Australian Football

David Elliman was a handy forward who played with Melbourne (20 games, 10 goals, 1919 and 1922-4), Williamstown (12 games, two goals, 1921) and Hawthorn (three games, five goals, 1925), following which he joined Camberwell for that club’s debut season in the VFA in 1926. He spent two seasons with the Tricolours, playing 30 matches and booting 22 goals. The 1929 season saw him in Sydney embarking on a four season stint with North Shore. During this phase of his career he represented New South Wales 10 times, including all five matches at the 1930 Adelaide carnival when the New South Welshmen beat both Tasmania and Queensland to finish a creditable fourth out of six teams. His final interstate appearance was against the VFL at the SCG in 1932 when, playing in a forward pocket, he contributed five goals to New South Wales’ losing tally of 9.9. He was a Provan Trophy winner for best and fairest in the Sydney competition in 1930.

Elliman moved to Canberra in 1933 where, as well as playing for Acton, he coached the ACT team at that year’s Sydney carnival. In 1935 he transferred to Eastlake where he remained until his retirement as a player in 1940. He was a premiership player with Eastlake in 1937.

Author - John Devaney