Eddie Dickinson

Considered one of Mundulla’s all time greats, Eddie Dickinson can certainly be considered one of their most astute and tactically brilliant coaches. Eddie began his football career in Western Australia playing in the very strong Sunday League for Scarborough where he attracted the interest of the Perth Football Club. As good as the offer was to join Perth, Eddie and good mate Billy Herron decided to try their luck in the Victorian Wimmera league.

In the end, they both decided to continue on to Melbourne where someone had organised a tryout with the Collingwood Football Club. Collingwood coach at the time, Kevin Rose said that while Eddie had undoubted talent his lightly built frame would prevent him from playing VFL football. Eddie was advised to bulk up and to try his luck in Adelaide at SANFL level. Eddie and Billy moved to Adelaide and were signed up by the Glenelg Football Club.

During the three years that Eddie was with Glenelg, he was finding it increasingly difficult to combine his career in league football with his employment in the railways. In 1961, it was that employment that took him to the south east where he also accepted a coaching job at Bordertown.

Western Australian league club Subiaco offered Eddie their seconds coaching job in 1962 which he accepted and headed back to Perth. Mundulla Football Club were in contact with Eddie prior to the 1963 season offering him their senior coaching job. While Eddie was keen to return to South Australia, there were certain requirements that needed to be fulfilled before he would accept the job. Those requirements, including a house to live in were all met and Eddie assumed the role of Mundulla captain coach for the 1963 season.

Eddie signed on as Mundulla captain coach for the next three seasons achieving varying degrees of success. He managed to get Mundulla into a grand final in 1964 for a three goal loss after coming from fourth position. His contribution to the team as a player was without question as he was the dominant player in the Tatiara league during his time at Mundulla. Eddie won the Virgo medal in 1963 and 1965 and was runner up in 1964.

Eddie made a playing comeback with Bordertown in 1968 as a fill in but played a significant role in attaining the premiership. He was appointed coach of Bordertown in 1975 and led them to back to back premierships in 1975 and 1976, and then runner up in 1977. Eddie coached again in 1981 when the previously appointed coach left the position at the eleventh hour.

During his time in the Tatiara Eddie rated Tintinara player Sandy McKirdy as one of his toughest opponents and Doug Murch as the best player he coached.

Eddie was something of an all round sportsman representing Western Australia at squash when he was younger. He was a capable country cricketer, a master of spin bowling with best figures of 9/45 against Tintinara. Eddie represented the South Australian country cricket team and later in life, Eddie represented the state in Lawn Bowls.