Australian Football

Solid, resolute and assured, Melbourne's John Beckwith was one of the most disciplined andeffective defenders of the 1950s. A master at the art of skillfully directing the ball across the boundary line without attracting the ire of the man in white he actually began his VFL career as a half forward, but it was only after being shifted to the last line of defence that he began to shine. 

A back pocket for most of his 10-season, 176-game league career, Beckwith was a member of Demons' premiership sides in 1955-6-7 and 1959-60. Not a particularly rugged or hard-hitting player, he succeeded by virtue of his uncanny anticipation skills, smooth ball-handling, and safe, one-grab marking. He won a club best and fairest award in 1957, and captained the Dees in 1957-8-9. Selected in the VFL's squad for the 1958 Melbourne carnival, he was injured before the series began, and forced to withdraw.

In 1968, eight years after his retirement as a player, he returned to Melbourne as non-playing coach, but in three seasons holding the reins failed signally to recapture the heady success enjoyed by his predecessor in the role, the great Norm Smith. John Beckwith's importance in the history of the Melbourne Football Club was highlighted recently with his inclusion in the back pocket the club's official 'Team of the Century'.

Author - John Devaney