Early Days: The Teenage Prodigy
Coleman was introduced to football at Port Fairy Higher Elementary School. During the early war years, the family moved to Melbourne where Coleman was enrolled at Ascot Vale West State School. He later attended Moonee Ponds Central School, where he became dux of the school. At the age of 12, he already played in a local under-18 Australian rules football team.
In 1943, Coleman's mother took the children to live at Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula as her husband remained in the city to look after his business. Coleman then divided his time between Melbourne, where he was a student at University High School, and Hastings, playing on Saturdays for the local team which competed in the Mornington Peninsula League.
Essendon first invited Coleman to train at the club in 1946, but considered him too young to be able to play senior football.
In the following two seasons, Coleman completed pre-season training with Essendon and played in practice matches. However, both times he was sent back to Hastings where he kicked 296 goals in 37 games over two years.
Read more about this topic: John Coleman (Australian Footballer)
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