Allan Belcher

Allan Belcher (2 December 1884 – 2 July 1921[1]) was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He was the brother of South Melbourne player Vic Belcher.

Not to be confused with Alan Belcher.

Allan Belcher
Belcher in 1910
Personal information
Full name Allan Mitchell Parker Belcher
Date of birth (1884-12-02)2 December 1884
Place of birth New Norfolk, Tasmania
Date of death 2 July 1921(1921-07-02) (aged 36)
Place of death Kew, Victoria
Original team(s) Brunswick (VFA)
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Position(s) Ruckman
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1904 Collingwood 4 (1)
1906–1919 Essendon 176 (40)
Total 180 (41)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1906, 1907, 1911 Victoria
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1910 Essendon 19 (12–7–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1919.
2 State and international statistics correct as of 1911.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1910.
Career highlights
  • Essendon premiership captain 1912
  • Essendon captain 1910, 1912–1915, 1919
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Belcher started his career with Collingwood but it was with Essendon that he established himself as one of the premier ruckmen in the league. Known as "King Belcher" formed a combination in the ruck with Fred Baring and Ernie Cameron,[2] culminating in premiership success in 1912.

He was captain-coach of Essendon in 1910 and represented Victoria at interstate football in patches during his career. From 1912 to 1915 he captained the club and again in 1919 but it would be his final season, a broken toe forcing him to retire.[3]

On 2 July 1921 – just two years after his last VFL game – Belcher succumbed to general paralysis in the Kew Hospital for the Insane. His once-robust frame had wasted away to just 57 kg by the time of his passing.[4]

References
  1. "Family Notices". The Argus. Melbourne. 4 July 1921. p. 1. Retrieved 29 March 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Tradition Barred at the Turnstiles". Frankston Standard. Frankston, Vic. 3 November 1949. p. 16. Retrieved 29 March 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. Ross, John (1996). 100 Years of Australian Football. Ringwood, Australia: Viking Books. p. 382. ISBN 9781854714343.
  4. "The Belcher brothers: a grand tragic tale". AFL. 25 September 2013.
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