CLEGHORN, Arthur

Arthur Cleghorn was a clever and efficient rover who was in Essendon's first League side in 1897. He starred in all three finals in the round robin series that secured Essendon's first VFL premiership that year.

He was also a star in the 1899 Grand Final which Essendon lost to Fitzroy.

He was dangerous around the goals and was Essendon leading goalkicker in 1899 with 15 goals. He was also runner-up in 1898 and third in 1897.

There is a curious story around his best goalkicking effort of five goals in a game against St Kilda in 1899. Essendon's score of 16.24.120 (to St Kilda's 3.4.22) was its highest VFL score so far. Its previous best score had been in 1898, also against St Kilda (Essendon 16.16.112 defeated St Kilda 5.7.37). Essendon then set a new record the following year in 1900 against St Kilda (Essendon 17.15.117 defeated St Kilda 3.7.25), only to break it yet again in 1901, once more against the hapless St Kilda (Essendon 19.22.136 defeated St Kilda 4.5.29).

So Essendon set new record scores in four successive years - 1898, 1899, 1900 and 1901 - and every time it was against St Kilda!

Cleghorn went on to play with Richmond (VFA) in 1904 and 1905 and played in their premiership side in 1905.

He died in the Alfred Hospital on 27th May, 1951, three weeks after he had been struck by a car.