Australian Football

Essendon recruited Wally May locally, and he gave the club fine service as a ruckman-cum-defender in 94 VFL games between 1947 and 1952. Hard-hitting and shrewd, he was the team player par excellence, and often saved his best form for when it mattered most, such as the 1949 and 1950 Grand Finals, both of which the Bombers won. Runner-up in Essendon best and fairest award in 1951, he asked for a clearance to Sturt two years later, and when this was refused he stood out of football a year until it was granted.

In four seasons with the Double Blues, Wally May played a total of 54 league games, plus two for South Australia, winning his club best and fairest award in 1955. The 1956 season saw him installed as captain-coach, but after a dismal season which produced just three wins and a draw from 18 games he resigned, citing 'business reasons'. The character of the man is shown by his decision to remain with the club as a player under his replacement as coach, Ed Tilley.

After his playing days were over May remained in Adelaide and is still remembered with affection and nostalgia by many South Australians for his impassioned special comments during SANFL match telecasts. Indeed the phrase "Comment, Wally May" (uttered by the match commentator) has passed into South Australian football folk-lore.

Author - John Devaney