Australian Football

A utility during his 162 game stint with South Fremantle between 1957 and 1967 Colin Beard was transformed into a defender after crossing to Richmond where, after being forced to stand out of football for a year while seeking a clearance, he added another 33 League appearances from 1969 to 1971, During the 1969 VFL major round, playing mainly as a permanent back pocket, Beard was a prominent figure as the Tigers surged to the premiership from fourth place after the home and away rounds. While with South Fremantle he won a fairest and best award in 1966 and played two games of interstate football for Western Australia the following year. It was probably around this time that he caught the attention of Richmond. After leaving the Tigers in 1972 he rejoined South Fremantle but managed only half a dozen appearances for the year before calling time on his career; nevertheless, this was enough to give him in excess of 200 League games played all told.

After retiring as a player Colin Beard was non-playing coach of South from 1974 to 1976. He died in 2019 aged seventy-seven but lived long enough to savour his induction into the Bulldogs Hall of Fame in 2015.

Author - John Devaney