Australian Football

Russell Blew was a fine wingman whose work was always tidy and composed. He commenced with Essendon's under nineteens in 1959 and immediately won the club's best and fairest award at that level. In 1960 he was appointed captain of the under nineteens but he progressed much quicker than anticipated and finished the year playing in the seniors. He was on a wing in the Bombers' 1962 grand final defeat of Carlton, and again three years later when St Kilda was vanquished.

Arguably Blew's best season in football came in 1964 when he made the state team and finished second to Ken Fraser in the voting for the club champion award. A knee injury limited his appearances in 1966 and 1967 but he was back as good as ever for what proved to be his final VFL season in 1968. The last of his 125 senior games for the Dons came in that year's losing Grand Final against Carlton. In 1969 he transferred to Waverley in the VFA as captain-coach where he spent his last three seasons as a player. He later worked as a football panelist on HSV7, and a radio commentator on 3DB and 3UZ.

Author - John Devaney