circumstances - the completion of the interrupted game against St Kilda in Round 10 when the lights failed. In doing so he became the 1001th player to ever play for the Essendon Football Club. He was picked consistently in the senior side towards the end of 1996.

After a superb 1998 in which he won the Best Clubman award, Blumfield continued with another excellent season in 1999. He played 24 games and kicked 20 goals for the year.

His 2000 season was his best. Just shaded by James Hird for best on the ground in the Grand Final, he finished 6th in the Crichton Medal. He also played 24 games and kicked 27 goals for the year and his excellent skills were topped off when he was added to the Australian team touring Ireland post-season.

2001 was a season marred by two major knee injuries limiting him to only 13 games.

Despite having played 22 games for the year, Blumfield was traded to Richmond at the conclusion of the 2002 season due to the Club's salary cap restrictions.

He pulled the red and black on again in 2005 after signing to play with the Bendigo Bombers. At 27 years of age Blumfield took on an assistant coach's role at Essendon’s affiliate VFL side.