HEBBARD, Col

Col Hebbard was a star half-forward and later half-back who came from Mt Hawthorn Juniors in Western Australia, where he had played for three years. He had pace, courage, and a big leap and took some brilliant marks.

He stood out of football in 1956 to get a clearance to Essendon and played a few games with Brunswick Amateurs while he waited for the Australian National Football Council to grant his appeal. That was finally granted, and according to the 1957 Annual Report, he "was of inestimable value during the season".

He made his debut in Round 1, 1957, against Collingwood and alongside fellow first-gamer and future champion, John Birt.

He was on the half-forward flank in the losing 1957 Grand Final team and on the half-back flank in the 1959 Grand Final side. He was also named in the Sporting Globe team of the year in 1960. He won Essendon's Best Utility Player award in 1961.

After leaving Essendon, Hebbard joined West Perth from 1962 to 1966, playing with his brothers, Neville and Robert. He was in the Western Australian State side in 1962 and 1966. He later became West Perth's chairman of selectors in 1985.

He worked for many years as a spotter and recruiting officer for Essendon in Western Australia and served on several positions in the Perth Supporter Group.