The 1941 photo, courtesy of Australian Sports Museum
Back Row: Jack Clarke, Phil Dunstone*, Bill Lowenthal, Jack Norman^, Unknown, Bill Seedsman^, Jack Lynch, Fred Beaumont
Middle Row: Bert Minney, Jim Calvert, Frank Dowling, Bill Maslen, Norm Matthews, Ron Leishman*
Front Row: Bert Deacon, Charlie Stewart, Les Ross, Unknown
Phil Dunstone* – should be in the photo, and while he looks different, as in very different, to previous photos, there are some similarities
Ron Leishman* – if not, then front row, far right
Jack Norman^ – Updated April 2021. See below.
Bill Seedsman^ – Updated April / May 2021. See below.
Note : Identifications are made from information / photos that I’ve been able to find, and as always, happy to be corrected on any errors. Also happy to hear of any new identifications.
Story, with more details, of how this all came about, can be found here –
Players of Round 5, 10 May, 1941 –
Game Details – The VFA Project
Jack Clarke – Back row, far left. (Based on remaining unidentified players, height, and being in 1938, both 1939, 1940 and 1941 photos)
Phil Dunstone – Back row, second from left? (Based on height, and being in 1938, both 1939, 1940 and 1941 photos, but looks different here)
Only photo found – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/188803314
Bill Lowenthal – Back row, third from left
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Bill+Lowenthal
Photo from Essendon days (Front row, fourth from right) –
https://scoreboardpressure.com/2012/07/23/windy-hill-essendon-victoria/
Michael Riley’s post on Big Footy – https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/list-thread-inaccuracy-in-official-records.1089761/page-51#post-53749375
1936 Fitzroy photo linked to in Big Footy post (Back row, second from right) –
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Fitzroy+Senior+Team+1936+%28FBLHS+S36-1%29
Bill Seedsman – 19-9-1914 – 10-10-2001. 183cms. Back row, fourth from left*.
Update April / May, 2021* –
With the new information on the Norman brothers (Ingy and Jack), as well as a re-evaluation of a couple of photos, I now believe I have found Seedsman. (initially had him confused with Rex Job) He, like Jack Norman, should be in both 1939 photos, as well as the 1940 and 1941 photos. He could also be in the 1945 photo.
He played for Kew in the 1935 sub-district league Grand Final, which is discussed here –
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Kew+Sub-Districts+Team+1935+%28SLV+122_065%29
In the above 1935 Kew photo, I believe Bill Seedsman is back row, sixth from left. (peering out from behind)
From Kew to Preston – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12125489?searchTerm=seedsman
Back row, third from right.
Jack Norman – 188cms. Played Ruck. B&F 1941. Fitzroy 1938 – 1 game.
http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Norman,_Jack.php
Update April, 2021 –
Based on the new information found, detailed in both 1939 photos, Jack will be in both 1939 photos, as well as the 1940 and 1941 photos.
He could also be in the 1945 photo, and after seeing a 1935 East Brunswick team photo, I believe he is in all of them.
1935 East Brunswick team photo, courtesy Australian Sports Museum.
Front row, far right (seated), I believe is likely to be Jack Norman.
1945 Preston team photo, courtesy Boyles Football Photos.
Back row, third from right, I believe is Jack Norman.
Therefore, based on the new information found, my belief is –
Back row, fourth from left.
J. T. (Jack) Lynch – 9-8-1918 – 8-9-1944. 185cms. Played Full Forward / Ruck. Preston 1941. Geelong 1939-40 25 games. Died in a car accident while on active service in WW2. Back row, second from right.
Trove article with photo – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/20725483
NT photo – https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181652732?searchTerm=jack%20lynch
Fred Beaumont – Preston 1939-41. Brunswick 1935 & 1938. Wing / Centre. Back row, far right.
Photo from Brunswick (middle row, far left) – http://boylesfootballphotos.net.au/tiki-index.php?page=Brunswick+Seconds+1930s+%28SLV+122_054%29&fbclid=IwAR1ceF94syzfA2RixigFBJkkl438dXRxyJgIFN-siblztc0WIRc5GalxXN4
Bert Minney – 7-1-1914 – 20-5-1999. 178cms. Preston 1940-41, 1945. Fitzroy 1938-39.
Middle row, far left
Fitzroy 1938 team photo – https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/393009504966991522/
Trove article with team photo –
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11171876?searchTerm=a%20minney
T. J. (Jim) Calvert – 6-9-1917 – 22-1-1981. 179cms. Follower, Centre Half Forward. Preston 1940-41. Yarraville 1939 (7 games). St Kilda 1943 (3 games) Best guess, middle row, second from left.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Calvert
1939 Yarraville team photo taken at Port Melbourne, which Calvert played (Front row, second from left?) –
Frank Dowling – Middle row, third from left
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Preston+Senior+Team+1939+%28BrM%29
Bill Maslen – Middle row, third from right
http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Maslen,_Bill_’Socks’.php
Norm Matthews – 30-8-1915 – 30-12-1985. 174cms. Preston 1941. Port Melbourne 1946 (8 games). Melbourne 1935, 1942-44 (15). South Melbourne 1938-40 (28) Played wing.
1940 Sth Melb team photo – http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/South+Melbourne+Senior+Team+1940+R3+%28DG_058%29
Late 1950s past players photo – http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/South+Melbourne+Past+Players+mid-late+1950s+%28SLV122_103%29
Middle row, second from right
Ron Leishman – Preston 1941, 1946-50. B&F 1947. Box Hill 1951. Follower / Fullback.
https://australianfootball.com/players/player/ron%2Bleishman/17558
Believe middle row, far right. If not, then front row, far right.
Bert Deacon – 8-11-1922 – 3-1-1974. 180cms. Preston 1940-41, 1945, 1952-53. Carlton 1942-51.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Deacon
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Deacon%2C+Bert+%28CLA04%29
https://www.blueseum.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=2
Front row, far left.
Charlie Stewart – c-1910. Preston 1941, 1946-51. Played Wing. Captain 1950. Coach 1963-64 with premiership in Division 2 in 1963.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Stewart_(footballer,_born_c._1910)
https://heritage.darebinlibraries.vic.gov.au/article/690
1963 Premiership photo –
https://www.facebook.com/vfafootythehalcyondays/photos/a.533451553364705/636472283062631
Second front row, fourth from right. (holding football)
Head shot from a 1940 (rep team?) team photo, along with a spiel on Charlie –
Photo from 1990, with Harold Martin –
https://www.facebook.com/vfafootythehalcyondays/photos/a.533451553364705/3291016000941566
Front row, second from left.
Les Ross – Front row, second from right. (Based on height, and being in 1938, both 1939, 1940 and 1941 photos)
Coached Parkside Amateurs in the VAFA and should be in this 1954 Premiership photo (not sure who he is) –
https://websites.sportstg.com/gallery.cgi?g=7272&c=0-3232-160726-0-0&e=160726&et=3&ci=5&ti=0&a=next
Other players selected for R5, 1941 –
Bob Taylor – Preston 1940-41. Mention of Prahran c1939? Pocket / Flanks.
http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Taylor,_Bob_Pres41.php
R. Taylor in the 1937 Prahran team photo –
http://www.boylesfootballphotos.net.au/Prahran+Team+Photos
But no record of an R. Taylor playing in 1937. There is, however, a Robert Taylor playing in 1938-39 –
http://www.thevfaproject.org/pages/Players/Taylor,_Robert__Pra.php
Les Harry – Preston 1939 (1 game), 1941 (6), 1946 (5). Mainly Fullback. From Collingwood seconds 1939.
Alan Everett – Replaced (injured) at halftime, by Beaumont, and not in photo.
One thought on “Preston Football Club – 1941 Team Photo”