Australian Football

After making his VFL debut with Essendon in 1913, Clyde Donaldson's career had just begun to blossom when it was interrupted by four years abroad serving with the Australian Expeditionary Force. During that time he represented the Australian Training Units in an exhibition match in London.

Donaldson resumed with the Dons in 1919, and quickly established himself as one of the finest permanent back pocket players in the game. He had as much pace as the nippiest rover and this, coupled with his strength and aerial prowess, made him extraordinarily difficult to beat. He was also a thumping kick, characteristically tearing out of his back pocket to meet the ball at full tilt before propelling it back into Essendon's attacking zone.

A member of the Same Old's 1923 and 1924 premiership teams, Donaldson was also a regular Big V representative, earning state selection in every year between 1920 and 1923 and again in 1926. He retired at the end of the 1926 season after 144 VFL games.

Clyde Donaldson later became a renowned football correspondent for The Truth.

Author - John Devaney