Australian Football

After playing his junior football at both Strathmore and East Keilor Glenn Manton joined Essendon as a 16 year old, and gradually worked his way up through the ranks before making his senior debut, aged 18, in 1992. Never an automatic selection for the team, and typically spending a lot of time on the bench when he was picked, he made 21 appearances and kicked four goals for the Bombers over three seasons before being de-listed.

Fortunately for Manton, Carlton handed him a life-line by selecting him in the 1995 pre-season draft, and he went on to enjoy the most memorable season of his entire career, culminating in participation in the Blues’ comprehensive grand final defeat of Geelong.

Safe overhead, and tough, he was an excellent reader of the play and overall ideally suited to a defensive role. In the ‘95 grand final he spent a lot of time on the bench before making a valuable contribution off half back in the third and fourth quarters.

Between 1995 and 2001 Glenn Manton was a regular in the Carlton team, but he fell out of favour somewhat in 2002 and 2003 before being de-listed at the end of the latter season. He had played 157 AFL games for the Blues and booted 30 goals.

Author - John Devaney