Australian Football

Born in Burnie Ed Blackaby played under nineteens football with Cooee before relocating to Queensland and shortly afterwards, in 1970, to Canberra. Between 1970 and 1979 he played 185 senior games for Manuka, winning club best and fairest awards in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1979. Some astute judges rated him as the most gifted Canberra-based footballer of his generation, a status endorsed when he won the 1977 Mulrooney Medal as best and fairest player in the ACTAFL. Playing mainly as a rover Blackaby typically racked up numerous possessions and was extremely effective in his use of the ball. He was also tough, sometimes fiery, boasted considerable pace, and was a prolific goal kicker.

In 1980 Ed Blackaby was recruited by Swan Districts and although his five year stint with the club was undermined by illness and injury he managed to produce some telling football when selected. In 1982 he was selected to represent Western Australia but the illnesses with which he was repeatedly plagued at the time resurfaced, and forced him to withdraw from the side. The Swans phase of his career comprised 54 WAFL games in which he bagged 108 goals. 

Author - John Devaney