Football Career
Coulthard commenced with the Carlton club in the (then) Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1876. During a short seven-season career he became one of the Association's outstanding players. He was a crucial member of the Carlton team that won the inaugural VFA premiership in 1877.
He was said to have speed, grace and near-perfect balance. 'He is the grandest player of the day. It is doubtful if, for general excellence, his equal has ever been seen.' said The Australasian newspaper of the day.
On 1 July 1880 Coulthard was the umpire for an inter-colonial match between Melbourne and the Norwood Football Club from South Australia. He chose to wear all white and is thus football's first "man in white" (the traditional colour of umpires attire in Australian rules football).
Coulthard was vice-captain of Carlton in 1882 when events conspired to finish his career. He clashed with Joey Tankard of Hotham (later North Melbourne) and both were suspended. When they next played they came to blows again and the VFA suspended them both for the remainder of the season. It was to be his last game for Carlton.
In 1990 Coulthard was inducted to the Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame and in 1996 Coulthard was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Read more about this topic: George Coulthard
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