{xtypo_dropcap}A{/xtypo_dropcap}lthough Colin Hebbard was initially placed on West Perth’s league list in 1955 the club would have to wait seven years for the star recruit to make his debut.

A posting to Melbourne with the Bank of NSW and  the Navy Reserve led to a tug of war between Essendon and the WANFL, resulting in he and fellow Bombers WA signing, Alec Epis from Kalgoorlie, standing out of league football for twelve months.

It wasn’t the first departure from the norm for a Hebbard, though.

Relative Paddy Hebbard was selected in the State side while still playing for Boulder City in 1914, the first of fourteen State appearances, and captained Western Australia in  1924. Transferring to East Perth in 1921, he was a member of a hat trick of premiership sides over the following three years, captain- coaching the Royals in 1925, and was named at centre half forward in the club’s official Team of the Century 1906 to 1944.

Colin Hebbard was a product of the star studded Mt Hawthorn Junior Football Club, and was vice captain to Ray Gabelich in a side that boasted the names of Ron Bewick, Don and Ray Marinko, Wally Price, Fred and Brian Buttsworth, and Eddie Wylde, playing several pre season practice matches with West Perth in 1955.

Out of the game in 1955 due to Navy commitments and stationed in Victoria, Hebbard was signed by Essendon, along with Epis, but the clearance wrangle saw him line up in the Sunday League in 1956 with Brunswick, who were coached by Len Smith, later to be mentor of Richmond. In a strong side competing in a high grade competition, Hebbard delighted the Bombers heirachy by taking the club fairest and best that year.

The clearance belatedly granted in 1957, Colin played his first game for Essendon against Collingwood at Victoria Park, along with another new recruit in John Birt.  “It’s always hard at Vic Park,” was the message hammered into the twenty year old debutante by coach Dick Reynolds, and it didn’t take long to find out how hard. “Early on I took a good grab, and copped a nice old belt for my trouble from opponent Frank Tuck,” Colin recalled. “That’s how we play the game here, son,” was the passing comment.”

Down by two points at three quarter time, Essendon finished strongly to prevail by thirty five in a good start to the season, but it ended in disappointment with a sixty one point loss to Melbourne. Hebbard’s form was noted by the club, and he was runner up to Birt for the best first year player award.

The two Western Australians, Hebbard and Epis, lined up on half back flanks for Essendon. A spectacular player with good ball skills, the five foot ten Hebbard proved to be a tough competitor in the unforgiving VFL competition, his courage and determination making a big impression on supporters, while the irrepressible Epis, known as “Kookaburra” because of his penchant for on field chatter, was a spectacular and colourful player with excellent skills. 

Another grand final defeat in 1959 was to be the closest Colin would get to a premiership. Six points behind at three quarter time, an injury to ruckman Brian Sampson, who had been dominating, was a blow, and they lost once again to the Demons. 

After a scintillating season in 1960, which saw him named in The Sporting Globe Team Of The Year, Hebbard was moved into the centre in 1961, in what was to be his final season in Melbourne.

The twenty five year old decided on a return home in 1962, and had no hesitation in heading straight to Leederville. Brothers Neville and Robert also played with the Cardinals, and the trio made history in a game at Fremantle in 1965 when they comprised the West Perth centreline.

After making the preliminary final in 1962, West Perth were eliminated from the finals in the last qualifying round by a surging Claremont in 1964, in front of 21,446 people at Leederville. Hebbard was selected to play twice for Western Australia in 1962, and was recalled for the Australian Carnival at North Hobart in 1966, where he figured in all four games played.

The last game of that carnival still plays on Colin’s mind. “One of my out and out idols, Darryl Baldock, was the danger man in that game, a game we had to win to take the carnival,” he recalled. “We were in front at half time, with Brian France superb on Darryl. When Brian limped off later in proceedings Baldock lit up like a Christmas tree, firing up the Vics who went on to win by fifteen points.” Baldock was later chosen as captain of the All Australian team, with Barry Cable winning the Tassie Medal.

An injury to back pocket player Bob Whalley saw Colin line up in a back pocket in that match, where he played on old mates John Birt and Hassa Mann.

At the end of the 1966 season, while still in good form, the twenty nine year old Hebbard called it a day, after playing ninety five games with West Perth and eighty seven at Essendon. 

Colin Hebbard joined the media ranks for the 1967 season, working with Frank Sparrow and Neil Garland on 6PR and appearing on the World of Football on Channel Seven. A promising career was nipped in the bud when EMI appointed him State Manager the following year with the proviso to forgo the media work. Hebbard was the Western Australian recruiting officer for Essendon between 1980 and 2005 for Kevin Sheedy, and is a life member of the Bombers. He spent 1986 and 87 at West Perth as chairman of selectors with John Wynne. 

Colin is also heavily involved in community work with Rotary International, which takes much of his time these days, but spares as many minutes as he can for the WAGC golf course at Yokine.

Carlton’s John James was his toughest opponent, while the little master Barry Cable was Hebbard’s pick as best he’d played with.

The names Colin Hebbard and Alec Epis will always be remembered for the vagaries and inconsistencies of the clearance and transfer system in the fifties, but it should also be recalled that both were outstanding footballers in their own right. Hebbard proved his worth both in Victoria and Western Australia.