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Key Facts

Full name
Norman Beckton

Known as
Norm Beckton

Born
4 May 1898

Died
8 September 1984 (aged 86)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 23y 3d
Last game: 32y 125d

Height and weight
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 93 kg

Senior clubs
Essendon Association; Essendon; Sandringham

Jumper numbers
Essendon: 3, 5

Recruited from
Essendon Association (1921); Essendon (1931)

Norm Beckton

Advanced stats
Club
League
Career span
Games
Goals
Avg
Win %
AKI
AHB
AMK
BV
Essendon AssociationVFA1919-1920————————
EssendonV/AFL1921-19301731570.9157%———6
SandringhamVFA1931-193474610.82—————
VFA1919-1920, 1931-193474610.82—————
V/AFL1921-19301731570.9157%———6
Total1919-19342472180.88—————

AFL: 2,593rd player to appear, 967th most games played, 618th most goals kickedEssendon: 324th player to appear, 52nd most games played, 37th most goals kicked

Sandringham had many players in top form against Yarraville, but in Norm Beckton, their stalwart follower, they had the most outstanding man afield. Using his weight judiciously, he dominated the ruck and gained the hit-out with monotonous regularity.¹

Norm Beckton began his senior career with Essendon Association after World War Onewhere he played for two seasons before moving to Essendon's league side. Statuesque in build, he was one of the finest ruckman of his time, always impeccably fair, and renowned forgiving the smaller team mates around him strong support. He was first ruckman in Essendon's 1923 Grand Final winning team against Fitzroy, and was also a key member ofthe side which triumphed in the following year's round-robin finals series.

Voted the Dons' best and fairest player in 1928, Beckton captained the side in his last two seasons. Herepresented the VFL in the interstate arena a total of nine times between 1921 and 1928. In 1931, after 173 VFL games, Beckton crossed to VFA club Sandringham as captain-coach, where he added another 74 senior games. However, in four seasons at the helm he was unable to get his side into the finals. He did, however, win the club's best and fairest award in 1932.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. “Sporting Globe”, 26/7/33, page 9. Beckton had helped Sandringham to a 22.22 to 14.17 win over Port Melbourne.

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications, Crème de la Crème

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Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.