SAMPSON, Brian

Brian Sampson, known as "Sambo", was a top-class ruckman, who got in front for hit outs and marks and used his height and reach to great advantage.

He joined Essendon from East Sandringham Juniors in 1958 and had a fine but interrupted 100-game career with Essendon.

His early days at Windy Hill were blighted by injury, first to his knee in 1958 which delayed his senior debut until Round 1, 1959. He played all but three games that season and was playing well in the Grand Final against Melbourne when he fell awkwardly and injured his back, forcing him from the field. Essendon lost the game by 37 points.

Sampson's next season was ruined by a knee injury and he could only manage two games early in the year. He played 11 games in 1961 until injury struck again and he missed the last five rounds that year. After returning for the first two rounds of 1962, he then missed the next 13 games.

He returned late that year in time for the finals and ready to play in the Grand Final if team-mate Geoff Leek was declared unfit. Leek decided to play with pain-killing injections so Sampson was selected as a reserve and spent most of the game on the bench. Essendon had a comfortable 32 point win over Carlton.

His luck finally changed and he was back to his best next season playing every game in 1963 and all but two in 1964.

1965 was Brian Sampson's year. He played every game, won the Club's Best Team Player award and played in his second premiership team, starring in the forward pocket and ruck in the win over St Kilda.

He played eight more games for Essendon in 1966 for a career tally of 100 before joining West Perth. He played at West Perth from 1967 to 1969, playing in their 1969 premiership team.

He also represented Western Australia in 1968.

He followed in his father's footsteps as a bricklayer and won the Apprenticeship Commission of Victoria's Best Overall Apprentice in bricklaying in 1959.

His younger brother, Ray, played one game for Melbourne in 1969.

Sampson died on 16th December, 2012.